This is the heartwarming moment a crying cadet whose family missed his graduation was comforted by the parents of his fellow squaddies.

John Lord Ayo became emotional as his friends were greeted by loved ones at the closing ceremony of Criminology Intern Basic Training in South Cotabato province, the Philippines.

With his family living too far away and unable to afford the plane tickets and hotel, he was the only person their without his loved ones present.

Bittersweet footage shows John Lord trying to suppress his feelings among a happy crowd of family members reuniting.

However, a mother who passed by in front of him saw his facial expression and instinctively gave him a hug to comfort him.

The act of kindness turned domino effect as more mothers, fathers, and grandfathers embraced and congratulated him so he would cheer up,

Onlooker Mika Lajato who attended the event for a relative, said: ‘His family lives in a far-flung area in Sarangani province. He already knew that no one would come from his family, but on the day he was overcome with mixed emotions.

'It was so sweet that other people comforted him.'