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Paying it forward: Rabiya Mateo gives laptop to working student

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ABS-CBN News

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2021/life/04/14/rabiya_1.jpg"/><figcaption><em>Screengrab from YouTube</em></figcaption></figure></div><p>MANILA -- A student who also works as a fast food service crew became emotional upon learning that she will receive a laptop from Miss Universe Philippines (MUP) 2020 Rabiya Mateo.</p><p>The heartwarming moment was documented in a video titled &quot;Against All Odds, In Pursuit of the Dream,&quot; which is part of an MUP-produced series.</p><p>Joyce Baluran, who hails from Cebu, became viral on social media in 2020 as she was photographed squeezing in her online classes during work breaks.</p><p>Impressed by the working student&#x27;s determination, Mateo said: &quot;Saludo naman ako doon sa &#x27;yo, kasi naranasan ko rin &#x27;yan.&quot;</p><p>&quot;Isa kang mabuting anak, isa kang mabuting estudyante,&quot; she added.</p><figure class="op-interactive"><iframe height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/PJtnbEgvGjU?enablejsapi=1" width="560"></iframe></figure><div class="iwantbar">Watch more in <a href="//www.iwantv.com.ph/">iWantv</a> or <a href="//tfc.tv/">TFC.tv</a></div><p>Mateo hopes that Baluran&#x27;s story will inspire people to value their education.</p><p>&quot;Imagine &#x27;yung iba may laptop, may internet access, hatid-sundo. Wala nang poproblemahin, mag-aaral na lang. Tapos may mga kabataan tayo tulad ni Joyce na ang daming kailangang isakripisyo [para makapag-aral],&quot; she said.</p><p>&quot;Sana ma-realize niyo kung gaano kayo ka-blessed. At sana &#x27;yung pag-aaral, pagpahalagahan niyo talaga,&quot; added the beauty queen, who is also MUP&#x27;s ambassador for education.</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/life/12/07/20/top-5-of-miss-universe-ph-2020-now-have-official-titles">Top 5 of Miss Universe PH 2020 now have official titles</a></li></ul><p>Baluran was then asked what she needs in her studies, prompting the student to shyly admit that she is struggling to do online classes using her mobile phone.</p><p>In response, Mateo said: &quot;Ito, promise ko talaga &#x27;to. Ako na bahala sa laptop mo!&quot; </p><p>&quot;Kasi I&#x27;ve been so blessed. Ang daming tumulong din sa akin,&quot; she continued, as Baluran started to cry. &quot;Noong kumuha ako ng board exam, sponsored din. And now, it&#x27;s my time to give back.&quot; </p><p>&quot;Iyong story mo, reflection siya ng story ko,&quot; Mateo stressed. &quot;And sana pagdating ng panahon, na may ma-encounter ka na ganitong sitwasyon, ganitong bata na nangangailangan ng tulong, ikaw naman &#x27;yung tutulong sa kanila.&quot; </p><p>In an Instagram post early this year, Mateo looked back on her financial challenges as a student as she took her turn to give back to the community.</p><p>She recalled her meager allowance of P5 back in elementary school, and using the same pair of shoes for three years.</p><p>&quot;I had no laptop, no internet access, and there were moments I even needed to go to my classmate&#x27;s house to borrow crayons and materials,&quot; she said.</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/life/02/01/21/i-only-had-p5-as-my-baon-rabiya-mateo-recalls-life-as-a-student-as-she-gives-back">&#x27;I only had P5 as my baon&#x27;: Rabiya Mateo recalls life as a student as she gives back</a></li></ul><p>Mateo is currently in Florida to compete in the Miss Universe pageant, which is scheduled on May 16 (May 17 in Manila).</p><p>She is the first representative under the new MUP organization, which took over the Miss Universe franchise in the country after Binibining Pilipinas Charities Inc.</p><div><strong>Related video:</strong></div><figure class="op-interactive"><iframe allow="autoplay; fullscreen" frameBorder="0" height="100%" id="ivsplayer01" scrolling="no" src="https://player.ivideosmart.com/ivsplayer/v4/dist/html/iframe-src.html?iframeid=ivsplayer01&amp;key=e8c22c015ca9eafa76f1e3edfa03c603&amp;spid=3001339&amp;vid=1661247" width="100%"></iframe></figure><div class="iwantbar">Watch more in <a href="//www.iwantv.com.ph/">iWantv</a> or <a href="//tfc.tv/">TFC.tv</a></div>

<p>"Iyong story mo, reflection siya ng story ko. And sana pagdating ng panahon, na may ma-encounter ka na ganitong sitwasyon, ganitong bata na nangangailangan ng tulong, ikaw naman 'yung tutulong sa kanila." </p>

"Iyong story mo, reflection siya ng story ko. And sana pagdating ng panahon, na may ma-encounter ka na ganitong sitwasyon, ganitong bata na nangangailangan ng tulong, ikaw naman 'yung tutulong sa kanila."