Half-Ilongga.
Half- Indian.
100% Filipina.
In this blog entry are the different photos of Miss Universe Philippines 2020 Rabiya Mateo for her editorial shoot with Seven Barretto for Mega Magazine. Below is the inspiration and the credits.
MAHARLIKA
The term maharlika is a loanword from Sanskrit
maharddhika (महर्द्धिक), a title meaning “man of wealth, knowledge, or ability”. Contrary to modern definitions, it did not refer to the ruling class, but rather to a warrior class (which were minor nobility) of the Tagalog people, directly equivalent to Visayan timawa. Like timawa, the term also has connotations of “FREEMAN” or “freed slave” in both Filipino and Malay languages.Miss Universe Philippines
#RabiyaMateo
Photo & Creative Direction • @sevenbarretto of @studio7manila
Art Direction • @erwnbotin of @botinstudios
Styling • @mikeeandrei
Makeup • @carissacielomedved
Hair • @ariesmanal_hair
Gown Designer • @francislibiran8 @victorharryhartman
Accessories • Christopher Munar
Photography team • @claudevillahrmsa @darielmiraflorphotography
Special thanks to @themissuniverseph @bessiebesana @peeweeisidroBehind the photos:
Inspiration- Maharlika- “free men”
The brave and strong composed of warrior class
Set- inspired by the ancestral houses that are mostly found in Iloilo City
Fashion & Beauty Direction- Maharlika
Old meets new. (Representing modern Filipina women) &
Inspired by the beautiful works of @lenaberishaofficial
“For a country whose pre-colonial ancestry has left meagre evidence—no grand monuments or architectural structures and very few original manuscripts— these beautifully crafted solid gold pieces are a direct link to our heritage. “The pre-colonial gold bears witness to an advanced society with cultural ties to other, better-known cultures in Asia such as India & Java. It demonstrates that we had the technical skills and resources to produce these wonderful objects. It also suggests familiarity with Hindu-Buddhist ideas that have largely been erased from our cultural memory.”Seasoned collector, Jomari Treñas, is fascinated by this intermingling of societies and how they are clearly translated in the designs. “You see the different cultures in the gold-making, such as the gold heads or earrings with figures that have very Indian influences.”
Sources: google, the Boxer Codex (1590) and Fr. Alcina’s Historia de Las Islas e Indios Visayas (1668), Philippines Tatler
normannorman.com 
Wow! Beautiful Indian princess
Truly a phenomenal woman. May this journey help you reconnect with your dad in the future.
Her indian features are so beautiful and prominent! And her heart as a Filipino is even more beautiful. ❤️ love Rabiya…supporting you all the way! ❤️
I love the concept! she’s so beautiful!
Miss Universe is gonna give us a wake up call for all the bashing and bullying of other candidates. No more placements for the next 10years!!! Filipinos are becoming toxic and entitled.
this is great ! but I wouldn’t use it for the competition , preliminary or otherwise…
Rabiya’s father is an Indian Muslim from East India ( I assume from Bengal, where most muslims are from, in Bangalore or in Bombay. I think it will be very different life kung hindi sila iniwan ng tatay nya. Baka hijabi or niqabi tong si Rabiya nakakaloka I cannot imagine. The only muslim beauty queen who made it big in India is Gauhar Khan (Femina 2002 4th placer) Diana Hayden and Sushmita at that time was Catholic, Manpreet Brar , Gul panag, Neha Dhupia are Sikhs and the rest Hindus. In India you have to be very secular (muslim) to make it.
I love Rabiya more! Keep it up girl, laban lang!
Basta ako mga vhaks, malaki ang tiwala ko kay Rabiya…and itong mga pasa-vogue na ito nga mga pciture-lelets… kung medyo hindi kagandahan sa mga mata ninyo, eh mukhang strategies ito ng team ni Rabiya para malaman ang opinion ng mga tao and later pag aaralan nila kung ano yung pwdng bagay sa kanya na pwdng magustuhan ng lahat…this is all a GAME..and pagdating ng May 17, gugulatin nalang tayo ni Rabiya dahil napaka-DYOSA nya sa kanyang mga styling at kasuotan!!! Kaya – – – Comment pa MORE!!!
The thing about Rabiya…OK n ako nung una n kahit sana Top 10 or 2nd runner up eh. Ngaun, narealize ko… eh ano naman kung manalo siya! Mukhang napakabait nya eh.
Hindi ko gusto lahat ng suot niya sa mga photoshoots nya pero makikita mo n they are trying their best para makita natin ung progress nya.
Miss India 2021?
Pwede sya dun actually. Pero they put premium in Miss world today unlike before the Femina Miss India winner is sent to Universe.
I like how the embellishment ‘rides’ the fabric and captures light. SHE LOOKS LIKE A BRANCH OF SOFT ORANGE DEEP-WATER CORAL, glowing gold in the gloomy depths. 🙂
@ Closer2Fame ‘Pre, this is as ‘Iris Van Herpen’ as it gets.
(Nitpick mandatory. Weird lang how the fabric puckers and stretches sa kilikili, ta’s sa other side ‘di naman… Is it possible that problem side was overworked?)
Muy bien.
@flor
I agree…
Hahaha… I don’t want to say anything more….
quotang quota na ako criticizing today…
I don’t want to be tagged as basher.. 🤣🤣🤣
THE ONLY PHOTOS I LOVE FROM RABIYA…IT IS NOT OVERLY EDITED, LOVE THE STYLING, HER BEAUTY WAS CAPTURED WELL…
IM ONLY NITPICKING, NAWALA YUONG LEEG NI RABIYA, SUPPOSE TO BE THE STORY OF THE PHOTOS IS ABOUT ROYALTY, BUT ANG CHEAP NAMAN NOONG UPUAN AT RUGS NA GINAMIT? HELLO???
BUT OVER-ALL, THIS IS MY FAVOURITE PHOTOS OF RABIYA, IF ONLY SHE GOT THE NECK…IT WILL BE MORE SMASHING…
SEVEN BARETTO,,,WAG MAPIKON,,,,PLEASE WATCH OUT FOR NECK WHEN SHOOTING THE MERLIES….
I agree… mukhang pinatungan ng rug bago upuan…
Pati yung throwpillow mukhang luma…
I love the styling, hair & make-up…
The poses, the background… I love it…
Except for one thing….
WHY the blank stare?!.. She always look like she’s missing a chromosome in these shoots… Where is the story? Where is the drama? Think of something…
Think MUUURRRDEEERRR!
BTW, “Free man” and “Freed slave” are 2 different things.. How can a “Freed Slave” become a Maharlika Warrior/Merchant and Vise-Versa when it is also forbidden to enslave your own kind?! The pre-colonial Caste systems back then is not only based on Socio-Economic status but also on Ethnicity and Religion. The Maharlika caste are remnants of the joint rule of Lusong Empire between the rulers of Majapahit, Tondo/Namayan & Brunei. 🙄
Mga Baklush!
You need to balance your opinion lalo pa’t magkasunod ang entry ni Norman about photoshoot! It is ok to say something negative but likewise you also need to highlight the positive side so it can be an avenue for improvement otherwise basher ang kalalabasan mo and yung receiver ng comment hindi na makikinig sayo!
You will agree that this is a classy & glossy photoshoot! Don’t you?
No more words to describe it but pure PERFECTION!
Agree. If this is her look today and today is the competition (be it in Miss Universe, Miss World or Misrecordia), she will win hands down.
World Peace.
The dress!!!
Rabiya looks expensive here. Kulang na lang ng bindi, Indian royale na ang dating n’ya. I like the fact that she pays homage to her other lineage, especially now that India is struggling much in their fight to contain Covid 19.
Sana may mas matitindi pang dresses ang nakalinya for Rabiya. Parang habang papalapit ang competition, puro well-known A-list designers na ang magdadamit kay Rabiya. May pa-Michael Cinco din kaya sa kanya?
That’s all.
Abangan, Ana! She has two explosive aces up her sleeve that would rival your question above.
OMG! That’s a lot exciting, Tito Norms. Ezra couture ba ang isa and Furne Amato ang isa? O sige na nga, hindi na kita kukulitin, Tito Norms. Naniniwala naman akong pasavogue ang mga ‘yan. If not, magwawala ang sangkaveklaan kay JG and Team MUP.
That’s all.
Abangan!
Furne One?
Beautiful with a Capital B. Stunning.
This is how you style a beauty queen. Even in what I don’t usually like look of hers (slightly parted lips with front teeth showing) is executed here beautifully.
Thumbs up.
(Reviewing Rabiya has a been a roller coaster ride. Gagalitin muna tayo sa mga Looks ek ek, then may magandang ilalabas. Lol)
World Peace.
This is what you call professionally done. Hindi bara-bara sa gilid ng daan. All photos are very beautiful except for the fourth one highlighting the leg of Rabiya. Alanganin ang posisyon at medyo may pagka-pokpok ang dating. I do not like anything SLUTTY especially if you are a beauty contender and representing the Philippines. Good afternoon to all.