Rabiya luha, dugo’t pawis ang puhunan sa paglaban sa Miss U: I want to win…!

RAMDAM na ramdam na ngayon ni Rabiya Mateo ang pressure habang papalapit na nang papalapit ang pagrampa niya sa 2020 Miss Universe grand coronation night.

Ngunit, hindi raw siya papayag na malunod sa napi-feel niyang pressure at sa halip ginagamit niya ito para mas lalong ma-motivate ang sarili sa pagsabak sa bagong laban ng Pilipinas.

“Definitely. I know every Miss Philippines has been in this position and I would always remind myself that this is an opportunity for me to show who I am as Rabiya and not as a copycat of somebody else,” ang pahayag ni Rabiya sa isang online event nang matanong tungkol sa nararamdamang pressure.

Aniya pa, “I wouldn’t allow myself to be into a mold of somebody who is not me. And the pressure is there simply because Philippines is a pageant-loving country and we really want to win. I want to win, you know, I want to make you all proud.

“At the end of the day, we need to realize that it’s also about destiny. And I know in myself I did my part as a candidate.

“I worked really hard. I sweat, I cried a lot of tears just to be the phenomenal woman that I can be to represent our country,” lahad pa ng ating Miss Universe-Philippines.

Dagdag pa ng dalaga, “As of the moment, what I’ve been thinking is that I need to enjoy this journey. The pressure is there but I’m a very competitive person.

“It gives me that motivation that, ‘Okay, there’s still progress.’ Even to the last day, I can still do something to improve myself and to bring home the crown,” sey ni Rabiya.

Sa tanong kung kumusta ang kanyang ginagawang preparasyon para sa pageant, “I’ve been preparing really hard. I arrived here in the U.S. around April 9, and almost every day I’ve been pouring my heart, I’ve been doing anything and everything that I could in preparation for Miss Universe.”

Pag-amin pa ng Pinay beauty queen, “It’s been a crazy journey, I will be honest. And I realized that when you are being in that position or when you’re being tested, you get to know yourself better.

“So during this time, it’s not just about having that great walk or great body or even trying to improve on how I speak, but it’s more of learning how beautiful life is, you know.

“Because that’s when you’re gonna have the wisdom when you speak to the public. And that makes you relatable as a person. So now, I’m really doing my best to be involved as much as I can, in our community,” pagbabahagi pa niya.

Nagpasalamat naman si Rabiya sa kanyang glam team na talagang tumutulong sa kanya para masungkit muli ng bansa ang Miss Universe 2020 crown.

“To be completely honest, we had a lot of plans. They were planning to give me photoshoots with big names in the industry.

“They were also planning to have a grand media conference but we need to take several steps behind because they want to protect me.

“They really want to ensure that my health comes first. That’s why we decided to be here in the U.S. earlier than expected but what I love about my organization is that they helped me in the best way possible.

“They provide everything for me and it means a lot, you know, to have that bunch of people who supports you, who really wants you to win.

“It really motivates me. And now, things are done virtually, even my trainings. But these are the people that, you know, I don’t even pay them.

“They get nothing from me but their heart is to serve and they are doing this also for the love of our country. It really gives me the motivation to really do my assignment well, to make the Filipinos proud,” tuluy-tuloy na pahayag ni Rabiya Mateo.