IF someone asks a kid what they would like to be when they grow up, they usually reply with the loftiest dreams and careers with unbridled optimism. Reality checks aren’t for children, after all.

Entrepreneur Mark Rivera was one of those kids. “My childhood dream was to become a football player, so I don’t know what’s happening to me right now,” Rivera chuckled at a small roundtable. “I’m also surprised how my life is turning out.”

Gone are the days he would kick the ball around, aiming for the goal. Rivera is now pursuing a passion for acting and singing while dedicating much of his time to his design and construction business, Casa Lusso.

For a quick look back, Rivera left Italy for the Philippines several years ago when he was still passionate about football to join the popular Azkals under-21 team. Born and raised by Filipino parents in the European country, he willingly left home, albeit at a young age, determined to pursue his dream.

He trained and played hard for two years, but his sporting career was cut short by injuries.

It was then he needed redirection. Definitely a looker, it was hardly a surprise he found himself headed to studios and locations after he was scouted from the football field to do commercials. His first project was top-notch, shooting a commercial for no less than Jollibee, the biggest fastfood chain in the Philippines. Following that stint, offers from other brands came pouring in.

Two years later, Rivera felt he had exhausted his opportunities in modeling and needed another redirect. Naturally, the next step was show business.

Lucky for him, the ABS-CBN daytime series “Be My Lady” was looking for someone to play the role of a varsity football player and immediately got the part.

Rivera then went on to do more acting in programs like iWantTFC’s series “Mga Batang Paz,” but eventually came to the point of almost giving up. Call it the seven-year itch because Rivera felt that while he was cast every so often, he wasn’t going anywhere with his career.

“I was already thinking about stopping or not, but suddenly, ‘Without You’ [a movie starring David Licauco and Shaira Diaz] and the ongoing ABS-CBN and GMA collaboration ‘Unbreak My Heart’ came along, and, of course, I couldn’t turn them down.”

Bigger breaks indeed, Rivera thought he might be meant for showbiz after all and gave acting another chance.

All about timing

Rivera also started to believe in the saying, “Patience is a virtue,” because he has three more projects already in the pipeline besides the pair of big movie and TV breaks. Each holding much promise, the first is a rom-com set in Mati, Davao with Shaira Diaz and Enzo Pineda. The second is a lead role across comebacking actress Claudine Barretto. The third is even more exciting since it will be a Chinese production, which will be shot in the Philippines.

“My takeaway from all this is that it’s all about timing. I’ve learned not to force things; now, the projects keep coming, compared to when I was younger. Back then, I wanted projects so badly, but apparently, I needed more experience. If you just let things be, things will come, and they will happen.”

Another passion rekindled

Besides football and show business, however, Rivera revealed he also had a passion for architecture. In fact, he was pursuing it for college in Italy and spent three years studying the discipline until the opportunity of a lifetime came to play for the Philippine national team.

“When I got here, they offered me a scholarship in UST [University of Sto. Tomas] to finish my architectural degree because I was playing for the national team. I started my fourth year, but I wasn’t able to complete it because I was doing football, commercials, and then showbiz came along.”

Nevertheless, he knew his love for architecture and design was always in him so much that his ensuing European holidays inspired him to bring what he saw happening on the global stage to the Philippines.

“I also knew the Philippines has so much potential in furniture-making, bathroom fittings and so on. That’s why I also decided to take action and leverage whatever skills and connections I had to help promote local designs and Philippine products to get recognized internationally.”

With a project so ambitious, Rivera knew he couldn’t do it alone and sought the help of the right people to get going.

“Honestly, I didn’t plan this at all. It just happened. We just had ideas, big dreams, and what ifs, but with my business partners, I found the courage to take a step forward.”

It was then that Casa Lusso was born, a company specializing in the design and construction of residential, commercial and industrial real estate projects. Rivera serves as its chief executive officer.

“Casa Lusso means luxury house in Italian. It’s a one-stop shop for people looking for unique but affordable luxury design concepts.”

Rivera furthered Casa Lusso is just one of five companies he and his partners plan to establish to serve different target markets.

“What we really want to do is to shatter the myth that high-end design concepts are expensive,” Rivera explained matter-of-factly.

While the first of five is yet to mark its first anniversary, Rivera proudly noted that they have already landed projects that include hotels, restaurants, museums as well as tourist accommodations outside Metro Manila.

“We are also into creating Airbnb places you can’t find anywhere else. So, we acquired some idle buildings and converted them into Instagramworthy vacation destinations, and the feedback has been amazing.”

Casa Lusso is now working on this concept in properties located in BGC, Makati and Ortigas, as well as a hostel in La Union and Batangas, a Laguna resort, and a hotel in Olongapo City.

Asked what their edge is over other firms, Rivera confidently answered, “We’re not afraid to take risks and break the rules of design.

“For example, you can see in modern establishments that they put corners in every single part of the house. So why not use curves instead? We intentionally design irregularity in the walls and ceiling, including touches that make our projects Instagrammable.”

As for Rivera’s goal to promote Philippine products and design, he shared that Casa Lusso has just partnered with bathroom solutions provider HCG Philippines.

HCG will play a significant role in Rivera’s upcoming online show, “De-Tour,” which he hopes will inspire viewers to embrace fresh and innovative design ideas.

“It’s like a documentary where we discuss the feasibility of a design/build venture, show before/ after videos, discuss choices of materials, timelines, and costings, and we’ll be featuring guests who are expert interior designers, contractors, architects, and more,” Rivera beamed.

Of course, being online, the world will be watching these Filipino talents, too.

Looking ahead

With Rivera juggling different endeavors simultaneously, The Sunday Times Magazine had to ask the young artist and entrepreneur what motivates him to keep going.

“I’ve just always wanted to do something different. I don’t have anything against my parents, but I think there’s a need to change the usual cycle of Filipino families. My parents are OFWs, and usually, OFWs work and send money to families in the Philippines.”

Life had not been easy for Rivera’s parents — his dad is an engineering technician, and his mom is a building caretaker. Initially, they had to stay illegally in Italy until they found jobs, which helped them change their immigration status.

In fact, his parents’ struggle in life and love inspired the hit Piolo Pascual and Claudine Barretto movie, “Milan.”

Seeing what his parents had to go through firsthand was what motivated Rivera to do everything he could to pursue his dreams. It pushed him to leave home at 15 years old and start a football career halfway across the world, give his best in every commercial shoot and acting project and make the most of his background in architecture.

“I’m using their experience as a reference to do something else and get it done. I want to grow in whatever direction life takes to achieve a better future for my family.

“Acting is my passion, and doing business is my long-term plan. I know it’s such a challenge to balance them both, but as they say, if something is too easy, it won’t be worth it,” Rivera ended.