Through the years, Gelli de Belen and Ariel Rivera have been idealized as a showbiz couple.
By way of lauding Gelli and Ariel ahead of their silver wedding anniversary this year, PEP.ph (Philippine Entertainment Portal) focuses on their two sons Joaquin and Julio to show, well, the fruits of their good parenting.
NAME, AGE, BIRTHDAY
1. The older son is named Joaquin Andres de Belen Rivera, nicknamed "Joaqui," and the younger one is Julio Alessandro.
2. Both brothers are zoomers, the coloquial term for Gen Z folks, with Joaqui being born on January 29, 1999, and Julio on November 6, 2000.
EDUCATION
3. Joaqui and Julio have been living in Canada since they were teenagers. They graduated in the same high school and took up higher education in Toronto.
Gelli shared in 2018 how living abroad had changed her sons: "Kung meron man akong pinagpapasalamat, ang laki ng pinagbago nilang dalawa simula nang tumira sila dun.
"Siyempre, hindi mo naman masisisi dahil nandiyan ako, may pagka-spoiled. Pero ngayon, independent na sila, may pagka-responsible. Lalo na yung panganay.”
Gelli and Ariel visit their two boys in Canada at the beginning, middle, and end of each year. Joaqui and Julio come home to the Philippines during their vacations.
Read also: Gelli de Belen, Ariel Rivera spending sunny days with sons in Canada
4. At press time, Joaqui is taking up a course in Physics.
His earlier ambition was to become a pilot, prompting him to enroll in Aviation at a Canadian university previously.
On the other hand, Julio is pursuing a master's degree in Kinesiology, focusing on the study of human and non-human body movements.
He completed his bachelor's degree in Kinesiology at York University in June 2022.
Gelli wrote a funny anecdote about the event, "My son Julio just graduated. We documented his grad with lots of photos of him, videos of him, a few photos of us while waiting, but we forgot to take a family photo. So we just took one at home in our pajamas when we finally remembered."
BUSINESS
Aside from pursuing college degrees in Canada, Julio and Joaquin are running a thriving Ontario-based food business called Lolo Ben's Biko.
It was Julio who started learning how to cook the famous Pinoy kakanin based on the recipe of their Lolo Ben Rivera.
Whenever Ariel and Gelli are in town, the couple cooks the biko themselves, and promote it on their social-media accounts.
Read more: Gelli de Belen, Ariel Rivera, and sons' biko selling like hotcakes in Canada
sports AND INTERESTS
6. Living an active lifestyle for the two brothers is not only about working out regularly as both are very much into sports as well.
In fact, Joaqui has dedicated his Instagram Story Highlights to their sports activities.
A lot of the Rivera family's bonding moments revolve around playing golf.
In a previous interview with PEP.ph, Gelli said golf has always been part of their many family activities.
She said, "When they were small, I looked forward to this time when they are all adults na.
"We can really experience stuff together... We really are barkadas.
"We have the same interests and we do the same stuff. I love it."
Joaqui and Julio are also into basketball.
7. Being sporty seems to run in the Rivera blood—one of their closest relatives is Rebecca Rivera, a professional volleyball setter currently playing for Petron Blaze Spikers.
8. Taking after their dad, both Julio and Joaqui are musically inclined as evidenced by their jamming sessions posted by Gelli.
Back in the 1990s, Ariel joined showbiz and earned the moniker Kilabot ng mga Kolehiyala. His hit songs include "Sana Kahit Minsan," "Minsan Lang Kitang Iibigin," "Sa Aking Puso," "Simple Lang," "Photographs," to name a few.
RELATIONSHIP STATUS
9. Joaqui is officially off the market, with Gelli confirming through a message to PEP.ph that he has a girlfriend.
Gelli once talked about her sons going through the dating phase on Tonight With Boy Abunda, saying she wasn't the type to interfere with their romantic dalliances.
10. Julio and Joaqui already love the Rivera family dog Nugget like a brother even though they haven't met.
"He's already my favorite brother... and I haven't even met him yet.
Sorry @hulyorivera and kuya @beccapaigeeeee," Joaqui kidded.
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