Resbak ni Rabiya Mateo sa mga laitera: Stop calling anyone ugly

“THIS is me 11 years ago.” Yan ang bahagi ng pagpapakatotoo ni Miss Universe Philippines 2020 Rabiya Mateo tungkol sa viral throwback photo niya sa social media.
Mabilis na kumalat ang nasabing litrato (na kuha sa yearbook ng beauty queen) ilang oras matapos siyang koronahan bilang bagong Miss Universe Philippines.

Maraming nagulat sa itsura noon ng dalaga kaya may mga nagsabing baka nagparetoke siya kaya napakalaki ng ipinagbago ng kanyang aura.

“A girl with glamorous smile. Every boy is mesmerized with her sophisticated looks. The darling of Year IV-Saint Agnes. Those shimmering tan skin catches everyone’s attention especially the boys. She has a towering height.

“When she starts speaking, you should ready your handkerchiefs for your nose might bleed. She is a very sensitive person so be careful with the words you choose. She is sweet like sugar. That’s what makes Rabiya ‘Byang’: Brilliant, Youth, Admirable, narcissist and Gorgeous (sic),” ang nakalagay na description sa kanyang yearbook page.

At para tapusin na ang isyung ito, diretsahang sinabi ni Rabiya sa pamamagitan ng Instagram Stories na siya nga ang nasa litrato na kinunan 11 taon na ang nakararaan at napakarami na raw nangyari sa buhay niya mula noon.

“This is me 11 years ago. I still didn’t have my braces. I don’t [know] how to put [on] makeup. I’m not aware of what angle flatters me most  — but this is still me. A lot of things happened in that period of time.

“I grew up and became more mature. I was able to invest in myself and practice self-love. If there would be one thing that I want to offer other people to know about me, it’s that I’m beautiful then and now. The only thing different is now, I know better.

“P.S. Stop calling anyone ugly. If that’s how you see things, and maybe then, it’s your soul that needs surgery,” ang mensahe pa ni Rabiya sa lahat ng mga mahilig manglait ng kanilang kapwa.

Sa isang panayam, inamin din ng dalaga na nagmula siya sa mahirap na pamilya at produkto ng broken family.

“I was raised in a broken family and I experienced a really poor life. And I was able to rise from our situation as well because of educating myself.
“And now, I decided to give back to my community and I became a lecturer for physical therapy,” sabi ni Rabiya na nagtapos ng cum laude noong 2018 with a bachelor’s degree in Physical Therapy from the Iloilo Doctors’ College.