Rabiya Mateo reveals ex-partner Neil Salvacion proposed to her: 'At that time, I wasn't ready'
Miss Universe Philippines 2020 Rabiya Mateo opened up about her failed relationship with her ex-boyfriend Neil Salvacion, revealing for the first time what led to to their break-up.
Sitting as Boy Abunda's guest in his evening talk show, Fast Talk with Boy Abunda
To recall, their split first became the talk of the town when Rabiya told Boy Abunda in an interview in 2021 that her relationship with Salvacion is "a complicated situation." Neil then confirmed on his Intagram story that they were "not together anymore," but that they were both okay and happy with their lives.
When Boy asked whether their romance withered because Rabiya prioritized her bid to win the Miss Universe crown, she denied those speculations and revealed that it was because Neil proposed to her when she wasn't ready to welcome married life.
"He proposed to me, Tito Boy, and I was so young that time. I wasn't ready," Rabiya confessed after a bit of hesitation.
"I have a lot of dreams pa. I have a lot of dreams for my family, and during that time, he was ready to settle na tapos feeling niya, okay na siya sa buhay, pero ako, I want to aspire to be more. So doon kami nagkaroon ng conflict."
But couldn't Neil have waited until she was ready to exchange vows with him? Rabiya answered, "Hindi naman po sa ganon pero feeling ko hindi ko na rin mabigay 'yung 100 percent ko sa relationship kasi maraming nangyayari and 'yung engagement na 'yun, for me, it was a big step."
She then clarified that breaking up did not happen immediately, but that it eventually went down that route because she wanted to focus on her personal goals in life.
"Galing din ako sa walang-wala, so when I won Miss Universe, sabi ko ito na 'yung time ko para makapag ipon, para mabilihan ko 'yung nanay ko ng bahay, para mapagpatuloy ko man kung gusto pa ng kapatid ko makapag-aral," she said, adding that she was also burdened by being the breadwinner for their family.
After Neil, Rabiya found new love in actor Jeric Gonzales before they separated amicably due to a "misunderstanding." However, they have since started rekindling their romance after the actor shared photos of him and the beauty queen on Valentine's Day with the caption, "Happy Valentine's my love, Rabiya. I will always love you!"
Watch the interview below: