Daniel Cabrera, a homeless boy in the Philippines, was photographed sitting in a carpark and using the dim glow from a McDonald's outlet to complete his homework on a makeshift bench.

The nine-year-old's display of dedication and perseverance, despite the odds, has warmed the hearts of tens of thousands of people who have since shared the photo online.

Joyce Gilos Torrefranca, a medical student, spotted Daniel when she was walking through Mandaue City last month.

She posted two grainy photos to her Facebook page, saying: "I got inspired by a kid."

After the photo went viral, a local reporter tracked down Daniel and his family, discovering they often slept on the streets and begged for money in the city's dangerous Reclamation Area.

Daniel's mother, Maria Christina Espinosa, told Rappler that her partner died from illness while in jail and she was raising four children.

She worked at a nearby food stall, and the family often slept at the stall because they had no electricity at home, she said.

That was no barrier to Daniel diligently doing his grade 3 homework each night, despite owning just one pencil which he guarded in his school bag with rosary beads.

He had previously been known to skip school, but a program run by the local authorities, in which they gathered 32 street children and convinced them to continue their studies, struck a chord.

He told Rappler that he wants to complete his education. "I think I want to be a policeman....I also want to be a doctor," he said.

The manager of the McDonalds outlet, Iris Prak, said Daniel was frequently seen doing his homework in the carpark and staff often gave the family water.

She said they promised to give Daniel a toy if he showed them a homework paper with a star.

Ms Torrefranca, who initially shared the photo, said she was taken aback by Daniel's diligent dedication to his homework.

"I'm fortunate my parents were able to send me to school," she said. "I seldom go to coffee shops to study, but this kid just hit me. You really don't need much, you just have to be determined and focused on the things that you want to achieve."

Her friend, Giomen Probert Ladra Alayon​, was with her when they spotted Daniel and he stopped to talk to the nine-year-old.

He said Daniel was completing a homework task to identify animals in English.

"This kid's perseverance in studying makes this picture such an inspiration," he posted online. "Despite the lack of personal space or inadequate lighting, still he chose to study. Keep it up kid!"