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Just over a year ago, Gadiel Caagusan could not smile like a normal kid.
The Grade 3 student was afflicted with a bad case of tongue hemangioma or excessive swelling of the tongue, and, needless to say, Gadiel was unable to partake in the normal joys of childhood.
This is why, in March 2022, the JC Cares Foundation, in partnership with the GMA Kapuso Foundation, extended help to finance Gadiel’s treatments, including a crucial angiogram and embolization procedure.
Co-founders Jonathan So and Carlito Macadangdang with the representatives from Team Mafia, Chosen, Freedom Hunters, RM, Magnetar, Bless Eagles, Eralista, and Driven. | Contributed photo
The efforts eventually bore fruit, as Gadiel’s giant tongue began to shrink after just seven sessions of sclerotherapy. The remarkable recovery offered hope that the boy would be able to live a normal life.
On Sept. 2, 2023, the JC Cares Foundation hosted the event dubbed, “The Gadiel Smile: A New Beginning” at the House of Franchise (HOF) along Shaw Boulevard to mark a significant milestone in the journey of the 10-year-old boy.
During the event, the founders of JC Cares donated P50,000 for Gadiel’s speech therapy.
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The participating teams, including Mafia, Chosen, Freedom Hunters, RM, Magnetar, Bless Eagles, Eralista, and Driven, also provided Gadiel with essential groceries and school materials.
Notably, the event also recognized and celebrated the outstanding efforts of HOF’s franchisees. The top-performing individuals were awarded well-deserved incentives for their dedication and commitment to the cause.
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The JC Cares Foundation was founded in 2018 by entrepreneurs Jonathan So and Carlito Macadangdang.
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