ILO-ILO CITY REPRESENTATIVE RABIYA MATEO IS THE NEW MISS UNIVERSE PHILIPPINES 2020!

BANTUGAN | Ilo-Ilo City representative Rabiya Mateo was named the winner of the Miss Universe Philippines, held in Baguio City, last Sunday.

She bested 46 candidates from different provinces of the Philippines who are vying for the Miss Universe Philippines title.

During the Top 5 Q and A portion, her winning answer was a shocker as her response amazed the judges. Her fellow top 5 applicants were also asked the same question.

Top 5 Q and A Question: This pandemic has made clear our priorities essential or non-essential. Where do pageants stand in this time of crisis?"

Her winning answer was:

"As a candidate, I know I am not just the face of Ilo-Ilo city. But I am here carrying hope and as a symbol of light in the darkest times. And as of the moment, I want to help my community. I want to use my strength to make an impact. And that is the essence of beauty pageants. It gives us the power to

make a difference."

She also made an impressive answer during the Top 16 Q and A portion. When she was asked "If you could create a new paper currency with the image of any Filipino on it dead or alive, who would it be and why?"

Her answer was:

"If I were given a chance, I want to use the face of Miriam Defensor-Santiago. For those who don't know, she was an Ilongga. But what I admire about her is that she used her knowledge, her voice to serve the country. And I want to be somebody like her. Somebody who puts her heart, her passion into action. And after all, she is the best president that we never had."

Rabiya also made a remarkable answer during the 30-sec speech in the Top 16 round, in which the candidates were being asked on how the candidates can create a positive and lasting impact to the world around her.

Her answer was:

"First of all I need to stick to my core, which is being passionate about educating people. I am a lecturer, and I've been pursuing this because this education had helped me to have that comfortable life that I and my family deserves and I wanna push people. I want them to achieve greater things in life through me and I know with Miss Universe that anything is possible because I am a phenomenal women with a heart of beauty."

During the preliminary competition, Rabiya also grabbed the Best in Swimsuit award.

She is set to represent the Philippines in the next edition of Miss Universe.

Here are the Final results: Miss Ilo-Ilo Rabiya Mateo - Miss Universe Philippines 2020, Miss Paranaque Ysabella Ysmael - 1st Runner-Up, Miss Quezon City Michelle Gumabao - 2nd Runner-Up, Miss Bohol Pauline Amelinckx - 3rd Runner-Up, and Miss Cavite Kimberly "Billie" Hakenson - 4th Runner-Up.

Source: ABSCBN NEWS and GMA NEWS

Photo: Miss Universe Philippines Organization

✒️: William Jefferson P. Granzon