By Shy Polido
AMID rounds of tumultuous cheers on her victory, Iloilo’s most beautiful Rabiya Mateo would always opt to bring her people forward, and that is to revel with them under the same spotlight.
Of course, her warmth is innate as she exudes not just the tenderness of being an Ilongga, but her power to rise while lifting others.
And we aretruly honored to magnify this humble soul. As interviewed by Panay News Exclusive’s Leah Fajardo, Rabiya talked about how things are on the run: from getting two crowns in just a year to sharing lines of her early life, and even a peek into her soon-to-be chapters.
Let’s take a closer look at our pride, with the unfurling of these interests in couples of question marks.
Q: Your win now makes you a national celebrity. Intrigues come with the territory. How do you plan to handle them? How do you stay positive?
Even before I’ve been crowned, I get a lot of backlashes and bashers. Now that I have the victory, everybody won’t be happy with that. But that’s completely okay. What’s important is I surround myself with people who truly love me, people who want me to win Miss Universe. It’s also a test of faith and character. I choose to become the bigger person in the picture. Let’s not deal with those negativities. I focus on things that matters the most. That is, to win the Miss Universe crown for Iloilo and for the country.
Q: What went through your mind while waiting for the result to be announced?
I was shocked because I wasn’t the No. 1 in the prediction list of lots of pageant bloggers, so there’s not much pressure on my end. However, after the preliminary, people are starting to recognize me, to like me. I wanted to win, but I didn’t expect it to happen. I’m very happy and I feel like I’m in Cloud 9 right now.
Q: You dedicated your win to your mother. Are there any other special persons who inspired you to do your best during the pageant aside from her and Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago?
There are a lot of people who have helped me to be in a national competition because it’s never easy to join a pageant. You need to have a strong mindset, strong character, at the same time the finances. I just want to thank Sir Joe Agriam, and Miss Iloilo Organization’ Panging Rosales and Sarah Peña who served as my second mothers.
Q: On Instagram, you posted some time ago for the first time a baby photo of you being cradled by your dad. You haven’t seen him for a very, very long time now. Given your busy schedule for your Miss U preparations, is there any chance of you reaching out to him? Any message to him?
I’ve never seen my dad since I was five years old. I joined Miss Universe because I want to know him. I want to be reconnected with him. Deep down in my heart, I know I am going to see him in the future. I hope he’s proud of whatever achievements I had in my life. We don’t have any communication to be honest. Sana through social media, he’ll able to know na ang daughter niya is the representative of the Philippines in Miss Universe.
And I just want him to know that regardless what happened in the past, he’s my father and I love him so much.
Q: Miss Universe Philippines was your first national pageant and the second beauty contest you joined after Miss Dinagyang – both this year only. When you were younger, was joining beauty pageants a dream? What made you decide to join this year?
Actually, I’m inspired of the story of Venus Raj because when you look at it, we have similar life stories. We were raised by single mothers. We have Indian fathers who abandoned us when we were young. And ever since, people kept telling me na you know what when you grow up you should join beauty pageants. Because you’re fit. You have the height, you have exotic beauty. It was instilled to me. And I was thinking that someday I’m going to represent Iloilo City in a national pageant. And I hope na around early 2021, I’m going to have my third one (crown). The Miss Universe crown.
Q: Will you consider joining show business if there are offers? Why or why not?
My intention right now is to be successful in a beauty pageant like this one. Maybe in the future, I’ll give it a shot. Because back in high school and college I did declamation and acting. I would join competitions like that so I feel like there’s passion. So let’s see if there’s going to be a chance.
Q: Any special message to young girls dreaming of becoming a beauty queen?
If you want to become a queen, first, you need to invest in yourself. You need to make sure that you experience life first. As a beauty queen, you’re not just relatable, you should be influential. So right now, you need to invest in creating that power in yourself. And in the right time, with the right people around you, you’ll be able to win and enjoy the competition. There’s nothing impossible once it was your heart and soul in the things you truly love. And I can attest to that.
Q: Lastly, your message to the Ilonggos.
Madamo gid nga salamat sa tanan nga Ilonggo halin sa Siudad sang Paghigugma nga nag-suporta gid sa akon halin sang Miss Iloilo pa lang asta nadaog ko na ang Miss Universe Philippines. Madamo gid nga salamat sa paghatag sa akon sang kusog, even though there was a moment na nobody knows my name. I offer this success to every Ilonggo. I hope I made you proud. I’ll do my best to make you prouder when I represent the country in the international stage.
‘Red is power and I am red’
Talking to Panay News is none other than the Jun-G Candelario of Lemery, Iloilo. The clever mind behind Rabiya’s winning outfit.
For him, he is just this “lowkey designer,” but his decade-old hands-in-art would tell us his brilliance.
As Rabiya’s official designer since Miss Iloilo, Jun-G went along the former’s journey up to the national stage where he produced the spectacular white gown in the prelims and the marsala red one, which later became the crown’s mate.
“Actually sa gowns, si Rabiya mismo, very hands on sia sa gown nya,” shared Jun-G. “Kag gina-consult man namon ang design sa iya team sa Manila and kadamo pa na sang deliberations sa color, sa design. But at the end, kay Rabiya man sa gihapon nga choice ang amon nga gin-finalize.”
According to Jun-G, Rabiya wished to sport a look like that of a goddess, and sure she nailed it with his masterpiece.
“Gusto ya gid nga goddess look paggwa ya sa stage. Amu na nga gin-work out gid nakon ang iya nga gusto para confident man sia sa pagrampa sang gown nya kag happy man sia,” he said.
And Rabiya’s somewhat favorite tagline, ‘Red is power and I am red,’ had a connection with her final look onstage.
Jun-G shared, “Ang winning gown nya actually pag-fit namon sang red gown nya before sia mag-fly pa Manila, siling ya na ‘Sir this is my winning gown. Diri gid ako ya koronahan.’ And I’m so happy sa outcome.”
He couldn’t contain his joy also during the coronation.
“Very proud gid ako nga nangin part ako sang iya nga journey. Na-pay off gid tanan niya nga kabudlay… And feeling ko man daw ako ang nagdaog,” Jun-G happily said.
(Yes, Sir. Ilonggos felt that, too.)
Art of Tata Blas Pinuela
Here’s the story behind Rabiya’s national costume as coined by young artist Tata Blas Pinuela:
“Iloilo City’s Dinagyang is a world-renowned festival that celebrates the culture and devotion of the Ilonggo with Pedro Monteclaro’s “Maragtas (Barter of Panay)” as the sub-plot.
“Rabiya Mateo is dressed as Maniwantiwan, a phenomenal woman of her time, wife of the ruler of Aninipay (Panay), whose stature was recognized by the Borneans who came by giving her a Manangyad (long necklace), just the same as they gave her husband a Golden Salakot. Maniwantan is proof that the women of Panay is already empowered even then, and commands the kind of respect at par with men.
“The bead patterns are inspired from the intricate indigenous embroidery of the Panay Bukidnon – the “Panubok” who also derive their patterns from nature like leaves, flowers, birds and even the snake’s skin.
“The Back Dress is made of materials commonly used by tribes in the Dinagyang Festival while the color Red celebrates the enduring devotion of the Ilonggos to Senior Sto. Niño.”/PN
