Miss Philippines Rabiya Mateo has arrived in Los Angeles, California in preparation for the 69th Miss Universe beauty pageant which will be held in Florida on May 16.
This as Jonas Gaffud, creative director for Miss Universe Philippines, explained the team's sudden decision to fly to the US this early.
On Facebook April 10, Gaffud said: "The sudden decision to leave early was because of restrictions in the country. We wanted to leave on April 20, to isolate for 14 days (self imposed because there are no quarantine rules in Florida I think) prior to checking in at the Miss Universe Hotel venue."
His full post:
"It’s my first flight (domestic or international) since March 2020. The sudden decision to leave early was because of restrictions in the country. We wanted to leave on April 20, to isolate for 14 days (self-imposed because there are no quarantine rules in Florida I think) prior to checking in at the Miss Universe Hotel venue.
"We planned so many things the past three weeks: more photoshoots, interviews, fittings, and a grand send off presscon for Rabiya. These were all cancelled because of the covid situation. We are a very responsible organization and we care for the safety of everyone, specially the Queen.
"With all that is happening, it makes me wonder why some people are blaming us for not doing what is the “tradition”. Yet, we were able to stage a pageant last year which produced this beautiful lady from Iloilo.
"By the end of March, the organization was carefully planning everything. We had no choice but to the get the earliest day possible to leave the country. Since flights are either being cancelled or fullybooked. So April 9 it is. We don’t even have an airline sponsor. But thank God there are angels around who have been helping us. (Whom we will thank all soon).
"Before leaving we prayed together with Albert Andrada. A reminder is that we are not just doing this for ourselves, and for our country. We are all here to glorify His name, the Lord our God. "PS. It’s Rabiya’s first out of the country trip, and she requested that we all go together."