Before her intentions get misinterpreted, Rabiya Mateo clarified that she has no plans of running in the upcoming elections after she recently conducted an outreach activity for her former school in Iloilo.
Mateo gave a glimpse of her outreach effort through an Instagram post on Monday, June 1. She returned to Balasan Central Elementary School, where she once studied, to distribute 250 sets of school supplies, bags, and packed meals to students.
“Proud product of a public school. Today, I had the privilege of returning to where it all began,” she wrote. “Projects like these are deeply personal to me, and I look forward to creating more opportunities to serve our community in the future.”
READ: Rabiya Mateo, Jake Cuenca enjoy Disneyland before actress enters med school
Anticipating speculation about her intentions, Mateo made it clear that the outreach activity was not connected to any political plans.
“And before anyone asks — no, I’m not running in the upcoming elections. I simply believe that if you’ve been blessed, you should find ways to give back,” she said.
Mateo said she also visited the school’s Special Education Department, which she described as being close to her heart because of her background as a physical therapist and her goal of becoming a doctor.
“Seeing the dedication of our educators and the smiles on the children’s faces reminds me why investing in education will always be one of the most meaningful ways to give back,” she said.
The former beauty queen also thanked her friends who helped organize the outreach, as well as her boyfriend, actor Jake Cuenca, who helped fund the initiative.
Mateo represented the Philippines at the Miss Universe 2020 pageant. She was recently accepted into medical school at the University of Santo Tomas (UST). /edv
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