Rabiya Mateo: ‘There is power in silence’

CEBU, Philippines —  More than a week after her victory, Rabiya fever is still raging among pageant enthusiasts in and out of the country. The post-pageant drama has ignited further curiosity for anything and everything about this Filipina-Indian from Balasan, Iloilo City who will represent the Philippines in the next edition of Miss Universe.               

As insinuations of favoritism and cheating were thrown around on social media, pledges of allegiance from fellow candidates, and testimonials from friends and acquaintances have also surfaced in support of Rabiya.

The Physical Therapy lecturer, who is turning 25 years old in two weeks, is in the thick of media rounds, displaying a forthright personality that seems to warn – promdi or pageant rookie she might be – this isn’t one Ilongga you can shove around.

Yesterday, she appeared on “Eat Bulaga” as the celebrity judge on the noontime show’s hit segment Bawal Judgmental. A day before that, she was the guest for the Nov. 1 episode of the online talk show Pageantry Norms. Below are excerpts of that interview edited for clarity and brevity:

On feeling more pressure now:

People are starting to compare you to the former queens, and I have a different identity. I have different strengths. There are a lot of comments now that this should be my image, this is how I should dress…but I am still starting out. Ate Pia [Wurtzbach] and even Miss Catriona [Gray] have reminded me to just enjoy the moment, because the comments that matter are from those who truly love you and see the potential in you.

On her before and after pictures:

When I won, photos from my childhood and high school yearbook came out and people were saying I was ugly. There’s a great transformation that happened to me, but I’m still the same. I’m beautiful then and now. The only difference is, now I know it. Now, I claim it. You cannot just bully somebody because you think they don’t fit the image of a Miss Universe Philippines. I am happy with my transformation. I had my awkward stage, and that makes me relatable. In fact, I will post more childhood photos…I am not embarrassed. Maybe the bashers thought it will ruin me. But it is actually building me up. At the end of the day, it is a woman’s character that makes her a queen.

On her attitude towards the controversies:

You need to choose your battles. Put your energy towards the right place. Sometimes you need to be silent, not because it’s evidence that you are weak, but because there is so much power and strength in being quiet. Not everything should bother you. Not everything entitles you to speak about it. Sometimes the best solution is to be silent. Because the truth will come out, right? People will defend you, and that’s what matters to me.

On what she considers her pinnacle of success:

I want to make my country proud of me. I want to prove to everybody that the Miss Universe Philippines judges made the right choice. It’s not just winning Miss Universe…my definition of success is sharing this power and opportunity to others, especially to children suffering from poverty.

On what women can learn from men:

I’m very emotional. Sometimes I make decisions when I’m in that emotional state. But what I learned from my boyfriend is that you need to use your wisdom. Mind first over emotions. Because when you are level-headed and you rationalize things, you can arrive at the best possible solution.

On her now famous Miriam Defensor-Santiago answer:

It was my question because a week before coronation, I opened the television and her biography was being aired. It was like God reminding me that you need to remember this woman because she’s going to be a part of your success.

On the online and modular schemes of DepEd:

I have cousins who are studying right now. It is challenging when you’re thinking where to get your meals for the day, cellphone load or where to get money to buy a gadget. I do understand the efforts of our government to provide something through modules for those who have no internet access. However, I also see it is hard on our teachers because some of them don’t have printers or enough bond papers so they shell out from their own pockets. So yes, I am a strong advocate for education, but if it was up to me, I want an academic freeze in the meantime

On the traits she inherited from her Indian father:

My mom would always tell me that I got my love for studying from my dad. He was a Medicine student in the Philippines, and that’s how he met my mom who was a PT student. My mom said he didn’t mind not being able to eat enough just so he can buy the expensive books so he can finish his studies. My mom sees the same thing with me. When everything is done, I want to go back to studying and become a doctor just like my dad.