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
End your long weekend right with the refreshing photo of Miss Universe 2015 Pia Wurtzbach above. 
You want something juicy to talk about? Now this one is a safe blind item because – after all – negotiations did not prosper so it’s just something to make wild guesses about.
Now since we are in the subject of Michael Cinco, do watch out for the fashion show that will be this year’s most anticipated as he will be joined by Francis Libiran, Amato Furne, Ezra Santos and Cary Santiago in a grand event aptly titled “World Class” in celebration of Waterfront Cebu City Hotel’s 20th Anniversary. It will be held at the Pacific Grand Ballroom on October 6. 😉
Piecing together the two captions of your #Binibini1 Vickie Marie Rushton on her Instagram account makes a lot of sense as it sums up her pageant battlecry for Bb. Pilipinas 2018 – “Now or Never” and “I can and I will”.
This is the National Costume of Miss Philippines Katarina Rodriguez for Miss Intercontinental 2018. Francis Libiran is the Designer. 
