IF you do not know her well, you wouldn’t think that she is already in her 50s. Her well-preserved youthful looks certainly does not give her age away, but actress-businesswoman Lovely Rivero has never been the type who’d hide her real age. In fact, she is mighty proud of it and she lives her life as she pleases, choosing activities that will enrich her mind and spirit, and finding true happiness in simple joys.
The past three months have been tough, baffling and strenuous for every one around the globe. Most of our jobs, businesses, even relationships were put on pause by this unknown enemy that the most knowledgeable and best-equipped experts are still trying to defeat. Rivero’s main sources of income have been compromised and the industry that she belongs to is one of the hardest hit.
Rivero runs a booking and events company that supplies bands and musical artists to both foreign and local entertainment companies, bars and clubs. She also works as a freelance actor. So when the shutdown of all these businesses happened because of the pandemic, everyone in her fold got displaced.
She immediately called a few of her fellow managers and agents so they could join forces and reach out to those who needed help and assistance right away. “A basic need of anyone displaced by the sudden lockdown is food. So I thought to start with our Food Care Packages, using our own resources.
The package includes rice, canned goods, fresh vegetables and noodles—good for around three days for a regular-sized family. We were initially helping quietly, until some friends found out about it and voluntarily started sending goods, products, vitamins, all kinds of stuff for us to add to our packages,” she shared.
Rivero added, “When the group grew bigger, and more donors came in, we decided to post what we do and where these go to in the name of transparency and gratitude. We realize that people can be inspired from what other people do. And we got calls to reach out to those who needed our packages most, and we also got requests from other individuals and groups who wanted to collaborate and help, too!”
From the initial beneficiaries of musicians, artists and those who work in the entertainment business, Rivero and company were able to reach out to all kinds of people of all ages, reaching as far as provinces nationwide. There are days when she’d personally go to the supermarket to buy the ingredients for the meals that she will cook. A big donor in Rivero’s mission is Fly Ace Corp., owned by the ever-generous Cochanco family.
Rivero’s children Nadine and Nathan, now both in their early 30s, are proud of their mom and help her out, too. Her former partner Nacy, a businessman-restaurateur, also supports Rivero’s activities.
“I am blessed to have my family and friends who support me completely. Many constantly remind me to take extra care when I go out and perform my tasks, but they know I am most fulfilled when I make people happy, so they just let me. I guess it’s true that real happiness is felt when one has made a difference in the life of another, and real joy lies in knowing that you were there for somebody when that person needed you the most,” she said, adding, “and when that someone you’ve helped pays it forward someday, that’s already a bonus!”
This ripple effect of kindness and generosity continues up to this day, and Lovely Rivero remains one of the few tireless souls who go out there in the open, preparing and distributing her Food Care Packages, reminding us that no beauty shines brighter than that of a good heart.
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