| Floricante “Dodong” B. Cabilan Hamilton, Ontario, Canada A Filipino-Canadian Dynamic Community Leader with Compassion |
Floricante “Dodong” Brobo Cabilan, a highly successful
practicing medical physician and surgeon in Hamilton, Ontario,
Canada was born and brought up in Cebu as the third child of
Alberto Cabilan and Martina Brobo with five sons. Both parents
were public school teachers, now enjoying their retiring years in
life. During his early years, Dodong lived in the rural areas of
Northern Cebu, growing up among farmers and acquired the
native form of farming skills in the Philippines. But above all, he
learned the basic needs of the community.
Dodong, in his various speeches and writings, or when someone
writes about his achievements, wants to begin with the above
opening. He says: “Unless my humble background as a farmer
is articulated out at the start, listener or reader will not fully
understand my compassion to serve the community, Filipino or
Canadian.”
In the early 50’s while a high school student in Cebu City, he was
the treasurer of the family’s business. After high school, he
proceeded to Manila to pursue his medical education at the
University of Santo Tomas under the Veterans Administration
Scholarship Program. “Terribly lonely and alone in Manila, I filled
practicing medical physician and surgeon in Hamilton, Ontario,
Canada was born and brought up in Cebu as the third child of
Alberto Cabilan and Martina Brobo with five sons. Both parents
were public school teachers, now enjoying their retiring years in
life. During his early years, Dodong lived in the rural areas of
Northern Cebu, growing up among farmers and acquired the
native form of farming skills in the Philippines. But above all, he
learned the basic needs of the community.
Dodong, in his various speeches and writings, or when someone
writes about his achievements, wants to begin with the above
opening. He says: “Unless my humble background as a farmer
is articulated out at the start, listener or reader will not fully
understand my compassion to serve the community, Filipino or
Canadian.”
In the early 50’s while a high school student in Cebu City, he was
the treasurer of the family’s business. After high school, he
proceeded to Manila to pursue his medical education at the
University of Santo Tomas under the Veterans Administration
Scholarship Program. “Terribly lonely and alone in Manila, I filled
up my loneliness by associating with different cultures of Filipinos from Luzon and Visayas as well as keeping
interest with the Chinese community in Manila. These gave me a chance to understand the Chinese
language as well as the different Chinese dialects, including Chinese Fokien.”
After graduating form the University of Santo Tomas Faculty of Medicine in 1963, he went back to Cebu and did
rotating residency in Obstetrics and Surgery in Antigua Hospital. “I wanted immediately to offer my services to
the community on a pro bono basis in order to help our unfortunate brethren,” explained Dodong. Desiring to
offer more his God-given talent, he took a Philippines Government’s job, which other physicians shied away
from, as Medical Staff member for three and a half years at Bukidnon Provincial Hospital, a remote area in
Mindanao.
“Unlike most of his co-medical graduates, Dodong did not take the opportunity to go abroad , but instead, he
wanted to go where the poor people live in order to assist the,” commented one of his close friends, also a
physician in Canada, “He was deeply attached, as he is now, with the community. He was with the Knights of
Columbus and one of the the most-sought lecturer in Cursillo in Christianity movement.”
In1969, six years after serving the community, Dodong married his old flame, Andresa pros, a registered
nurse working with him in Antigua Hospital. After a few months, the newly married couple migrated to
Canada. “The life of new immigrants to Canada always commences in the same manner. It requires great
sacrifices and courage. With no friends, no relatives, no job on hand upon arrival, and with very limited cash
on hand—the future was uncertain and at times very scary. We have nowhere to go and our initial resident
was unthinkable,” recalled Duding. But after a week or so, Mrs. Cabilan was hired as a registered nurse at
the Jewish Medical Hospital in Montreal, while Dodong applied for his internship, studied for government
medical examinations for licensing, and attended adult education school to study the predominant French
language in Quebec. “Being in Montreal, made me feel isolated amidst the Francophones. Strange and new
faces, new environments and new everything. It was a drastic change for me and my wife, but we made it,”
narrated Dodong. He interned in Fredericton, New Brunswick in July 1970 and the following year, he went on
his residency program in psychiatry in St. John Provincial Hospital with a contract for a staff position after his
residency. It was in this hospital that he rekindled his desire to serve the community by joining the Lions Club
where he assisted in various fund raising activities. After his contract expired in 1976, he decided to go on
private practice. It was also during that tine that their only child, Flor Andrew, was born. Through
recommendations from friends, they moved to Hamilton where in January 1977, Dodong established his
office where up to now he holds his practice at the same location on East King Street, Hamilton.
His love for community involvement was fully rekindled since he opened his medical practice. The City of
Hamilton became his new home and recaptured the feeling of belongingness. He has been in constant
association with the Filipino community from day one. There is no occasion in Hamilton wherein Dodong is
not in the forefront in assisting financially, time and efforts. His support to the sport activities is unmatched.
Since 1980, he is a board member of the Filipino Canadian Association (PCA) and was voted in 1984 as the
“Most Outstanding Filipino in Hamilton.” Year after year, he receives awards and accolades both from the
Filipino community and the Canadian government for his valuable and dedicated services for humanitarian
projects. He serves a judge in various beauty pageants not only in the Hamilton region, but also in Toronto
and other parts of Canada. Dodong’s sincere desire to help the Filipino and mainstream Canadian
communities has earned him respect and admiration from all. He is currently the chairman of the fund
raising committee of the “Ato-Ato,” the national organization of Cebuano-speaking Filipinos in Canada.
Together with the other Filipinos in Hamilton, Dodong and the community were able to purchase their own
building – the Hamilton Filipino Community Center – the pride of the Filipino-Canadians.
In 1994, Philippine Ambassador to Canada, Pacifico Castro, visited Dodong’s home and bestowed him a
“Certificate of Commendation” for outstanding leadership and for his dedication to serve the Filipino
community. In March 1995, Dodong, together with nine other Filipino-Canadians high achievers, was named
as one of the “Ten Outstanding Filipino-Canadians” in a gala affair held in Toronto.
In spite of his busy schedule, Dodong participates twice a week as a choir member of the Assumption
Catholic Church in Hamilton.#
interest with the Chinese community in Manila. These gave me a chance to understand the Chinese
language as well as the different Chinese dialects, including Chinese Fokien.”
After graduating form the University of Santo Tomas Faculty of Medicine in 1963, he went back to Cebu and did
rotating residency in Obstetrics and Surgery in Antigua Hospital. “I wanted immediately to offer my services to
the community on a pro bono basis in order to help our unfortunate brethren,” explained Dodong. Desiring to
offer more his God-given talent, he took a Philippines Government’s job, which other physicians shied away
from, as Medical Staff member for three and a half years at Bukidnon Provincial Hospital, a remote area in
Mindanao.
“Unlike most of his co-medical graduates, Dodong did not take the opportunity to go abroad , but instead, he
wanted to go where the poor people live in order to assist the,” commented one of his close friends, also a
physician in Canada, “He was deeply attached, as he is now, with the community. He was with the Knights of
Columbus and one of the the most-sought lecturer in Cursillo in Christianity movement.”
In1969, six years after serving the community, Dodong married his old flame, Andresa pros, a registered
nurse working with him in Antigua Hospital. After a few months, the newly married couple migrated to
Canada. “The life of new immigrants to Canada always commences in the same manner. It requires great
sacrifices and courage. With no friends, no relatives, no job on hand upon arrival, and with very limited cash
on hand—the future was uncertain and at times very scary. We have nowhere to go and our initial resident
was unthinkable,” recalled Duding. But after a week or so, Mrs. Cabilan was hired as a registered nurse at
the Jewish Medical Hospital in Montreal, while Dodong applied for his internship, studied for government
medical examinations for licensing, and attended adult education school to study the predominant French
language in Quebec. “Being in Montreal, made me feel isolated amidst the Francophones. Strange and new
faces, new environments and new everything. It was a drastic change for me and my wife, but we made it,”
narrated Dodong. He interned in Fredericton, New Brunswick in July 1970 and the following year, he went on
his residency program in psychiatry in St. John Provincial Hospital with a contract for a staff position after his
residency. It was in this hospital that he rekindled his desire to serve the community by joining the Lions Club
where he assisted in various fund raising activities. After his contract expired in 1976, he decided to go on
private practice. It was also during that tine that their only child, Flor Andrew, was born. Through
recommendations from friends, they moved to Hamilton where in January 1977, Dodong established his
office where up to now he holds his practice at the same location on East King Street, Hamilton.
His love for community involvement was fully rekindled since he opened his medical practice. The City of
Hamilton became his new home and recaptured the feeling of belongingness. He has been in constant
association with the Filipino community from day one. There is no occasion in Hamilton wherein Dodong is
not in the forefront in assisting financially, time and efforts. His support to the sport activities is unmatched.
Since 1980, he is a board member of the Filipino Canadian Association (PCA) and was voted in 1984 as the
“Most Outstanding Filipino in Hamilton.” Year after year, he receives awards and accolades both from the
Filipino community and the Canadian government for his valuable and dedicated services for humanitarian
projects. He serves a judge in various beauty pageants not only in the Hamilton region, but also in Toronto
and other parts of Canada. Dodong’s sincere desire to help the Filipino and mainstream Canadian
communities has earned him respect and admiration from all. He is currently the chairman of the fund
raising committee of the “Ato-Ato,” the national organization of Cebuano-speaking Filipinos in Canada.
Together with the other Filipinos in Hamilton, Dodong and the community were able to purchase their own
building – the Hamilton Filipino Community Center – the pride of the Filipino-Canadians.
In 1994, Philippine Ambassador to Canada, Pacifico Castro, visited Dodong’s home and bestowed him a
“Certificate of Commendation” for outstanding leadership and for his dedication to serve the Filipino
community. In March 1995, Dodong, together with nine other Filipino-Canadians high achievers, was named
as one of the “Ten Outstanding Filipino-Canadians” in a gala affair held in Toronto.
In spite of his busy schedule, Dodong participates twice a week as a choir member of the Assumption
Catholic Church in Hamilton.#
Washington D.C. Since 1987
Washington D.C. Since 1987
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