Rabiya Mateo recalls experience with poverty, says mom watched Miss Universe PH at neighbor’s home because they had no TV

Before she was Miss Universe Philippines 2020, a budding actress and TV host, Rabiya Mateo experienced the sad realities of life from a young age due to poverty.

On GMA News and Public Affairs’ showbiz podcast “Updated with Nelson Canlas,” Rabiya called herself and her family—her single mom and younger sibling—“NPA,” or “no permanent address.”

“Nag-Grade 1 ako dito sa Manila, nag-Grade 2 ako sa Laguna, nag-Grade 3 ako sa Iloilo. Napalipat-lipat talaga kami because wala kaming address, wala kaming bahay. Nagre-rent lang kami, and ’pag hindi nakabayad ng rent, pinapalayas. Ganoon kahirap yung buhay namin,” she said.

The “TiktoClock” host recalled that when they were asked to vacate their Laguna home, they were also forced to leave behind their sala set, refrigerator, and TV to serve as payment for the months of missed rent.

“Hindi naman siya traumatic pero more of naaawa ako sa nanay ko. Kasi siyempre, nakikita mo ’yong mama mo nagmamakaawa para sa inyo. [Nangungutang] kung kani-kanino, sa mga kamaganak, minsan hindi na rin tinutulungan. Kasi siguro ayaw din nila madamay sa hirap ng buhay namin,” she said.

“Bata pa lang ako, namulat na talaga ako sa hirap ng buhay.”

These past experiences motivated Rabiya to work hard and help her family. When she became a full scholar in college, she started working on the side for extra income.

“Kukuha ako ng exam na may rollers ako sa buhok kasi after niyan, magfa-fashion show ako. Pero hindi ko dapat pabayaan iyong exam ko kasi scholar ako, so parang I need to balance everything.”

Then right after graduating cum laude, Rabiya left Iloilo to work in Manila.

“Nakipagsapalaran ako dito kasi kailangan ko pa pag-aralin kapatid ko,” she said.

The challenges did not end there. When Rabiya competed in her first big pageant, her mom had to find a way to watch the show.

“When I competed for Miss Universe Philippines, iyong mama ko kailangan niya pang pumunta sa kapitbahay at makinuod during my pageant kasi wala kaming TV,” she said.

But despite all the hardships, Rabiya has always been filled with ambition and does everything for her family.

“Pinupuno ko talaga iyong utak ko ng positivity na kasi galing [sa] hirap, maaangat ko rin ang pamilya ko someday.  So iyon ang naging promise ko kay mama,” she said.

And she does continue to work hard to keep that promise. After Miss Universe, Rabiya signed with GMA Network in 2021 and started a career in acting and hosting.

“Ngayon, mas inspired ako to do so much better kasi inaalay ko talaga ito sa mom ko. Like siya lang kasi mag isang nag-taguyod sa amin, siya lang. Kaya deserve niya lahat. Deserve niya lahat ng pagmamahal, lahat ng ginagawa sa buhay, mahal na mahal ko po talaga iyong nanay ko.” – Nika Roque/RC, GMA News