This is the heartbreaking moment a grieving mother carried her dead daughter's portrait to her high school graduation.

Jenny Badal, 50, lost her beloved daughter Crisel, 18, to aggressive kidney disease in Butuan province, the Philippines in May.

The mother-of-three knew how important the event was to her daughter, who had been studying with dreams of becoming a teacher, so she decided to attend it on behalf of the youngster.

Footage shows the tearful mother marching toward the stage to receive her daughter's diploma as emotional teachers and classmates applauded her on June 30.

Teacher Julius Alim said: ‘It was a painful moment for us. The mother of our student attended the graduation to take her diploma. She is such a loving mother and her daughter was liked by everyone.'

The teacher added that Crisel died only a week after her class did a graduation pictorial for their yearbook.

He said: ‘We could not believe what happened. She was always so energetic and positive.'