Dreams come true: Filipino business owner reflects on changing landscape in Winnipeg

Nearly two years ago, Dream Barbers opened in Winnipeg’s Silver Heights neighbourhood. Mark Antonio, who co-owns the business with partners Lendyll Soriano and Albert Amante, says since then, the journey has been like a rollercoaster.

“That’s just how, for me, life has been going. I find that’s the beauty in life is that, there’s always ups and down and challenges. I just love going through all of it,” said Antonio.

Originally imagined as a one-stop-shop for people to look and feel good, the business has gone through changes and perhaps the last two years haven’t always felt like a dream. Antonio says starting the business was among one of the hardest things he’s ever done, including going through its ups and downs.

“If we want to reflect back on … when we opened up the shop, there was a lot of changes as you’ve seen when you walked in, where we lost a local business partnership. Well, I shouldn’t say lost, but it just didn’t work out the way we all expected it to,” he said.

Antonio says the change paved the way for new partnerships, and now shares the space with all-natural skincare company, CG Pure Wash. He’s also expanded his own business to offer beauty services, and at the same time offering his new staff — refugees from Ukraine — a safe place to hone their craft and settle into life in Canada.

Though not what he originally envisioned, he says everyone in the space is collaborating and helping each other succeed, while still making Winnipeggers look and feel good.

“I feel like having all these extra things with the barbershop, I think we’re all connecting well with what people are asking for and it works. It all works together.”

Business landscape changing

Antonio says as a Filipino business owner, he’s emotional at seeing the landscape of business change. He says he feels pride in seeing more business owners coming out of the woodwork and opening successful operations.  

“I get really emotional to see other Filipinos opening businesses because to me, growing up, I wasn’t raised to feel that I can have ownership over a business. I felt like I was just here to be an employee. Once I opened up my mind to the Philippines, I understood that we’re strong, resilient people,” said Antonio.

“I felt like, I have the strength and resilience to push through a business and help it grow … seeing the city now with all these different Filipinos owning different businesses, it really got me emotional to think that a vision of mine, not just mine but many other Filipinos is coming true. Coming to life.”

For the young father of two, passing on cultural pride — along with its teachings — is important, as Antonio’s own personal journey of connecting with his heritage has been one of tremendous growth.

“I’ve been trying to commemorate the heritage of being Filipino …. For me, understanding that truth of our history really made me more proud of being a Pinoy, and being part of that heritage of being Filipino. The big thing that I am doing every day now that I’m a father is passing down that knowledge and history with my children,” he explained.

“Seeing the younger generation do more things and understand more things than I did, and know more … It’s a beautiful thing to see. I just hope that the next generation just keeps continuing it and hope that they do great things.”