Rabiya Mateo from Iloilo City was crowned as the winner of the Miss Universe Philippines pageant for 2020 on Sunday, October 25.
Mateo won over a selection of 45 other candidates vying for this year’s crown in the event held at the Baguio Country Club.
Here are the runners-up for this year’s competition:
1st runner up – Maria Ysabella Ysmael (Parañaque)
2nd runner up – Michele Gumabao (Quezon City)
3rd runner up – Pauline Amelinckx (Bohol)
4th runner up – Kimberly “Billie” Hakenson (Cavite)
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For the initial question and answer portion, the Iloilo bet was asked whose image of a Filipino she wants to place on a new paper currency.
“If I were given the chance, I want to use the face of Miriam Defensor Santiago. For those who don’t know, she was an Ilongga. 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,” she said.
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For the second question, she was asked about her thoughts on holding pageants during this time of crisis:
“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. 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,” she said.
Mateo is the first Miss Universe Philippines titlist under the new organization headed by Shamcey Supsup, who is herself, a former Bb. Pilipinas titleholder and Miss Universe candidate.
