Miss Universe Philippines 2020 Rabiya Mateo is grateful to have signed up with GMA-7 in the middle of November. Right after inking the contract, she was given guest stints in some of the station’s top-rating programs like Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho, The Boobay and Tekla Show, and Wish Ko Lang.
The beauty queen will also be the leading lady of Senator Bong Revilla, Jr., in the second installment of his fantasy series Alamat ng Agila.
“I’m thankful because the Kapuso has seen my potential,” Rabiya averred. “Not everybody receives this wonderful offer to be part of their stable. Especially now that we’re still in the midst of the pandemic, a lot of people have been struggling as to where they can have jobs. In my case, I’m fortunate and blessed for the network’s trust in me.”
The the25-year-old Ilongga revealed that GMA already expressed interest in getting her services even before her reign as Miss Universe Philippines 2020 ended. It all started when GMA Films President Annette Gozon-Valdes saw her at a dinner event.
“It happened before I competed in the Miss Universe pageant. Right after that, she instantly sent feelers to my camp, contacted my manager (Jonas Gaffud), and told him that they’re interested in getting me.”
At first, Rabiya didn’t rely much on this since it was “just a verbal agreement.”
“I have nothing concrete to hold on to. But after I competed in the Miss Universe pageant, I was very surprised upon learning that GMA again communicated with my camp. They confirmed this time that they wanted me but I had to wait for my previous contracts to end so we can start with a clean slate.”
With this development, she no longer considered other TV networks.
“After my competition for Miss Universe, my management told me that GMA wanted me so the rest is history. It was a continuous process.”
The lovely showbiz newbie is glad about this new chapter in her life since it’s a struggle for beauty queens like her to know the path to take right after their reign.
“It’s really a blessing that I was offered by the Kapuso. It’s always a dilemma for beauty queens on what path they’ll take after their reign. On my part, even before I signed up with GMA, I already practiced acting. I would watch soaps to have an idea. I guess it paid off eventually,” she ended.