By Joseph B.A. Marzan
Ilongga beauty queen Rabiya Mateo continued the Philippines’ streak in the Top 21 of Miss Universe pageant, which concluded at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Hollywood, Florida, USA on May 17, 2021 (Philippine time).
Competing with 74 other bets, Mateo was one of the 21 semifinalists which included Miss Vietnam Khánh Vân Nguyễn, who entered via fan votes.
The native of Balasan, Iloilo fell short of the Top 10, the same fate as her predecessor, Miss Universe Philippines 2019 Gazini Ganados of Cebu.
But her entry was still notable, as it marked the 11th straight year that the country was included in the first semifinal callouts, which began with Maria Venus Raj of Camarines Sur back in 2010.
Prior to the main event, she had also been picked by pageant site Missosology as one of its top picks for the pageant, ranking 3rd in its final predictions.
Andrea Meza of Mexico ultimately bagged the Miss Universe crown, beating Julia Gama (Brazil), Janick Maceta (Peru), Adline Castelino (India), and Kimberly Jimenez (Dominican Republic), who were all runners-up.
The Best National Costume award went to Thuzar Wint Lwin of Myanmar, who caught the eyes of the world with her “Pray For Myanmar” banner during the National Costume portion of the contest held last Friday.
Mateo’s National Costume was also the subject of discussion among Filipino spectators and pageant fans, earning mixed reactions, which led her to give a teary-eyed apology after the event.
The Ilongga beauty queen won the right to represent the country last October 2020 at the first-ever Miss Universe Philippines pageant in Baguio City, representing Iloilo City, a right she earned after winning Miss Iloilo-Universe in January 2020.
WORDS OF COMFORT, REACTIONS
Past Miss Universes, national titleholders, local leaders, and Ilonggos reacted to Mateo’s semifinals finish and gave her words of support via social media.
In their respective tweets, Miss Universe 2015 Pia Wurtzbach thanked Mateo “for pouring [her] heart for the Philippines,” while Miss Universe 2018 Catriona Gray congratulated her for continuing the country’s streak and sent the Ilongga “all our love” for making the country proud.
Ganados “sent love” to her successor in a tweet, saying “We are sooooo proud of you Queen Rabiya! You have represented the Philippines with beauty and grace.”
Miss Universe Philippines 2014 Mary Jean Lastimosa, who had gained Ilonggos’ support on social media with her Hiligaynon tweets since Mateo’s national contest win, expressed sadness in her tweets.
“Rabiya langga love you so much!!!!!” Lastimosa said in her tweet.
Miss Universe Philippines 2012 Janine Tugonon, who almost clinched the crown in her year, said in her tweet, “Mahal ka namin Rabiya! Salamat sa pagrepresenta sa ating bansa! You worked so hard and we are proud of you.”
Shamcey Supsup-Lee, Miss Universe 2011 3rd Runner-Up and the National Director of Miss Universe Philippines, gave a heartfelt message to Mateo via an Instagram photo of the two of them.
“To [Mateo], you have shown us what it means to be relentless, unyielding and unstoppable in the pursuit of your dreams. Despite the setbacks, critics and failures, you continued to wear the Philippine sash with pride and love. And for that, you are a winner, not just in my eyes but in the hearts of millions of Filipinos around the world. Padayon!” said Supsup-Lee in her Instagram post.
Iloilo City Mayor Jerry Treñas, who had offered public prayers and even asked schools and businesses to allow tardiness and absences in support of Mateo, congratulated her for representing the country on the international stage.
Treñas also told Bombo Radyo Iloilo on Monday that the city government and the local private sector will be planning a homecoming celebration for her, but there has been no exact date yet as of this writing.
“I met her a while back, and I saw her compassion to help our fellow Filipinos especially educating our young children. She had strived very hard to achieve her dreams. She had fluently represented the City of Love to the entire globe, and we are very proud of her. We cannot wait to welcome her home and make her feel the love of every Ilonggo,” the mayor said in a statement posted to his official Facebook page.
Iloilo Governor Arthur Defensor Jr. also congratulated Mateo through an online statement.
“Congratulations, Rabiya! You represented our country well and we are proud of you. You have been a symbol of hope and unity for your kasimanwas. This is the beginning of your dream of making education accessible to all. The Province of Iloilo is behind you,” read the governor’s statement.
Daily Guardian also talked to some of the people in Mateo’s circle, who were present in her journey during the local and national pageants.
Jasper Vijar, who was able to talk to her via online calls leading up to Monday’s final, said he was “was still happy despite the result.”
“Although I’m seeing her reach top 2, a semifinal finish for 11 straight years is a good feat. It’s not always Christmas so let’s fight again on the next edition!” said Vijar via Messenger.
Businessman and pageant enthusiast Joe Marie Agriam, who pushed Rabiya to join the Miss Iloilo 2020 beauty pageant, said he was happy with her result, but also expressed disappointment towards her team in the global tilt.
“We should be happy that she reached Top 21. Her Team did not really train her well on projection and bearing and they did not give her the right support in terms of her wardrobes and accessories. They only concentrated on [Question and Answer],” Agriam told Daily Guardian via online chat.
He added that her team was not able to control her social media exposure, which made her “come out as proud and self-centered”.
“They should have controlled the social media exposure of Rabiya. Many photos were uploaded which are photoshopped which showed Rabiya as too pretty, which she is not [too pretty in person]. Like a product, she was [over-promoted] that when the judges saw her, she was not [the same]. Then, the comments coming from her fans bashing other candidates also reflected on Rabiya, that she could not control them,” Agriam added.
Several Ilonggo pageant fans also told Daily Guardian their reactions to the pageant and Mateo’s semifinal snub.
Photographer and film enthusiast Sonny Llaguno said that Mateo “had given her all,” but observed that changes in the format affected the performance of Asian countries, noting that only India had made it to the Top 5.
He added that Asian delegates would have had their chance to bag higher spots if they were given time to speak after their inclusion in the Top 21 and initial Question-and-Answer bouts with the Top 10, which had been done in previous editions.
“Despite not reaching the Top 10, our very own Rabiya Mateo gave her all. But as a pageant fan, I do believe that the possible inclusion of most Asian candidates was affected by the change of formats in the competition. Candidates like Miss Myanmar, Indonesia, and Philippines didn’t get the chance to speak, and while they may not be perfectly fluent in English, they speak with substance and conviction, which is more powerful than being fluent in a specific language. It’s sad to know that our very own didn’t get the chance to show the world, the universe rather, her strongest suit,” he told Daily Guardian.
Government employee Mikee Teruel was “sad” after knowing Mateo, who he had been following for a long time, did not make it to the Top 10, but nevertheless called her an “empowered woman” for blazing it through the international stage.
“I am one of those people who were sad after knowing Rabiya didn’t make it to the Top 10, because I knew that she has a lot to offer most especially in the Question-and-Answer portion. The Top 21 finish was good though I believe that she deserves to have a higher spot. As an Ilonggo, I am very proud of what she has shown on the international stage and I am grateful, for she raised our flag with confidence after all the hardship she went through, which is a mark of an empowered woman,” Teruel said.
