Rabiya Mateo of Iloilo City is Miss Universe Philippines 2020
The Miss Universe Philippines 2020, which was aired at the Baguio Country Club in Baguio City on October 25, 2020, has named its titleholder for this year.
Out of the 40 beauty queen fighting for the title, Rabiya Mateo, hailing from the “City of Love”, Iloilo City will be taking home the crown to represent the Philippines for Miss Universe 2020.
Rabiya Mateo in her national costume portraying Queen Maniwantiwan, wife of Marikudo, the Aeta ruler of Panay Island.
Credits: Rabiya Mateo’s Official Facebook Page
Miss Universe Philippines 2020 Top 16 Q&A Answer
During the top 16 Q&A Round, the contestants all had to answer one question:
Throughout this journey, you have discovered you are a phenomenal woman who is conditioned for greater. How can you create a positive and lasting impact on the world around you?”
Mateo’s answer reflected changing lives through her profession:
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 that Miss Universe anything is possible because I am a phenomenal woman with a heart.
Miss Universe Philippines 2020 Top 5 Q&A
Mateo advanced to the top 5 along with Parañaque, Quezon City, Bohol, and Cavite bets.
For the final Question and Answer round, the five candidates were given two questions to be answered in 30 seconds. First of which was drawn behind the stage while the second question was the same question for all five of the candidates.
First Question
“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?”
Mateo’s answer:
“If I were given the 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. After all, she is the best president that we never had.”
Second Question
“This pandemic has made clear our priorities, essential and non-essential. Where do pageants stand in this time of crisis?”
To which Mateo has answered:
“As a candidate, I know I’m not just the face of Iloilo City. But I am here carrying hope and as a symbol of light in the darkest times. 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.”
Miss Universe Philippines 2020
Mateo bagged the crowned of Miss Universe Philippines 2020 while Maria Ysabella “Bella” Ysmael of Parañaque was crowned 1st runner-up, Michele Gumabao of Quezon City as 2nd runner-up, Pauline Amelinckx of Bohol as 3rd-runner up, and Kimberly “Billie” Hakenson, Cavite as 4th runner-up.
