Constantine Cabarios
Making a difference in the Filipino community and beyond
When a family member began to show signs of mental illness Constantine Cabarios’ first inclination was to find a social worker of Filipino origin within his community who could provide culturally sensitive care. In addition, his relative had refused to see anyone who was not Filipino. “It was like finding a needle in a haystack,” says Constantine. That realization was a turning point in his life, one that would lead to his decision to leave the corporate world of marketing for a life dedicated to helping individuals find specialized care and services.
Constantine’s search led him to join the board of Community Resource Connections of Toronto (CRCT), a non-profit agency serving people diagnosed with mental illness. There he learned how an agency can dramatically improve the well-being and independence of a person living with mental illness. However he also realized work was needed to ensure culturally appropriate services.
“More Filipino and other ethnic social workers are needed,” says Constantine. “Much pain and anguish could be prevented if more ethnic people joined boards and lobbied for the provision of culturally sensitive approaches to education and health care.”
“People complain about not receiving services they need, but they have the power to effect change. There are so many empty spots on boards and there is little ethnic representation” says Constantine. “How are you supposed to get the services you need when there is no one representing you to direct the programs?” says Constantine who joined CRCT in 2004, becoming a director, and at the time the only person of colour on the board.
The former copywriter and marketer was born in Paniqui, a small town north of Manila in the Philippines. He came to Canada with his parents when he was five years old. Within the Filipino community says Constantine, there are cultural factors that affect how people with mental illness are viewed and treated. He is particularly aware of culture and its impact on people’s attitudes; as a member of the gay community he knows well the stigma and discrimination surrounding these issues within society and particularly within the Filipino community.
“Your cultural nuance will often prevent you from speaking out,” says Constantine. “If you don’t speak up and you get infected with HIV then you are shunned by your family. First, they didn’t know you were gay and now that you have this disease, they don’t even want you in the house.” He explains that there is an inclination to deny the existence of HIV/AIDS within the Filipino community.
Constantine is active in the gay Asian community through his work as a board member for Asian Community AIDS Services (ACAS) and previously as a contributor for an online outreach site serving mainly gay Asians. In 2005, Constantine received the ACAS Breakthrough Community Activist Award for helping to effect change around issues affecting Toronto’s gay Asian community.
He also sits on the board of the Siliyan Community Centre serving the Filipino community and is currently helping the organization develop governance and human resources policies. Constantine says he has helped to effect change at the board level because he uses diplomacy. He promotes diversity on all boards regardless of who they serve and says, “Having a diverse board keeps it fresh, current and aware.”
Constantine is returning to school to complete a degree in social work but says everyone regardless of academic standing can contribute to creating a more just and inclusive world. “It doesn’t matter how many degrees you have, it is your passion, your commitment that creates leaders for change. It doesn’t matter in what capacity you serve, you can help change the world.”
Constantine participated in the 2004-2005 Leaders for Change program.
