‘Ariba, Rabiya!’ Will Ilongga stunner bring home the Miss U crown?

MATEO
MATEO

ILOILO City – The road to the Miss Universe beauty pageant wasn’t easy for Iloilo’s Rabiya Mateo.

But this 24-year-old stunner from Balasan town – the current Miss Iloilo and Miss Universe Philippines – isn’t one to give up so easily.

“I’m telling you, I am giving my all in this fight,” she once told Panay News.

Now, all eyes are on this physical therapist as she aims to become the Philippines’ fifth Miss Universe today at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Florida, United States.

The 5 feet and 6 inches tall young lady is competing against 73 other candidates – the first Ilongga to carry the country’s colors in the world’s biggest beauty pageant since Jaro, Iloilo native Louise Aurelio Vail represented the country in 1965 and became a semifinalist in Miami, Florida.

But this isn’t just a quest for the Miss Universe crown; this is also a search to find a missing piece of herself – her biological father.

Mateo once revealed that her other goal in the ongoing competition is to hopefully meet her estranged father, an Indian-American medical doctor based in the United States.  Her parents separated when she was a little girl less than five years old.

It was her father who named her Rabiya, which means princes in Arabic.

“Rabiya has a good shot. I am confident she’ll make it,” said Iloilo’s Gov. Arthur Defensor Jr.

In fact, he said he’s been watching Mateo’s past interviews and “maalam sia.” Defensor also emphasized Mateo’s “strong features” that would make her achieve the coveted tiara.

Mateo is a cum laude graduate from Iloilo Doctors’ College. Coming from a humble background, she would do modeling gigs to support her studies. Once she had to stay at the boardinghouse of a friend because she couldn’t pay the rent in her own boardinghouse.

“Nagapangamuyo gid kita nga mahatagan sia sang 100 percent nga confidence sa pagtungtong sa entablado kag magsabat sang pamangkot,” Defensor told Panay News.

Iloilo City’s Mayor Jerry Treñas, meanwhile, said Mateo’s showing – even from her Miss Iloilo days – is one solid proof of the famous quote “Basta Ilongga gwapa.”  

“She has expressed the courage despite all odds. Let us continue supporting her on her journey to the crown,” Treñas said.

There were many odds. In the Miss Universe Philippines competition on October last year, her preliminary swimsuit competition did not go as smoothly as it looked on camera.

“Naglagay kami ng body oil para makintab, para maganda siya sa screen. Ang sinuot ko ‘’yung swimwear ko, it was color yellow, nadumihan siya,” Mateo revealed in an interview.

To remedy the situation, she and her roommate rushed to the restroom to wash the swimwear then “sabay namin siyang blinower.”

“Nung moment na iyon, [sinusubukan] ko talaga to keep my nerves calm,” said Mateo. “Para siyang pagkakataon na sinusubok ni God ‘yung character mo.”

Ilonggos have shown their support through left-and-right tributes such as chalk art, sand art, songs, and cheers on social media, among others.

The family of Mateo appeals for everyone’s prayers.

“Good luck sa imo journey,” said Miguel Occeña Mateo Jr., Rabiya’s uncle. “Tani magdaog kag makuha mo ang crown sa Miss Universe. And, whatever will happen mahal na mahal ka namin.”

As to Rabiya’s bashers, he said: “Siguro indi anay kita magsubong sina. Didto ‘ta anay mag-focus sa competition. Mag-pray kita tanan amo na anay ang pinaka the best. Prayers.”

The national costume competition Friday last week tested the young lady’s resolve once again. It was a heavy 21-kilo a pair of wings inspired by the color of the Philippine flag.

Backstage she accidentally cut a finger, her stockings were bloodied, and she didn’t have time to retouch her hair or makeup. And she had to give up an ill-fitting the headdress because it kept falling off.  

Should Rabiya bag the title, it would be the greatest gift to the Philippines amid the pandemic, her uncle said.  

On the other hand, the village chief of Barangay Poblacion Norte, Balasan, Iloilo where Mateo hails described her as kind, loving and smart daughter.

Si Nanay ‘ya sina dugay ‘na sa amon barangay bilang secretary. Kag ini nga bata wala ka sang isaway kay maayo gid ina,” captain Bernie Fuentes told Panay News.

Daku gid nga bugal sa amon nga taga-diri gid si Ma’am Rabiya nga isa ka Balaseño. First time in history nga natabo nga isa ka Balaseño ang naga-representar sa Pilipinas sa Miss Universe,” Fuentes added.

As for Mateo’s quest for her father, the beauty queen has this to say: “I feel there’s still hope. And maybe I might find him because I have his name, I know his name and his birthday. So maybe I can have a track of where he is if he’s alive or not.”

If she does, it would be the crowning glory of her Miss Universe journey./PN

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