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‘Where are the tangible programs?’ Rabiya Mateo says resiliency isn’t enough

Rappler.com

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‘Where are the tangible programs?’ Rabiya Mateo says resiliency isn’t enough

TANGIBLE SOLUTIONS. Miss Universe Philippines 2020 Rabiya Mateo says there should be concrete solutions following the devastations by the typhoons in the country.

Photo by Air Jimenez/Miss Universe Philippines

The beauty queen says she also knows what it's like to lose everything to a storm

Miss Universe Philippines 2020 Rabiya Mateo said the Philippines should go beyond resiliency and look for concrete and tangible solutions, particularly in the aftermath of calamities caused by Typhoons Rolly and Ulysses.

Yung resiliency, parang overused siya (I feel that the term resiliency is overused), to the point that sometimes we don’t look at the problems to find the solution. And we just tell other people na all we need to do is have a positive mindset and we’re going to overcome this,” she said in an interview with Jessica Soho on the show Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho, Sunday, November 15.

“But where are the tangible programs to help the people being affected by such situations? So yes, iba ‘pag may positive outlook but again, kailangan natin magkaroon ng tangible and visible solutions. Hindi tayo mag-lelearn, hindi natin mapapabuti yung community natin if puro resiliency na lang.”

(So yes, it’s easier when you have a positive outlook but again, we need tangible and visible solutions. We won’t learn, our community won’t do better if we just rely on resiliency.)

Soho had said in her interview with the country’s representative to the next Miss Universe competition: “Doon sa mga nagsasabi Rabiya na oo nga napaka-resilient ng mga Pilipino pero hanggang doon na lang ba? Parang hindi rin tama na dadaanin na lang lahat sa ating pagiging resilient.

(Rabiya, to those who say that Filipinos are resilient, is that it? It doesn’t seem right for us to rely solely on being resilient.)

Rabiya, who went to Iloilo for her homecoming on November 13, said that she, of all people, would know what it’s like to experience a typhoon’s wrath. Super Typhoon Yolanda ravaged many parts of the Visayas, including her hometown, in 2013.

Natamaan yung hometown ko, yung Balasan, Iloilo. Mahirap siya kasi nakita ko yung mama ko umiiyak kasi yung bahay kubo po namin from ganito, gumanito na siya,” she said, describing with how it bent from the strong winds of the storm.

(My hometown Balasan, Iloilo was badly hit. It was difficult because I saw my mom crying because our bahay kubo got destroyed.)

Tapos nagsulat kami sa kalsada na ‘we need help, we need food.’ Kaya sabi ko nga ngayon na may Bagyong Rolly at tsaka Ulysses, ramdam na ramdam ko talaga yung paghihirap ng mga kababayan natin.”

(We had to go out to the streets and make signs to beg for help, for food. So I know the kind of suffering communities hit by Typhoons Rolly and Ulysses are going through.)

Rabiya, who turned 24 on November 14, started a call for donations for those affected by the typhoons in Cagayan and Metro Manila. She’s also joined in relief efforts while in Manila.

Patatagin ‘nyo yung loob ‘nyo kasi I know it’s never easy to be in that position – mawalan ng bahay, mawalan ng gamit, minsan mawawalan ng love one. Pero habang may buhay talaga, may pag-asa pa,” she said, when asked her message for those affected by recent typhoons.

(Strengthen your resolve. I know it’s never easy to be in that situation – to lose your home, lose all your things, or even lose a loved one. But there is always hope.) – Rappler.com

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