BY DARLENE DELGADO
ILOILO City – A simple social media question about dining spots in Iloilo unexpectedly ignited a broader public discussion on online cruelty and mental health after Rabiya Mateo disclosed that she has been living with major depressive disorder accompanied by anxious distress.
The controversy began when Mateo posted, “Iloilo na! Where to eat?” on Facebook. While many users offered recommendations, others responded with derisive and hurtful remarks. The wave of criticism prompted the Ilongga beauty queen to release a series of candid posts calling out cyberbullying and reminding the public of the real harm words can inflict.
Writing in Hiligaynon, Mateo shared that she had endured the negativity in silence for a long time and pleaded for the attacks to stop. She reiterated her pride in being Ilongga and said she had always tried to represent Iloilo well, but added that the comments had crossed the line.
The conversation intensified when Mateo revealed that she was clinically diagnosed in 2025 with major depressive disorder with anxious distress — an illness she said she had intentionally kept private after years of quietly coping.
She described her daily struggle in an English-language post, saying she had nearly withdrawn from social media entirely to seek peace.
“I fought hard and I am still fighting,” she wrote, stressing that even small acts of kindness can make a significant difference to someone battling depression, while cruel words can push a person toward dangerous thoughts.
To support her disclosure, Mateo shared a medical certificate from her psychiatrist confirming the diagnosis and advising a temporary leave from professional commitments to aid her recovery.
In a separate post, Mateo invoked the 2025 calls for compassion that followed the death of Emman Atienza, criticizing what she called the contradiction between promoting kindness and engaging in online harassment. She warned that bullying can be deadly and urged users to be more responsible with their words.
“Bullying needs to stop now,” Mateo said, noting that the emotional damage it causes is often underestimated.
The former Miss Universe Philippines, a native of Balasan, Iloilo, sat as one of the judges at the Miss Iloilo 2026 grand coronation night on Saturday night, January 17.
Her openness has since triggered an outpouring of support online, with many netizens expressing solidarity and mental health advocates renewing calls for empathy, accountability, and civility in digital spaces./PN
