Help continues to pour for boy who studied on sidewalk

DANIEL Cabrera received yet another blessing yesterday, and this time, he’ll share it with nine other children.

A portion of the funds given by donors for the nine-year-old boy, whose photo went viral on social media over a month ago, will be used as lunch money by the children.

Fr. Carmelo Diola, coordinator of Ugnayan ng Barangay at Simbahan (Ubas), turned over P10,000 to Subangdaku Barangay Captain Ernie Manatad, who organizes a weekly gathering of homeless children.

Daniel and nine other dedicated pupils from Barangay Subangdaku, Mandaue City will receive a monthly allowance of P1,000 each for their lunch and snacks at school.

Donations from around the world have poured in after a photo of Daniel doing homework on a sidewalk using light from a restaurant caught the attention of Netizens. Daniel and his family used to live in a roadside shanty with no electricity.

Diola, also a coordinator of Dilaab Foundation, said donations for Daniel and his family have reached P200,000. The donors sought the help of the Archdiocese of Cebu in making sure their money reaches Daniel and other children with similar situations.

“There are many people who want to help. There are many people who need help. You need to organize charity to bring them together,” Diola told reporters after the turnover ceremony at the Subangdaku barangay garden.

Diola said Daniel will remain the main benefactor, but the donors have agreed to let other poor children benefit from their donations.

Using funds from donors, Daniel, his mother and four siblings have been renting a room since last week. Diola yesterday led the blessing of the family’s rented room, where the boy can study with light, in Sitio Lower Malibo, Barangay Subangdaku.

Diola said they hope the City Government can provide a home for the family in one of its socialized housing sites within six months.

Although donors can go directly to Daniel and his family, Diola said it would be better if the donations are pooled together and used to help the family in a more sustainable way.

“Our charity is oftentimes sporadic. The challenge is how we can organize it so that it will be sustainable,” he said.

Daniel has received school materials, financial aid, groceries and scholarships, among others, since his photo went viral.

His mother Christina also received free livelihood training in Manila. Daniel’s father died two years ago.

Aside from being trained to make burgers, Christina was also provided money for capital and some materials to start a business.

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