Miss Universe Philippines 2020 Rabiya Mateo confidently answered that her heart is in a “happy place” and has been taking things slow. In a recent interview, the beauty queen gave a glimpse of how her love life has been and expressed how she’s trusting the process.
Rabiya has been linked to Kapamilya actor Jake Cuenca after they were spotted by netizens at a restaurant in Bonifacio Global City in Taguig. She didn’t confirm anything in the interview, but maintained that she is happy at the moment.
READ: Jake Cuenca on alleged breakup with Chie Filomeno: ‘That chapter of my life is over now’
“Parang tumitibok naman siya in general… Pero I would say na I’m in a happy place –– very, very happy. I’m so grateful sa lahat ng lessons from the past. It made me realize na kung ano man yung mga heartaches or yung mga bad na nangyari sa'yo in the past, it’s gonna get better. Sasaya ka ulit,” she expressed.
The beauty queen-turned-actress maintained that she doesn’t want to “jinx” anything yet as she gets to know more about the person she didn’t name.
“Kasi nasa process pa lang ng kailangan mo talagang kilalanin at kailangan mo tignan if compatible ba kayo or not. Yung compatibility, loyalty, even love, it is tested with time so I need to wait for it –– walang minamadali,” she added.
Rabiya then shared that she isn’t waiting for a sign for her to define the relationship and give a label to it but admitted that she has the ball in her court to do so.
“Ineenjoy ko lang yung process pero I think yung pag lagay ng label, I think nasa babae din yan –– nasa akin yung ball game ngayon. Hawak ko yung bola ngayon. I just want to take things slow. I think we have this common understanding na we want to know each other –– yun lang,” she continued.
She revealed that she is still healing from her past relationship and has been doing the work to give her future partner her best.
READ: Jeric Gonzales says breakup with Rabiya Mateo was a mutual decision
“You have to heal muna... Minsan kasi yung thinking natin na okay after a heartache, bago nanaman. It doesn’t work. You need to do all the self-work –– inner work –– you need to process the breakup, give some time para pag dumating na yung potential mabibigay mo yung best mo,” she ended.
Rabiya was previously with Jeric Gonzales before the two decided to mutually part ways with one another. Meanwhile, Jake publicly admitted to dating actress Chie Filomeno back in 2023 and the two called it quits in 2025.