Rabiya Mateo Flies Higher with ‘Agimat ng Agila’ this 2022

Opportunity knocks when one least expects it.

Just like how she was a dark horse who ended up representing the Philippines in the Miss Universe 2020 pageant, she was first scouted to be part of the Kapuso network when she was having dinner former House Speaker Alan Cayetano.

It was that chance encounter with Annette Gozon-Abrogar which opened the door. She was directly asked to the point by the network executive if she would be interested in acting. Rabiya said yes but wondered if her experience in college declamation counts. Her manager Jonas Gaffud is okay with it, but they did not ink a contract right away to make sure it would not conflict with her existing contracts.

Thus, it did not surprise this writer one but when she mentioned that she wants to work with Alden Richards even if she will not end up as a leading lady. “He’s a man of art at alam niya talaga ang acting. Marami akong matututunan sa kanya,” she gushed.

Rabiya Mateo also wants to work with Dingdong Dantes. “Parang kinder pa lang ako, Dingdong Dantes na siya,” she recalled. She looks forward to meeting his other half, Marian Rivera, a personality she looks up to.

It seems that stars are aligned for her to be with network since Sanya Lopez, who has been dubbed as having similar features, was already an acquaintance even before joining the network. However, she does not feel the need to compete and is happy that both of them are ‘Agimat girls’. “Hindi ko mapapalitan si Sanya Lopez kasi Sanya Lopez siya,” she said.

She’s also very open about sharing her fears and her tight bond with her mom.

She fears death as she is a breadwinner. Uncertainty of the future gives her anxiety so she strives to love herself better everyday to keep her mental health in good shape.

If she could be another person for a day, she wants to be her mom. It was not easy for her mother seeing the hurtful remarks from the bashers. As Rabiya Mateo in the body of her mom, she would go shopping for a day and enjoy life, because she can’t remember when her mom actually bought a new dress for herself.

Rabiya would certainly go much further in 2022. She is a hard worker who does not even have Christmas or New Year plans as of now since she has a taping on the 27th.

Of course, she is still grateful for 2021 which she considers a rollercoaster ride. “It wasn’t perfect pero wala naman po talagang perfect sa buhay. Siguro marami akong natutunan. It made me realize to love myself even better. Thankful ako sa 2021 kasi kahit medyo nabugbog tayo, lalo naman tayong lumakas.”

If you want to see how much she will evolve as an actress, a new phase in her career, watch her in the Book 2 of Agimat ng Agila this 2022.