Creating change that lasts, from one dream, one light, and one heart at a time.
OUR STORY
MaxaM Foundation was created from a place of compassion, resilience, and the belief that hardship can be transformed into hope. Inspired by a father’s kindness and a daughter’s promise to continue his legacy, the foundation exists to support underprivileged students by opening doors to education and mental wellness.
Founded by Ms. L. C. Gabbaoan, a mother and purpose-driven advocate, MaxaM carries the names of her children, Max and Sam, as a reminder of why every child deserves a chance to dream. What began as a personal mission has grown into a commitment to uplift children and communities in the Philippines, especially those in remote areas where opportunities are limited and support is often out of reach.
Our Heart & Mission
We believe that every child deserves a future they can look forward to. Our core programs focus on:
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Distributing school supplies to students in underserved communities
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Granting cash assistance to qualified college students in their allowances or tuition fees.
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Offering mental health awareness campaigns to promote emotional resilience in young learners
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Creating advocacy-based platforms where stories are heard, healing is honored, and transformation is possible
Through every project, MaxaM fosters a spirit of Bayanihan, the Filipino value of collective community care.
A Father’s Legacy:
The Heart Behind MaxaM Foundation
Inspired by Kindness. Driven by Purpose.
Long before MaxaM Foundation became a name, it was a quiet truck parked on a dusty road in a rural village in the Philippines, its engine humming with love and purpose.
That truck belonged to Silvino, a man who exudes warmth and a friendly smile to the village children. Every morning, during lunch break, or after school, he would offer free rides to children to and from our village to the nearby school. With no fanfare and no expectation of praise, he simply showed up, day after day, whenever he could, because he believed that any small gesture to assist with their schooling mattered.
But Silvino wasn’t just a driver. He was a father figure to many, often striking up meaningful conversations with the children who rode in the back of his truck. He’d ask about their dreams and their struggles, and he’d listen with the kind of presence that made kids feel safe, seen, and heard. His truck became more than transportation; it was a moving space of comfort, encouragement, and hope.
Two of his daughters would grow up to become educators, bearing firsthand witness to how poverty, distance, and lack of resources kept so many bright young minds from reaching their full potential. Though Lina, the founder, did not become a teacher herself, she carried that same passion for service in a different way by founding the MaxaM Foundation in his honour and following in his footsteps as a mental health practitioner, dedicated to healing and empowering lives.
When Lina founded the MaxaM Foundation, she didn’t just launch a non-profit. She built a promise to her father, to her community, and to the next generation.
Now, through every campaign, outreach, and initiative, Silvino’s legacy rides with us, in every notebook distributed, every allowance given, and every child reminded that they matter.
“My father didn’t have a degree, but he gave what he had:
time, service, and a heart.
This foundation is my way of continuing that ride.”
— Lina C. Gabbaoan, Founder & Chairperson