The origins of Tito Boy begins like many familiar immigrant stories.
As a young boy growing up in the rural farmlands of the Philippine province of Southern Leyte, my father spent countless hours in the kitchen with his mother and siblings while his father cut lumber to provide for their family. My father stayed at home learning many traditional Philippine cooking techniques while dreaming of building a better life and legacy for his family in the future.
In the 1980s, he met a charming and fiercely independent woman – Tita Jean, my beautiful mother – whom he married in civil court. Once married, he set off to his new Canadian home in Winnipeg as a sponsored spouse and newcomer.
Throughout his career, my father wore an impressive number of hats. He worked as a wholesale grocery store general manager, an assembly line worker, a machine operator, a healthcare aide and, most notably, a chef and baker. For many years, he dreamed of opening his own restaurant where he could share the delicious, aromatic and hearty foods from his home country.
In 2021, my father’s dream came true when he opened a small restaurant in Parañaque City, Manila. Now, a year later, he is setting up shop closer to his Winnipeg home as the culinary curator behind the menu of Tito Boy Restaurant.
About Jackie Wild:
Jackie Wild is a seasoned communications, marketing and business development professional with nearly 15 years of experience managing successful community-focused initiatives within the public, private and non-profit sectors. As a racialized woman in business, she understands the critical role anti-racism advocacy plays in achieving inclusive and equitable outcomes for her kababayan (fellow country people) and the broader community.
In 2022, Jackie launched Tito Boy Restaurant, Winnipeg’s first south-end Philippine eatery offering traditional and fusion culinary creations. The business named after her father Agustin “Tito Boy” Doming represents the intersectionality of different generations and what it means to be a Philippine-Canadian in the modern era.
A champion of community building, Jackie serves as the President of the Manitoba Filipino Business Council, leading their vision to serve as the prime community resource hub for Philippine business people and professionals. Through grassroots outreach across the province, they are building a sustainable future for the next generation of local leaders by creating an inclusive community through consultation and collaboration.
A passionate community and civic engagement leader, Jackie volunteers as vice-chair of Manitoba Museum, vice-chair of Mabuhay District, interview chair of Loran Scholars Foundation, board member of Health Sciences Centre Foundation, board member of United Way Winnipeg and member of CancerCare Manitoba Community Connections Committee.
In 2020, Jackie was named one of CBC Manitoba’s Future 40 recipients and featured in the Filipino Journal’s 20 Filipinos to Watch list.
