In her words, Gelli de Belen finds it “weird” that her Canada-based sons by Ariel Rivera would rather focus on the biko business they themselves put up than practice what they finished in college.
Their eldest child, Joaquin, 27, has a degree in Physics, while Julio, 25, is a fresh graduate of Kinesiology, the scientific study of human movement.
Despite having college diplomas up their sleeve, Gelli says the brothers are far more immersed in cooking and selling the famous native delicacy made from sweetened glutinous rice.
Named after their late grandfather, Lolo Ben’s biko has become a byword among Filipino households in Toronto and perhaps elsewhere in Canada.
The Rivera brothers began this venture during the pandemic in 2020 as a mere tryout. “If it did well, they’d continue with it. It turned out to be doing unexpectedly well. At least, they’re able to preserve their lolo’s legacy,” Gelli shares.
Proof that the business is picking up, there are two Toronto-based restaurants to which Joaquin and Julio regularly supply their product, which comes in two mouth-watering, irresistible variants: the classic and the one with jackfruit. “The boys also accept online orders, which they deliver to the customer’s doorstep themselves,” the actress adds, acting as her sons’ self-appointed PR girl.
Gelli, however, can’t seem to understand why her sons are so extremely passionate about it considering they are both college graduates who stand to land even better-paying jobs aligned with the degrees they obtained. “How weird! But it’s their decision. I just don’t know what their next plans are.”
Gelli, though, does not say if her sons have inherited the musical or thespian genes from their oldies, considering their looks can earn them an easy ticket to showbiz. Or is it because Joaquin’s and Julio’s artistic talents remain untapped?
For all their parents know, this biko business, albeit thriving, may simply be the boys’ passing fancy as they await bigger breakthroughs.
The looming danger is that Joaquin and Julio might get the hang of it so well that they completely forget what they burned the midnight oil for back in college.
Let their fun biko-selling “trip” remain just a side hustle.
