Cathy N. Rivilla
One cannot find poise in a person who wears too many hats.
Is Catherine Nazareno Rivilla an exception?
The First Woman and Filipino to be heralded AFC Match Commissioner of the Year nonchalantly steps into the interview venue and instantly, the svelte lady looms larger than life. Beautiful and charismatic, Cathy, as she is known to family and friends, tackles the interview with composure comparable to that of First Ladies and Prime Ministers.
Cathy Rivilla is currently the Executive Director of the Younghusband Football Academy, making her a business partner of the Younghusbands.
“I love studying because I like to learn” Rivilla says. Her education profile is enough proof: she graduated Summa cum Laude from the St. Mary’s College of California with an Honors Concentration in Finance and Business Administration. She then took up a Professional Degree in Product Development at the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising and graduated summa cum laude. Such an impressive record is normally enough to pave a successful career path for anybody. Cathy though, did not confine her learning within institutional boundaries. ”Life is one big classroom. Keep on learning” she furthers “I want to excel in everything I do!”
Being in business comes naturally for her. Cathy is the daughter of Vicky Vizcarra-Sales, of the S.C. Vizcarra fame. Upon her graduation, she returned to the Philippines with her mom and re-opened their company. When she decided to open other businesses, she asked her sister Rita to take over her position in the family venture.
Behind the youthful charm and natural elegance lies resolve, intelligence and the determination to excel in everything she does.
Casa Belrina Travel Consultants, which Rivilla opened 10 years ago, is a late entrant in the travel service industry. Notwithstanding the fact, it has been largely successful. Their “travel at your doorstep” concept was something that their clients appreciated. The main office is located in the Rivilla home, a plus factor for Cathy, as she is able to manage the business without compromising family time.
Yet another part of her remarkable portfolio is the Mac2 Group Manila, a sports and events management and consultancy firm.
So what is a successful and glamorous lady doing in the world of football?
“It was by accident” she says with a laugh. Her daughter Frankie was into the sport and a few years back, Cathy was asked to help assist and organize a football event in school. Knowing nothing about the sport did not hinder Cathy. She learned and learn she did! She sought the help of some cousins (who were then into the sport), who gamely taught her the basics and the rest is history.
Rivilla with daughter Franky
By the time Cathy was asked to manage the National Team, she has already learned the ropes and was confident enough to take charge. She became a Match Commissioner for the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) and was assigned to officiate in many high-level international football matches throughout Asia. She went to many countries and the perpetual learner in Cathy made her gain knowledge and familiarity with the culture and background of football. She experienced first-hand; the matches that helped hone her expertise. Her work ethics paid off and before she knew it, she was nominated by AFC as Commissioner of the Year.
An accidental path did not suppress the achiever in Cathy Rivilla. She has proven and still continues to prove her worth and have done justice to her own words: “Kaya ko ‘to!”
As she achieved success and brought football and the Younghusbands to the limelight, Cathy was not spared of her fair share of challenges and unexpected turns. Cathy remains unruffled. “It does not bother me at all because I take everything in a positive way. I know the truth and whatever it is that are said, facts are facts. Anything that is non-factual will not matter at all”. When asked what she has to say to her detractors, her reply is gracious: “I will not stoop down to their level.”
”Life is one big classroom. Keep on learning”
Of the many hats that she has to wear, perhaps none is more important than that of a Family Woman. “I am grateful to have my children around” she says “Between me and my husband, I am the stricter parent. It is not that I do not trust my daughter; I really do! It is just that I have to be cautious of the people around”.
Cathy Rivilla maintains her poise because she does not wear too many hats. The woman wears a crown decorated by her successes and achievements, as well as trials and ordeals. The crown jewel is her resolve to face the future with the composure and dignity she now possesses.
Cathy is married to Dicky Rivilla. They have three daughters: Franky, Kitkat and Reese.
at 8:07 am
oh so she is the one. i heard and read about this lady a number of times. already. well, seems like she has everything: beautiful, intelligent and wealthy. I hope to be like her soon.
at 11:00 am
A woman who has everything, beauty and brains… wow!
It will be a great pleasure on my part if I will be given a chance to talk to her, I’m pretty sure that I will learn a lot from her. From education, to life’s philosophies to beauty secrets? Hahaha!
She is beautiful and she maintains her youth, even if she has many things to attend to. Cathy Rivilla, I salute you!
at 4:57 pm
Indeed beauty and brains rolled into one! We need more of this talent in our society.
at 5:26 pm
“YOU ALREADY! – IKAW NA!” You are very successful in everything you did … from school, business and and now, you conquered and made great contributions to the sports industry.Keep it up girl!=) Is your daughter a model? She is pretty also at halatang mayaman.
at 5:28 pm
Maganda pala sya. I just hear her name kasi. A strong woman with determination.I salute you!
at 7:20 pm
wow! almost perfect! this woman is very inspiring.. i wanna follow her footsteps.=)
at 11:28 pm
Woman in power! Cathy Rivilla only shows how great women can be in all aspects. I hope to be like her somehow, and I hope too, that my fellow women will also succeed their chosen career path.
Cheers to all successful Filipina!
at 11:36 pm
the Philippines is never lacking of people who are able, capable and formidable. the lady you featured here is one such example. the problem however, is that if you have only a handful of them, the rest of the 92 million Filipinos will tend to “outshine” the image they make for your country.
in truth, i believe there is more than a handful. if they will be allowed to emerge and perhaps given their fair share of recognition, then over-all the Philippine impression would lean towards the positive.
as an international banker, i have dealt with asian people on an extensive scale. i have always said that Filipinos are among the most enterprising and intelligent people in asia. as a matter of fact, i have such high regard for Filipinos that i refuse to hire a Filipino housekeeper. i cannot, for the life of me, imagine ordering them around, knowing the (possibly) innate potential they have.
rivilla, who may stick out like a sore thumb because she was born rich (a rarity in the Philippines), may very well represent the typical Filipina: beautiful, smart and enterprising. let her be an example to all Filipinas. if she can do it, so can they.
Lillian Yu
Hongkong SAR
at 11:57 pm
I am fortunate to have met and known Ms. Rivilla or “Tita Cathy”. She is indeed a wonderful person! Keep inspiring the people around you, stand tall for all Filipino women!
at 11:35 pm
Powerful! I hope that my daughter becomes like her. Inspiring story which i’m sure will inspire a lot of people reading this article.
at 11:59 pm
Truly a woman of substance and more! Keep on inspiring us! =)
at 11:28 pm
She really possesses the beauty with a purpose.
at 11:29 pm
keep on inspiring people specially the youth!
at 11:33 pm
”Life is a one big classroom. Keep on learning”
definitely true!
I hope everyone treats life like a big classroom. Every passing days, we keep on gaining new ideas, encounter hardships we try to surpass which mold us to become a better person. There’s no perfect person at all.. it’s just a matter of attitude in facing life’s challenges.
at 11:16 pm
Women of today’s generation are really competitive and strong. They can be excellent leaders and role model. Cathy Rivillia is one of this example, she was not only a woman who has beauty and substance but also a personality that shows undeniable skills to be a one of a kind AFC Match Commissioner. I salute all women who push themselves to become the best that they can be. =)
at 11:56 pm
i didn’t know that the one who handles the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) is a woman… That’s very nice and powerful of her…
two thumbs up!
at 1:06 am
beauty and brain,possess a strong personality and inspiring.
at 1:09 am
She’s an inspiration for all the Woman and Man of sports…even though I didn’t like her team, I still admire her being the First Woman and Filipino to be heralded AFC Match Commissioner of the Year…I’m a huge fan of ” Football ” especially my idol Ronaldinho…but for Phil. Football Team Azkals? nah it’s like a Foreign team with a Filipino Import…I only watch Emelio Caligdong play…haters gonna hate…
at 1:13 am
I also want to excel in everything I do….Sabi nga nila maganda na may utak pa, yan si Cathy Rivillia.