Beauty of Iloilo crowned Miss Universe Philippines 2020

A 23-year-old beauty from Balasan, Iloilo, was crowned Miss Universe Philippines 2020 during a competition held in Baguio City on Sunday.

Rabiya Mateo, an Indian-Filipina whose name means princess or queen, surpassed 44 other girls for the prestigious title when she was crowned by outgoing Miss Universe Philippines Gazini Ganados.

Mateo will represent the Philippines at the 2020 Miss Universe pageant at a location to be announced later.

During the last question and answer, the top five candidates received two questions.

For the first question, Mateo was asked: “If you could create a new paper money with the image of any Filipino, living or dead, who would it be and why?”

Mateo replied: “If given the opportunity, I would use the face of Miriam Defensor-Santiago. For those who do not know, she was 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 someone like her. Someone who puts his heart, his passion into action. And after all, she’s the best president we’ve ever had. ”

For the final question and answer, which is also the common question for the 5 best girls, Mateo was asked: “This pandemic has made clear our priorities, essential or non-essential, where are the contests in times of crisis? ? ”

Mateo replied: “As a candidate, I know that I am not just the face of the city of Iloilo. 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. ”

A Bachelor of Science graduate in Physical Therapy, Mateo finished cum laude, Best Intern and Best College Student, where she delivered her speech on behalf of the 2018 Batch graduates at Iloilo Doctors’ College.

This 5’6 beauty works at SRG Manila Review Center as a review coordinator and speaker.

During the pandemic, Mateo prepared meals for the vanguardists of the Iloilo Medical Hospital.

He also shared his time with BULIG of the Jazmin Foundation to raise donations for the PPE of frontline and pedicab drivers who lost their source of income during the shutdown.

She also volunteered in Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) manufacturing at Iloilo University of Science and Technology with the help of the Iloilo Chapter of the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

Iloilo celebrates

The ilonggos are jubilant on the coronation of Mateo as Miss Universe Philippines 2020.

“The Ilonggo community is truly proud of their achievement. She is an epitome that Iloilo City can really level up and overcome challenges during these times. In fact, she is a phenomenal woman with sincere beauty, ”Mayor Jerry Treñas said yesterday.

“We wish you luck on your next trip. Rest assured that the city of Iloilo and its people will be behind it at all times, ”added Treñas.

“The stars of the universe have aligned and connected. Iloilo City is proud, ”said Congresswoman Julienne“ Jam Jam ”Baronda.

“For all Ilonggos, prepare your passports. We will fly to the Miss Universe pageant, ”said fashion designer Héctor“ Totong ”Gellangarin.

Many Ilonggos were glued to their television screens Sunday morning to cheer on 23-year-old Mateo, who was crowned Miss Iloilo 2020 earlier this year as part of the Dinagyang Festival.

First runner-up honors went to Ysabella Ysmael, Paranaque. The second finalist was Michele Gumabao, Quezon City; Pauline Amelinckx, Bohol, third finalist; and Kimberly Hakenson, Cavite, fourth runner-up.

The winners of the main special awards presented during the preliminaries last Saturday were: Best National Costume, Lou Dominique Piczon, Mandaue; Best in a bathing suit, Mateo, Iloilo City; Best evening dress, Ysabella Ysmael, Parañaque; Face of the Universe, Amelinckx, Bohol; and Miss Photogenic, Tracy Maureen Perez, Cebu City. Other special award winners included: Best Swimsuit Cinematography, Tracy Maureen Perez, Cebu City; Best in Runway, Piczon, Mandaue; Vote of Miss Lazada, Skelly Ivy Florida, Biliran; Miss MG Philippines, Gumabao, Quezon City; Miss Creamsilk, Downy Sweetheart and Miss Cetaphil Sun Award, Amelinckx, Bohol; and Best Tourism Video, Jan Alexis Elcano, Batanes.

The candidates that finished in the Top 16 were delegates from Romblon, Quezon City, Pasig, Paranaque, Taguig, Mandaue, Misamis Oriental, Cebu Province, Cavite, Davao City, Cebu City, Iloilo, Aklan, Bohol, Albay and Biliran. Out of more than 50 candidates, only 45 girls competed in the final. The Miss Universe Philippines 2020 was originally scheduled for May. But the organizers postponed the competition until June.

The national pageant finally took place in October. Jonas Gaffud, creative director at MUP, said the unusual health crisis motivated MUP to help each other.

“We have studied all the efforts for us, in order to help our country not only for short-term relief, but also for the next few years.” There were calls to postpone the Miss Universe Philippines 2020 pageant due to the pandemic.

But Shamcey Supsup-Lee, MUP’s national director, said:

“I agree that we should not run contests in the same way that we held them in the past. Rather than focus solely on what we cannot or should not do in the midst of this crisis, MUP is dedicating time and resources to understand its role in responding to this public health crisis. ”

The judges in this year’s competition were Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque, Miss Universe 2012 1st runner-up Janine Tugonon, Miss Universe 2013 3rd runner-up Ariella Arida, Congressman Eric Yap, Baguio First Lady Arlene Magalong, Venus Navalta, Arthur Peña, Jackie Aquino, Raymond delos Santos, and Samuel Salonga Versoza Jr. Roque encouraged the public to support the country’s commitment to the Miss Universe pageant.

In a Facebook post, Roque said that choosing the country’s bet for the Miss Universe title was one of the hardest jobs that he ever assumed. (With reporting by Argyll Cyrus B. Geducos)