Over P220,000 raised for streetchild Daniel’s education

BayanihanProject has crowdsourced over P220,000 for Daniel Cabrera and 35 other street children under Dilaab Foundation.

A crowdfunding campaign has raised over P220,000 to help 9-year-old Daniel Cabrera achieve his dreams.

Daniel, who was photographed by a passerby who saw the boy doing his homework under the light of a McDonald’s parking lot, is determined to finish school.  His photo went viral on social media.

“Ana si mama na kung maniguro ko sa akong pagskwela, mas muhayag among kinabuhi (My mother said that if I focus on my education, our life would be brighter),” Daniel said.

The boy said he wanted to become a policeman so he could protect his mother and brothers.

In less than a month, BayanihanProject’s crowdfunding campaign for Daniel raised four times its targeted amount of P50,000. As of 7:30 p.m. yesterday, pledges from 166 donors reached P220,474.97.

This will go to Dilaab Foundation, Inc., a non-profit organization that takes care of 35 street children and their families, which has vowed to use the donations to fund Daniel’s education and support other children.

“Many children in Cebu are like Daniel, and they deserve all the help they can get. After everything they have been through, they still find it in themselves to study hard,” said Fr. Carmelo Diola, Dilaab executive director.

American national Michael Parietti, one of the donors, said he was glad to be able to help Daniel.

“I’m glad to be one of the people who will secure the future of these children, especially the persevering Daniel,” he said.

Daniel, fondly called Biboy by his family, is a third-grade student in Subangdaku Elementary School.  He lives with his mother Ma. Christina Espinosa and brothers Gabriel and Robert in a small food stall across Cebu Doctors University in the Mandaue North Reclamation Area. His father has passed on.

Daniel earlier received a four-year college scholarship for a course in criminology at the Professional Academy of the Philippines (PAP) in Naga City. He will also get a book allowance, stipend, and lodging.

Earlier, the Ronald McDonald House Charities of the Philippines, Inc. gave Daniel an educational grant to ensure he completes grade school and high school. They will fund his school fees and provide weekly allowances as well.

Policemen from the Mandaue Police Station and Mandaue residents have also visited Daniel, bringing school supplies, books, and toys for the boy and his siblings.

With the influx of donations, Christina said she keeps reminding her children that these are all blessings from God, and they must remain humble.

“I am happy with everything, but I will still try my best until I see that our family is okay, especially Mama,” said Daniel in Cebuano.

With a brand new lamp lighting their food stall, Daniel continues to study every night./ Juli Ann M. Sibi, UP Cebu Intern