Not all children are lucky to have parents capable of sending them to school, sometimes the children are working themselves to until they graduate.

A Grade 7 student dozes off while selling balut at past midnight. Per a netizen, the boy asked if he could sit and rest because he is tired and sleepy – he is still selling despite having a class at 7AM the next day.

Grade 7 Balut Vendor Sells at Past Midnight Despite Having 7AM Class

In the Philippines, many children start working at an early age due to various circumstances they face, especially when their parents can no longer fulfill their responsibilities to them.

The photo of a Grade 7 student went viral in 2019 after a netizen uploaded images of him resting and dozing off from exhaustion while selling balut on social media.

According to Areane Reanoga Tabalan, the boy asked if he could sit and rest because he was tired and sleepy.

It was already past midnight, yet the boy was still on the streets, even though he had class at 7 AM the next day.

His Father is Sick

He didn’t want to go home because he hadn’t sold all his balut yet. The boy shared that his mother had passed away, and his father was ill.

“wala na daw po syang nanay, ang tatay naman nya ay may sakit kaya sya nagsusumikap,” the concerned netizen said.

Many netizens were impressed by the boy’s determination, as he persevered through exhaustion and sleepiness just to sell balut and save money for his education.

Some netizens expressed their desire to help the boy and support his studies.

A Call for Support to the Industrious Boy

The Grade 7 student was identified as Jerahmeel Dela Cruz, fondly known as “Memeng” by his neighbors in Paradise, Malanday, Marikina City.

“Guys! pasikatin natin ang batang ito para matulungan, lumapit ang batang ito samin para makiupo at magpahinga dahil pagod at antok na antok na daw po sya.. nagtitinda sya ng balut para may pambaon sya sa school, wala na daw po syang nanay, ang tatay naman nya ay may sakit kaya sya nagsusumikap, mamayang 7am pa daw pasok nya pero gabing gabi na naglalako pa sya ng balut, Grade 7 na daw po sya.. Napakasipag ng batang ito at dapat nabibigyang pansin, paki Share na lang po..” the netizen said in her post.

Currently, there are no updates on how the boy is doing or if he is in good condition. However, with his hard work and determination, as long as he stays away from bad company and negative influences, he is sure to have a bright future.