Teenage 'Badjao Girl' hoping viral fame could help her reach dream of becoming a teacher

The "Badjao Girl" that has become a social media sensation is hoping that all the attention somehow helps her and her family climb out of poverty.

Rita Gabriola, 13, thanked netizens who made her pictures go viral for their generous compliments on her looks.

She also thanked Topher Quinto, the man who took her pictures at the Pahiyas Festival in Lucban, Quezon where she was begging for alms with her sibling.

"Masaya lang po ako at nagpapasalamat ako kay Kuya Topher, ako po ang napili niya. Kaya sobra-sobrang pasasalamat ko sa kanya," Gabriola said in an interview with Lia Manalac del Castillo on 24 Oras on Tuesday.

The photos by Quinto gained so much attention that the son of incoming president Rodrigo Duterte praised Gabriola for her natural beauty and effortless poise.

"Hindi ko po alam na magva-viral siya. Pero nung pinost ko sa Facebook. Bigla po syang nag-viral at ang dami pong gustong tumulong sa kanya," Quinto said.

Gabriola only learned of her newfound fame through others as she did not know how to use phones or the internet, having grown up in an isolated town in Quezon.

"Hindi po ako marunong mag-internet, pinakita lang sakin sa cellphone. Pinagsabihan nila ako na, uy si Rita, artista na. Ganyan lang po sinasabi nila," she said.

She is optimistic that the outpouring of support triggered by the pictures will help her fulfill her dreams.

"Kaya ko po gustong maging guro, gusto ko pong matulungan ang tulad ng mga kapatid kong bata. Gusto ko rin po sila maipag-aral. At sabi sakin ng tatay ko, gusto niya kong mapag-aral. Kasi kami na lang po ang pag-asa naming magkakapatid," Gabriola said. —Rie Takumi/JST, GMA News