The Top 5 Miss Universe Philippines 2020 Candidates And Their Answers In The Q&A Portion
They were each asked two questions, one being their take on the relevance of pageants in this time of crisis
The inaugural Miss Universe Philippines 2020 that was held in Baguio is over! A new beauty queen, who will represent the country in the Miss Universe 2020 pageant, has been crowned: Miss Iloilo City Rabiya Mateo!
From 46 contenders, the Miss Universe Philippines 2020 aspiring beauty queens were trimmed down to the Top 16 then, finally, to Top 5. The Miss Universe Philippines 2020 Top 5 included 4th Runner-Up (Miss Cavite Kimberly "Billie" Hakenson), 3rd Runner-Up (Miss Bohol Pauline Amelinckx), 2nd Runner-Up (Miss Quezon City Michele Gumabao), 1st Runner-Up (Miss Parañaque Ysabella Ysmael), and Miss Universe Philippines 2020 (Miss Iloilo City Rabiya Mateo).
Rabiya also won Best in Swimsuit at the preliminary competition; see the complete list of winners at the prelims here.
The road to the crown clearly hadn't been easy for the ladies. Before the announcement of the winner, these Top 5 candidates were subjected to a final round of challenge through a Q&A portion, wherein they were each asked two questions. One was a universal question they were all expected to answer with confidence and substance: "This pandemic has made clear our priorities, essential or non-essential. Where do pageants stand in this time of crisis?" They were given 30 seconds to answer each question.
Check out the gallery below to see what the Top 5 Miss Universe Philippines 2020 contenders' answers were:

Miss U PH 2020 Top 5
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4th Runner-Up (Miss Cavite Kimberly "Billie" Hakenson)
Question: "What advice will you give a first time voter for the 2022 elections?" | Answer: "We have fought long and hard for our right to suffrage. And this is not something that we should waste. For us to be able to complain and be able to appreciate the things that we have as Filipino citizens, we have to vote. We have to participate in selecting our leaders. Thank you."
4th Runner-Up (Miss Cavite Kimberly "Billie" Hakenson)
Question: "This pandemic has made clear our priorities, essential or non-essential. Where do pageants stand in this time of crisis?" | Answer: "I am someone who is usually an independent person but because of this beauty pageant, I realized that I needed to ask for help, that I needed to reach out to people, and same goes for everyone else. To be able to survive something as big as this pandemic, altruism should be practiced and cooperation is always the key. Thank you."
4th Runner-Up (Miss Cavite Kimberly "Billie" Hakenson)
4th Runner-Up (Miss Cavite Kimberly "Billie" Hakenson)
4th Runner-Up (Miss Cavite Kimberly "Billie" Hakenson)
4th Runner-Up (Miss Cavite Kimberly "Billie" Hakenson)
4th Runner-Up (Miss Cavite Kimberly "Billie" Hakenson)
4th Runner-Up (Miss Cavite Kimberly "Billie" Hakenson)
3rd Runner-Up (Miss Bohol Pauline Amelinckx)
Question: "What factors influence you in deciding on what to buy or post online?" | Answer: "The factors that help me decide that is basically what I want to put out there, what I want to show the world about myself, how I want to portray myself. What matters most is that we know who we are, that we are true to our authentic selves and that we always try our best to show and share love to the rest of the world and hopefully inspire them to do the same."
3rd Runner-Up (Miss Bohol Pauline Amelinckx)
Question: "This pandemic has made clear our priorities, essential or non-essential. Where do pageants stand in this time of crisis?" | Answer: "I think pageants are now an amazing platform to show that not all our dreams are cancelled. They are just put on hold. And for us, we're lucky that we're still able to make this one dream come true, to stand here, to spread hope, to rally people together in action and conversation and spark change. And together, I'm sure, we can make a positive impact on this stage. That is the essence of beauty pageants in the time of pandemic.
3rd Runner-Up (Miss Bohol Pauline Amelinckx)
3rd Runner-Up (Miss Bohol Pauline Amelinckx)
3rd Runner-Up (Miss Bohol Pauline Amelinckx)
3rd Runner-Up (Miss Bohol Pauline Amelinckx)
3rd Runner-Up (Miss Bohol Pauline Amelinckx)
3rd Runner-Up (Miss Bohol Pauline Amelinckx)
2nd Runner-Up (Miss Quezon City Michele Gumabao)
Question: "If you are under strict quarantine and isolation, what is the most important mobile app for you and why?" | Answer: "The most important app during this whole quarantine was my Bible. Having faith in the midst of this pandemic was very vital to me not only for my mental health but also for my sanity. It got me through the toughest of times. I was able to get through others through the toughest of times, and it keep me centered and it keep me grounded. And that's the most important thing that I would need in a pandemic."
2nd Runner-Up (Miss Quezon City Michele Gumabao)
Question: "This pandemic has made clear our priorities, essential or non-essential. Where do pageants stand in this time of crisis?" | Answer: "As we all know, pageants are a very, very inspiring event not only to the Philippines but to every country who supports pageantry. It is important to stage a pageant and to show the Philippines that we are much more than our setbacks, than our failures, and that we're able to go overcome any adversity. Having a pageant symbolizes hope and right now on this stage, that is who we are."
2nd Runner-Up (Miss Quezon City Michele Gumabao)
2nd Runner-Up (Miss Quezon City Michele Gumabao)
2nd Runner-Up (Miss Quezon City Michele Gumabao)
2nd Runner-Up (Miss Quezon City Michele Gumabao)
2nd Runner-Up (Miss Quezon City Michele Gumabao)
2nd Runner-Up (Miss Quezon City Michele Gumabao)
1st Runner-Up (Miss Parañaque Ysabella Ysmael)
Question: "To a child who has never seen a pageant, how would you describe a beauty queen?" | Answer: "I would tell that child that a beauty queen is somebody who is, first and foremost, a human being. She's somebody that is proud of who she is but most importantly, she is somebody that brings hope. When she wears that crown on her head, it's not just because she's the most beautiful girl in the room but it's because she's the woman who inspires hope. She's the woman who inspires love and productivity, and somebody being authentic."
1st Runner-Up (Miss Parañaque Ysabella Ysmael)
Question: "This pandemic has made clear our priorities, essential or non-essential. Where do pageants stand in this time of crisis?" | Answer: "In my experience with the pandemic and being in one of the most prestigious pageants in the Philippines, I've realized that pageants are something that can give Filipinos hope and it's something that can give Filipinos something to look forward to. It's something that we, Filipinos, as a pageant-loving nation, it's something that we're so proud of. It's something that gives us life. And that's the relevance of what a pageant is—we help each other out, we help other people and we help ourselves grow. We help each other prosper."
1st Runner-Up (Miss Parañaque Ysabella Ysmael)
1st Runner-Up (Miss Parañaque Ysabella Ysmael)
1st Runner-Up (Miss Parañaque Ysabella Ysmael)
1st Runner-Up (Miss Parañaque Ysabella Ysmael)
1st Runner-Up (Miss Parañaque Ysabella Ysmael)
1st Runner-Up (Miss Parañaque Ysabella Ysmael)
Miss Universe Philippines 2020 (Miss Iloilo City Rabiya Mateo)
Question: "If you could create a new paper currency with the image of any Filipino on it, dead or alive, who would it be and why?" | Answer: "If I were given the chance, I want to use the face of Miriam Defensor-Santiago. For those who don't know, she was an Ilongga but what I admired about her is that she used her knowledge, her voice, to serve the country. And I want to be somebody like her, somebody who puts her heart, her passion into action. After all, she is the best president that we never had."
Miss Universe Philippines 2020 (Miss Iloilo City Rabiya Mateo)
Question: "This pandemic has made clear our priorities, essential or non-essential. Where do pageants stand in this time of crisis?" | Answer: "As a candidate, I know I'm not just a face of Iloilo City, but I am here carrying hope and as a symbol of light in the darkest times. And as of the moment, I want to help my community. I want to use my strength to make an impact. And that is the essence of beauty pageant. It gives us the power to make a difference."
The Miss Universe Philippines 2020 Finale Judges were Miss Universe 2012 1st Runner-Up Janine Tugonon, Miss Universe 2013 3rd Runner-Up Ariella Arida, top fashion show and events director Jackie C. Aquino, Frontrow co-founder Samuel Salonga Versoza Jr., Congressman Eric Yap, Frontrow co-founder RS Francisco, IPG Mediabrands Philippines CEO Venus Navalta, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque, Baguio First Lady Mrs. Arlene Magalong, and Procter & Gamble Philippines Group Director for Media Arthur Peña.
The Miss Universe Philippines board of directors include national director Shamcey Supsup-Lee, creative director Jonas Antonio Gaffud, design council head Albert Andrada, Head of Women Empowerment Committee and Charity Lia Andrea Ramos, Head of Legal Affairs Atty. Nad Bronce, and Business Development and Marketing Head Mario Garcia.
Photos courtesy of Miss Universe Philippines
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