Carmen Villilon-Rieza

Committed 100% percent to serve the deaf, Mrs. Carmen Villilon Rieza has learned the significance of her craft in bringing hope to other people most especially the deaf. Her strong desire to create a difference in other people's lives has given her the opportunity to not only serve but also to succeed. In so doing, she has simply given justice to the many talents that have been entrusted to her. 

      Ms. Carmen Rieza is born in Labo, Camarines Norte. She went to Manila to find good education and was able to graduate Bachelor of Science in Social Work from the Centro Escolar University . Immediately after graduation, this hardworking individual became the head of the social services department of the Philippine Association of the Deaf, Inc. She, then, responded to the call of becoming an expert interpreter to help her better understand the deaf when she took her formal lessons in sign language at the Philippine Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf. Since then she held important positions in different deaf organizations. She became the executive director of A Better Chance Foundation, Inc. She also became a sports organizer and interpreter at the SAMAPIKA Foundation, Inc., social worker and interpreter at the Granada Educational Foundation, Inc., a livelihood trainer for the deaf at the HALIKA Foundation, Inc., and a sign language and performing arts trainer at the Catholic Deaf Care. Now, she continues to reach out to the deaf by being a freelance and part-time sign language interpreter and trainer at Catholic Deaf Care. 

      Mrs.Carmen Villilon Rieza, who is well loved by her 3 children, considers her talents and skills much too precious to be wasted. In her 20 years of service to the deaf, she has learned to become superior to all the anxieties, troubles and worries that have hindered others from achieving their goals. Rather than taking a back seat, she humbly accepted her destiny to interpret for the deaf with much integrity and dedication. 

“My hands could not perform miracles but it brings joy; understanding and communication with the deaf.” - Carmen Rieza