ILONGGA BEAUTY AND BRAINS
Malamang ay nakangiti ang nasirang Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago mula sa langit.
Ito ay matapos na tanghalin ang kapwa niya Ilongga na si Rabiya Mateo nitong Linggo bilang Miss Philippines Universe sa beauty pageant na ginanap sa Baguio Country Club.
May edad 23, tinalo ni Mateo ang 45 iba pang kandidato sa patimpalak na ginanap sa kauna-unahang pagkakataon na iba na ang may hawak ng prangkisa.
Pumuwesto bilang 1st hanggang 4th runners-up, ayon sa pagkakasunodsunod, sina Maria Ysabella Ysmael ng Paranaque, Michele Gumabao ng Quezon City, Pauline Amelickx ng Bohol at Kimberly Hakenson ng Cavite.
Isinuot ni 2019 Miss Philippines Gazini Ganados ang korona kay Mateo.
Malinaw na nakuha ni Mateo ang boto ng mga hurado dahil sa maganda niyang sagot kung kaninong imahe ang ilalagay niya kung mag-iimprenta ng bagong perang papel.
“If I were given the chance, I want to use the face of Miriam DefensorSantiago. For those who don’t know, she was an Ilongga,” wika niya.
“But what I admired about her is that she used her knowledge, her voice to serve the country. 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,” anya.
Sa kanyang ikalawang tanong kung ano ang saysay ng beauty contest sa panahon ng pandemya, sinabi ni Mateo na maaaring magsilbing ilaw ang patimpalak sa dilim.
“As a candidate, I know I am not just a face of Iloilo City but I am here carrying hope and as a symbol of light in the darkest of times,” aniya.
“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 pageant. It gives us the power to make a difference.”
Agad umani ng papuri si Mateo mula sa mga dating beauty queens.
“Congratulations to our new queen Rabiya!!! Welcome to the sisterhood! Excited to witness your journey,” wika ni Miss Universe 2018 Catriona Gray.
“Welcome to the sisterhood Queen,” ani Ganados.
“Winning the pageant takes a lot of hard work, dedication, but I would say that destiny also plays a part on it, based on my experience. Welcome to the sisterhood,” wika ni Miss Universe 2013 third runner-up Ariella Arida.