For the first time, beauty queen-turned-actress Rabiya Mateo divulged the reason behind her breakup with Neil Salvacion.
In an interview with Boy Abunda, she denied that it was due to her winning the Miss Universe Philippines title.
So what's the real reason?
Rabiya shared: "I think this is the first time na sasabihin ko sa TV but he (Neil) proposed to me, and I was so young that time. I wasn't ready."
"During that time, he was ready to settle na because feeling niya, okay na siya sa buhay. Pero ako, like, I wanna aspire to be more, so doon kami nagkaroon ng conflict," she added.
Rabiya also felt that she was not giving all that she can to their relationship because she was just too busy.
Rabiya cleared though that they didn't immediately break up after the proposal.
She just can't go on with it because of her dreams for herself and her family.
"Galing din ako sa walang-wala, tapos nakita ko when I won Miss Universe Philippines, 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.
"So parang ako po yung breadwinner. And dahil wala akong dad, parang nasa akin lahat ng responsibilidad na yun. So hindi ko pa kayang ma iwan 'yun para mag-asawa."
In any case, Rabiya reiterated that she and Neil are friends, deeming her ex-boyfriend "mabait siyang tao."
Currently, Rabiya is in a relationship with actor Jeric Gonzales.
What if he proposes, Boy asked.
Rabiya thinks she would readily say yes this time around, relating things have changed for her.
"Feeling ko now na-fulfill ko na yung pangarap ko for my family. Nabilhan ko na ng bahay si Mama... meron na akong na ipon."
But Rabiya cleared, "Siguro hindi agad-agad... siguro in two years... gusto ko rin maging nanay na... Parang I can see myself pero hindi naman yun yung desisyon na ako yung gagawa. Kaming dalawa dapat ng partner ko."
It was in 2021 when Rabiya and Neil's breakup made headlines.
That Neil seemingly "joked" about his breakup with Rabiya via his “Pinoy Big Brother” audition video only added fuel to the fire.
He said then: "...mas nakakalungkot pala maiwan ka ng taong minamahal mo dahil sa pangarap nitong korona."