Riza Santos

Riza Santos

Riza Santos’ mission is to inspire and empower women to achieve their dreams. She strives to serve as an example for women to be influencers and leaders in all career fields while exemplifying compassion and servitude. Her unique combination of studying engineering, serving in the armed forces, succeeding as an international actress and talent, and volunteering in the community embody her life’s mission.

Riza was born in a rural Alberta town and grew up in Calgary. As a teenager, she spent two years enrolled in the Canadian Forces Army Reserve with 15 Field Ambulance and completed her Basic Military Qualification and Soldier Qualification.

Riza studied Engineering at the Schulich School of Engineering. She received numerous scholarships, such as the prestigious Byron J. Seaman Award, Chinese Entrepreneurs Society of Canada Scholarship and the University of Calgary’s Science Excellence Award.

Riza’s interest to promote environmental awareness and sustainability led her to work in partnership with the Canadian International Development Agency [CIDA] and the Philippine Tourism Authority as an Ambassador of Goodwill.

She has worked with CIDA both nationally and internationally through the PEARL II Project. While residing in the Philippines, Riza also became a popular actress for the ABS-CBN television network. She is most recognizable for her roles in many Philippine television shows and movies. Her leading lady role in the movie “Dobol Trobol” gave her the opportunity to work with legendary Philippine actors and earned her a best actress award nomination from the Film Academy of the Philippines (Luna Awards). Dobol Trobol was a blockbuster hit and ranked in the top three at the Philippine box-office for the year of 2008.

In addition, Riza was the official television host of the Asian Poker Tour, with tournaments in Manila and Macau, airing on the CS 9-Sports Channel and Solar Sports. She has graced magazine covers such as Gadgets, Action & Fitness, Total Woman, Women’s Journal, Speed, and MOD to name a few. She has also been an endorsement model for numerous campaigns across Canada and the Philippines.

She is actively involved in the community and has volunteered with several organizations such as the Lions Club, as a track and field coach for Special Olympics Canada, and as an emergency ward volunteer and prevent alcohol risk-related trauma in youth program volunteer at Foothills Hospital. She has also represented Variety – the Children’s Charity.

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