Rabiya Mateo. Picture from Instagram
MANILA, Philippines — Rabiya Mateo has earned two distinctions that no different magnificence queen might ever emulate. Not solely was she the primary girl to be proclaimed as “Miss Iloilo,” she additionally grew to become the primary “Miss Universe Philippines” within the first standalone nationwide pageant that chooses the nation’s consultant to the Miss Universe pageant.
With such a storied legacy at an early stage in her life, the Ilonga lass is actually one powerful act to comply with. However the group that pulled her out of obscurity is decided to search out the girl who’s worthy to succeed Mateo, duplicate her feat on the nationwide stage, and hopefully carry residence a global crown for the Philippines.
INQUIRER.internet requested Sarah Peña, one of many pageant administrators of the Iloilo Festivals Basis Inc. (IFFI) that organizes the annual Miss Iloilo contest, how they intend to search out their “subsequent Rabiya.” The Ilonga “Donya” responded, “we have already got a plan,” however saved mum about particular particulars.
Mateo, now a profitable TV actress and host, joined the first-ever staging of the Miss Iloilo pageant, a rebranded competitors that traces its roots from the annual Miss Iloilo Dinagyang contest mounted by the IFFI. Apart from Mateo, the muse additionally fielded town’s delegates to the Miss World Philippines and Binibining Pilipinas pageants that yr. This yr, the organizer topped just one titleholder, then belatedly introduced the respective nationwide pageant assignments of the highest finishers.
Peña was in Manila along with her fellow IFFI Pageant Director Beverly “Pangging Rosales” to resume the muse’s collaboration with the Miss Universe Philippines (MUPH) group below the nationwide pageant’s new “Accredited Partnerships” program, a system whereby native organizers in numerous cities, cities, and provinces, in addition to in abroad Filipino communities, are given the only authority to decide on the members that may symbolize their respective areas on the nationwide degree. No particular person purposes will likely be entertained from aspirants anymore.
The settlement was signed with MUPH Nationwide Director Shamcey Supsup-Lee and MUPH Nationwide Search Marketing consultant Mags Cue in an intimate gathering final Oct. 2. There, Rosales shared IFFI’s plans for the 2024 Miss Iloilo pageant. For one, they won’t rebrand the competitors and can retain the unique title.
“We’ll crown just one winner, and we may have 4 runners-up,” Rosales stated. The pageant will likely be held on the Iloilo Conference Heart on Jan. 13, in the course of the Dinagyang Competition. The 2024 Miss Iloilo pageant will select town’s representatives to the Miss Universe Philippines and its sister contest The Miss Philippines Tradition and Heritage Celebration, and different nationwide competitions.
Lee clarified that the winner of the 2024 Miss Iloilo pageant is not going to robotically be despatched to the Miss Universe Philippines pageant. IFFI will later decide, after the coronation, which nationwide competitions the highest finishers will likely be deployed to.
Cue stated MUPH selected to resume its partnership with IFFI due to the muse’s monitor report in holding annual competitions, and capability to assist the delegates and supply their wants to have the ability to efficiently symbolize Iloilo Metropolis on the nationwide stage.
Lee enumerated why MUPH discovered it straightforward to keep up its partnership with IFFI. “They’ve been doing this for a very long time already, in order that they know do it, that’s the primary purpose. Second is, effectively, we’re trying if they’ve a whole group to do it. We’ve got an inventory of our proposed members of the group. After which the third is, effectively, we additionally must verify their backgrounds, what are their affiliations, their very own enterprise. Are they a part of the federal government? Issues like that,” she defined.
The nationwide director can be hopeful that the brand new “Accredited Partnerships” program will encourage extra girls like Mateo to pursue their goals of capturing a nationwide crown regardless of having very restricted sources. When Mateo took half in her metropolis pageant, she was supporting her household and making ends meet by tutoring bodily remedy graduates for his or her licensure examinations. Lee stated organizations resembling IFFI will help girls who’re additionally discovering it pricey to embark on pageantry to take step one.
Rosales stated IFFI will bridge this hole. She additionally assured MUPH that they may proceed their custom of staging grandiose competitions, within the custom of the spectacular Dinagyang Competition. And if Mateo was solely capable of conduct her mentorship with the 2023 Miss Iloilo delegates just about, they’re now engaged on having the sweetness queen-turned-actress converse with the 2024 contestants in particular person.
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Mateo seems nightly on the range present “TiktoClock” and the primetime thriller drama “Royal Blood,” each on the Kapuso community, GMA. EDV
