MAKALIPAS ang walong buwan, isang 23-anyos na Filipina- Indian stunner mula Balasan, Iloilo ang kinoronahang Miss Universe Philippines 2020 sa ginanap na kompetisyon sa Baguio City kahapon.

Tinalo ni Rabiya Mateo, na ang pangalan ay nangangahuugang prinsesa o reyna, ang 44 na kandidata para sa prestihiyosong titulo sa pagsalin sa kanya ng korona ni outgoing Miss Universe Philippines Gazini Ganados. Siya ang magiging kinatawan ng Pilipinas sa Miss Universe 2020 pageant na nakataldang ianunsiyo ang venue.

Sa final question-and-answer, binigyan ng dalawang katanungan ang top 5 candidates. Unang tanong para kay Rabita ang: “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?

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Kumpiyansang sagot ng kandidata: “If I were given the chance, I will use the face of Miriam Defensor- Santiago. For those who do not know, she was an Ilongga but what I admire about her is that she used her knowledge and 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 we never had.” Para naman sa final question-and-answer, na iisang tanong na ibinigay sa mga Top 5, ito ang naging tanong: “This pandemic has made clear our priorities, essential or non-essential, where do pageants stand in the time of crisis?”

Sagot ni Rabiya: “As a candidate, I know that I am not just the face of Iloilo City. But I am here carrying hope and as a symbol of light in the darkest times. And I want to help my community. I want to use my strength to make an impact. That is the essence of beauty pageants. It gives us the power to make a difference.”

Graduate ng bachelor of science in physical therapy, nagtapos si Mateo bilang cum laude, best intern at university valedictorian kung saan siya ang nagbigay ng speech bilang kinatawan ng graduates ng Batch 2018 sa Iloilo Doctors’ College. Isang review coordinator at lecturer ang 5’6 beauty queen sa SRG Manila Review Center.

Sa kasagsagan ng pandemya, nakiisa si Mateo sa paghahanda ng mga pagkain para sa mga frontliners ng Iloilo Doctors Hospital. Nagbahagi rin siya ng oras sa

BULIG ng Jazmin Foundation upang makapangalap ng donasyon para sa PPEs ng mga frontliners at pedicab drivers na nawalan ng pagkakakitaan noong lockdown. Isang volunteer din si Rabiya sa paggawa ng mga personal protective equipment (PPE) sa Iloilo Science and Technology University kasama ng Iloilo Chapter of the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

Samantala nakuha naman ni Ysabella Ysmael, ng Paranaque ang first runner-up, second runner-up si Michele Gumabao, Quezon City; Pauline Amelinckx, Bohol, 3rd runner-up; at Kimberly Hakenson, Cavite, 4th runner-up.

Nitong Sabado una nang inanunsiyo ang mga nagwagi sa major special awards presented: Best in National Costume, Lou Dominique Piczon, Mandaue; Best in Swimsuit, Mateo, Iloilo City; Best in Evening Gown, Ysabella Ysmael, Parañaque; Face of the Universe, Amelinckx, Bohol; and Miss Photogenic, Tracy Maureen Perez, Cebu City. Wagi rin ng special awards para: Best in Swimsuit Photo, si Tracy Maureen Perez, Cebu City; Best in Runway, Piczon, Mandaue; Miss Lazada Fan Vote, Skelly Ivy Florida, Biliran; Miss MG Philippines, Gumabao, Quezon City; Miss Creamsilk, Downy Sweetheart Award and Miss Cetaphil Sun, Amelinckx, Bohol; at Best Tourism Video, Jan Alexis Elcano, Batanes.

Pumasok naman sa Top 16 ang mga delegado mula Romblon, Quezon City, Pasig, Paranaque, Taguig, Mandaue, Misamis Oriental, Cebu Province, Cavite, Davao City, Cebu City, Iloilo, Aklan, Bohol, Albay, at Biliran. Mula sa 50 kandidata, 45 ang naglaban-laban sa finale. Nakatakda sanang idaos ang Miss Universe Philippines 2020 noong Mayo ngunit naantala dahil sa pandemya hanggang sa wakas ay naidaos ngayong Oktubre.

“No industry was really spared by this crisis. Specifically in our case, it has been very difficult because movement is limited, so all schedules need to be moved, contestants and employees secured, and our partners assured of our commitment to seeing this project through,” pahayag ni Jonas Gaffud, creative director ng MUP.

“We have studied all efforts for us, to be able to help our country not only for short-term relief but for the coming years as well.”

Nagkaroon din ng mga panawagan para kanselahin ang Miss Universe Philippines 2020 pageant dahil sa pandemya. Ngunit ayon kay Shamcey Susup-Lee, MUP national director: “I agree that we should not hold pageants in the same way we held them in the past. Rather than just focusing on what we can’t or shouldn’t do amidst this crisis, MUPh is devoting time and resources to understand its role in responding to this public health crisis.”