Roque: Rabiya Mateo a ‘runaway winner’ in swimsuit, Q&A rounds

Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque on Monday said he had difficulty assessing the candidates of the Miss Universe Philippines 2020 pageant, which was won by Iloilo City’s Rabiya Mateo.

However, Roque admitted that Mateo was the “runaway winner” in the swimsuit and question and answer rounds.

“Si Iloilo, runaway winner siya doon sa swimsuit at saka doon sa Q and A, at least sa akin,” said Roque, who served as one of the judges of the pageant held in Baguio City, in a radio interview.

“Pero iyong top 8, ang balita ko talaga, walang lumalamang na one point, puro mga decimal point lang ang pagkakaiba. So talagang napakahirap mag-judge,” he added.

Roque praised the candidates whom he described as “competitive, beautiful and intelligent.”

“So in the end, iyong kinakailangan kang mag-rank ng one to five, iyon talaga ang akala ko mas mababaliw na ako dahil hindi ko alam kung paano sila ira-rank into one to five,” he said.

Mateo bested more than 40 candidates for the national title and the right to represent the Philippines in the prestigious Miss Universe pageant.

According to Roque, it was the 23-year-old Filipino-Indian beauty’s destiny to win the pageant.

“Nag-align ang mga bituin para siya ang iproklamang pinakatatanging Pilipina sa buong universe. Congratulations to Ms. Mateo and may her reign be fruitful and productive,” he said during his regular press briefing.

Ysabella Ysmael of Parañaque City was named first runner-up, while Michele Gumabao of Quezon City clinched second runner-up honors.

Rounding out the Top 5 are Pauline Amelinckx of Bohol and Kimberly Hakenson of Cavite.—LDF, GMA News