Nagbigay ng kanyang habilin ang former beauty queen at Miss Universe Philippines National Director Shamcey Supsup-Lee sa pambato ng Pilipinas na si Rabiya Mateo bago magsimula ang Miss Universe competition on May 6 sa Florida, USA.
Kaninang umaga, May 5, ay humarap sa entertainment press via Zoom si Shamcey kasama at ang iba pang directors ng Miss Universe Philippines Organization kung saan nga ay nagbigay s’ya ng payo kay Rabiya, na present din sa Zoom event.
Tila naging send off ceremony ng 24-year-old Ilongga beauty queen ang naganap na virtual media conference dahil hindi s’ya nagkaroon nito bago lumipad pa-California last April 9.
“I’m so proud where you have come,” sabi ni Shamcey kay Rabiya via Zoom. “The first time that I saw you was in the Miss Iloilo pageant and I was a judge there. And at that time, I really saw your determination, your fighting spirit.”
Hindi na daw s’ya nagtaka kung bakit nanalo si Rabiya sa national pageant last October 2020 at hindi na rin daw s’ya masu-surprise kung sakaling maiuwi nito ang Miss Universe crown.
“I was not surprised when you won in Miss Universe Philippines,” aniya. “And I won’t be surprised if you take home our fifth crown. I just have a good feeling about your journey.”
At dito na n’ya ibinigay ang kanyang payo bilang naranasan din n’yang mag-compete sa Miss Universe noon sa Sao Paulo, Brazil.
“My advise now is that once you enter into the competition, you’re gonna be there on May 6, I believe...don’t think anymore,” pahayag ng Miss Universe 2011 Third Runner-Up.
“All the trainings, all the late night trainings with your Q & A, your catwalk, everything...by that time, my advice for you is to enjoy the moments with your fellow candidates.
Pagpapatuloy ni Shamcey, “It’s gonna fly by so fast, it’s just gonna be ten days and magugulat ka na lang tapos na s’ya. So, I just want you to savor every moment in the Miss Universe competition kasi tapos na ‘yong hard work mo.
“Everything will just fall into place,” she went on. “Kumbaga, you're prepared… I’ve seen your transformation. Hindi lang ako kundi ang buong Pilipinas na-amaze sa transformation mo. ‘Yon lang. And no matter what happens we are proud of you and you are our queen no matter what.”
Thankful naman ang Filipino-Indian beauty sa ibinigay na payo ng kanyang national director. Napa-throwback din s’ya kung kailan s’ya kinoronahan ni Shamcey nang manalo s’ya bilang Miss Iloilo Universe 2020.
“Thank you, Ms. Shamcey. Just to share my sentiments, I remember that Miss Iloilo night,” pagre-recall ni Rabiya. “When she was putting the crown on top of my head, I told her that, ‘I’m a fan, Ms. Shamcey.’ Sabi n’ya, ‘Don’t be.’”
Hindi daw n’ya inakala na nami-meet at magiging kaibigan pa ang former Miss Universe Philippines titleholder na napapanood lang n’ya noon sa telebisyon.
“I can’t imagine that it’s been months of preparing and I built a strong friendship with somebody like her, somebody that I used to get to see on a television,” lahad pa n’ya sa virtual media conference.
“And the moment I won she was always there,” dagdag pa n’ya. “She would always message me, ‘Kumusta ka na? How are you doing? Kung may mga bagay kang gustong pag-usapan, let’s talk about it.’
Pabahol pa ni Rabiya, “And para ko na s’yang naging ate. That’s why thank you so much, Ms. Shamcey for playing a big role in this journey. I also offer this fight to you.”
Natanong din s’ya ng press kung what in it for her to represent the country sa Miss Universe pageant ngayong may pandemic.
“It’s a huge responsibility and to be a candidate for Miss Universe in this time [of pandemic] is never easy,” sagot ni Biyang [nickname ni Rabiya]. “Like, all of my trainings are done virtually, you know.”
Nagpapasalamat naman daw s’ya at kasama n’ya ngayon ang tinaguriang “Beauty Queen Maker” na si Jonas Gaffud para gabayan s’ya sa last leg ng kanyang training.
“The good thing is I’m with Mama J [Jonas Gaffud], we’re living in one house and I can do my pasarela [under his guidance],” pahayag n’ya.
“But it takes a lot of heart and determination for me to really have this meaningful journey. And I want to make the Filipinos proud.
“This is gonna be my grandest gift to them. And as I have the biggest fight of my life, I have in my heart and in my mind the support of millions of Filipinos. I really hope that I will do well on May 16,” pagtatapos ng Miss Universe aspirant.
Sakaling manalo, si Rabiya ang magiging ikalimang Miss Universe titleholder mula sa Pilipinas kasunod nina Gloria Diaz (1969), Margie Moran (1973), Pia Wurtzbach (2015) at Catriona Gray (2018).
YOU MAY ALSO LIKE:
Pia Wurtzbach on Rabiya Mateo's mindset to win the Miss Universe crown: "You're on the right path."
Netizens praise Miss Universe Philippines 2020 Rabiya Mateo for her stand on "Filipino resilience"
LOOK: MUP 2020 Rabiya Mateo “paints the town red” in her Iloilo homecoming
FOLLOW US ONLINE:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pikapikashowbiz
Twitter: https://twitter.com/pikapikaph
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pikapikaph/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/pikapikashowbiz
and join our Viber Community: https://tinyurl.com/PikaViber
