Congratulations are in order for Julio Alessandro de Belen Rivera, the youngest son of Gelli de Belen and Ariel Rivera.
Julio has just turned another tassel in life—this time, for completing his master’s degree in Professional Kinesiology at the University of Toronto.
By definition, kinesiology is a field that delves into the study of human and non-human body movements.
People with degrees in kinesiology often work in physical therapy, occupational therapy, athletic training, personal training, ergonomics, sports coaching, research, and/or teaching.
Photo/s: Screengrab from Instagram | @gellidebelen
On her social media pages, Gelli posted last June 17, 2025: “My Julio’s graduation. Master of Professional Kinesiology. So proud of this young man,”
Her caption was accompanied by photos from the celebration, showing the complete Rivera family: her husband Ariel, their eldest son Joaquin Andres (fondly called Joaqui), and of course, the man of the hour, Julio.
Photo/s: Screengrab from Instagram | @gellidebelen
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She also shared an amusing anecdote alongside her congratulatory post: “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.”
Even without a perfectly curated family picture at the ceremony, the milestone was one for the books.
Meanwhile, celebrity friends were quick to shower the family with warm wishes in the comments section.
Gary Valenciano, Ogie Alcasid, Jean Garcia, Vina Morales, Candy Pangilinan, John Arcilla, Eric Quizon, Yasmien Kurdi, Aiko Melendez, and Kaila Estrada all sent their congratulations, lighting up Gelli’s post with heartfelt messages and emojis of love and pride.
Read: Meet Gelli de Belen and Ariel Rivera’s sons Joaquin and Julio
JULIO’S SECOND ACADEMIC MILESTONE
The recently held graduation marks Julio’s second academic milestone in the field.
He earned his bachelor’s degree in Kinesiology from York University in June 2022.
Now, at 24 and three years later, he’s gone the extra mile of proving that hard work and persistence pay off in spades.
Read: Gelli de Belen, Ariel Rivera: Canada Migration Plan Halted
LIVING IN CANADA
Julio and his older brother Joaqui have called Canada home since they were teenagers.
The two attended the same high school and later went on to pursue higher education in Toronto.
Julio chose to focus on kinesiology, while Joaqui began with aviation but later shifted to physics.
Back in 2018, Gelli opened up in an interview about how living abroad had brought about significant changes in her sons.
“Kung meron man akong ipinagpapasalamat, ang laki ng pinagbago nilang dalawa simula nang tumira sila dun,” she shared.
“Siyempre, hindi mo naman masisisi dahil nandiyan ako, may pagka-spoiled. Pero ngayon, independent na sila, may pagka-responsible. Lalo na yung panganay.”
Read: Gelli de Belen’s sons in Canada to sell biko this summer
Starting a business
Beyond academics, the brothers have also made a name for themselves in Canada’s food scene.
Julio and Joaqui are the proud owners of Lolo Ben’s Biko, a thriving Ontario-based food business specializing in the beloved Filipino delicacy.
The venture traces its roots to a treasured family recipe passed down by their grandfather, Lolo Ben Rivera.
Julio, in particular, took it upon himself to learn how to cook the rich, sticky rice dessert to perfection.
What began as a personal homage to heritage has grown into a full-fledged business that proudly serves the Filipino community in Canada.
Whenever Ariel and Gelli are in town, they roll up their sleeves and help in the kitchen, often cooking the biko themselves and promoting it on their social media pages.
Since the big move, the family has maintained a rhythm of love and support across continents.
Gelli and Ariel regularly visit their sons at the beginning, middle, and end of each year, while Joaqui and Julio return home to the Philippines during their school breaks.
It’s a long-distance set-up that many modern Filipino families know all too well, but the Riveras have turned it into a beautiful balancing act of independence and togetherness.
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