Social media spurs help to college boy selling school books

World Today

“The Boy Who Cried Wolf ” is the story of a shepherd boy who tricked people into thinking his sheep were being attacked by a wolf. When a wolf actually came, no one believed him. A college boy in Manila known as “The Boy Who Cried Books,” but is far from trying to fool anyone. He’s earned the admiration of many through social media.

CCTV’s Barnaby Lo filed this report from Manila.

Highlights:

  • Nineteen-year-old Justin de Castro ran away from home almost three months ago, with only 2,500 pesos (about $50) in his pocket. Without his family’s support, he was also forced to drop out of college.
  • Castro knew he needed to survive and wanted to go back to school. He sold honey and used the money he made to buy and sell books.
  • Justin, known as “The Boy Who Cried Books”, isn’t just surviving,  but his business is also thriving. This is in large part due to social media.
  • A photo, posted by a fellow book aficionado and entrepreneur, accompanied with Justin’s story went viral. He started with just over a dozen books, and now has piles and piles.
  • Castro was given a spot outside the city’s first library cafe, indefinitely and for free.
  • Castro hasn’t been able to save enough to enroll himself in school, but he intends to send a 9-year-old boy he met on the streets back to school.
  • Castro is currently working on getting a home for himself and his books.