Rabiya Mateo is more than ready to settle down with boyfriend Jeric Gonzales.
During her guesting at Fast Talk with Boy Abunda on February 21, 2023, the 26-year-old beauty queen-turned-actress was quick to answer when host Boy Abunda asked if she would say "yes" to a marriage proposal from Jeric.
She eagerly explained, “And ngayon, Tito Boy, parang feeling ko na-fulfill ko na yung pangarap ko for my family.
"Nabilhan ko na ng bahay si Mama, nabigyan ko na sila ng... yung savings, nakapag-ipon na po ako.
“Siguro hindi agad-agad, pero siguro in two years, kasi gusto ko rin maging nanay na. I can see myself.
"Pero hindi lang naman kasi yun ang desisyon na ako yung gagawa. Kaming dalawa dapat ng partner ko."
The Kapuso couple confirmed their rekindled romance via Instagram a day after Valentine’s.
Jeric wrote in his post: “Hindi pa siguro late para bumati? Happy valentine’s my love@rabiyamateo I will and always love you!”
The actress replied in the comment section, “I love you @jericgonzales07. Blessed to spend 2 Valentine’s dates with you.”
NOVEMBER 2021: FIRST PROJECT TOGETHER
Rabiya and Jeric first worked together in an episode of the weekly drama anthology Wish Ko Lang!, hosted by Vicky Morales. The episode titled “Magkaibigan” included Kim Rodriguez, Lovely Rivero, Sue Prado, and social-media personality Joyang.
The episode was also the actress’ first lead role as she played Rita, a strong-willed yet sweet daughter whose love for her mother gets her into debt.
Their first meeting happened five months after Rabiya's breakup with Neil Salvacion, her long-time non-showbiz boyfriend of seven years, was confirmed in June 2021.
DECEMBER 2021: COZY IN A THEME PARK
Less than a month after their first project together, Rabiya and Jeric were spotted getting cozy outside Enchanted Kingdon, a theme park in Santa Rosa, Laguna.
Their photos went viral on TikTok and sparked dating rumors as the two spent their holidays together.
In one of the snaps, the GMA-7 hunk could be seen hugging Rabiya, who was dressed in a white tank top, while holding hands.
FEBRUARY 2022: MR. “J”
In a PEP Live interview, Rabiya admitted to being on a getting-to-know stage with someone special.
She said, “Alam mo, basta masaya ako. Yun na lang muna.
"Kasi ayaw ko naman magsalita na too early pa. What they don't know, they can't ruin. There is power in privacy.
"Yun ang na-learn ko sa mga nangyari sa akin in the past, especially I was very open with my relationship status."
But when some netizens peeked on PEP Live and shrieked, “#JrevealonFeb14,” Rabiya happily screamed.
Although there was no direct mention of who Mr. “J” was, it was clear that they alluded to Jeric because the two had been linked to each other since December 2021.
MARCH 2022: CONFIRMED!
On March 16, 2022, Jeric and Rabiya went official after posting their sweet moments on their respective Instagram accounts.
Rabiya uploaded some photos and videos of their sweet moments in Bohol.
One of the photos showed Jeric giving her a piggyback ride, and had the caption, “Live LOVE. Laugh. Thank you, Eric.”
To which the Kapuso actor replied, “Let’s be happy together. I love you.”
In his own post, Jeric confessed his love for the beauty queen with the caption: “To more memories with you @rabiyamateo I love you.”
Exchanging sweet nothings, she commented, “Through good times and bad times, I’m gonna be there by your side. I love you Babe.”
JUNE 2022: WHIRLWIND ROMANCE
Despite the buzz surrounding Jeric’s photo with an alleged “male lover,” the actress penned a sweet note for her beau as a way of showing her support.
Her Instagram Story contained a boomerang clip of Rabiya winking while grabbing Jeric’s face towards hers.
She simply wrote, “Late night date @jericgonzales07 [heart and sparkles emoji]”
But a few days after Rabiya posted their sweet moments, netizens were quick to notice that the couple unfollowed each other on Instagram.
Fans had been speculating about their breakup as early as May, when Rabiya posted a cryptic Instagram post that read, “I owe myself the biggest apology for putting up with what I didn’t deserve.”
Their sweet posts for each other had also been taken down, including the one where Rabiya declared her love for Jeric.
On the other hand, Jeric still had his photo with Rabiya which was taken during the Sparkle contract signing event on May 26. The post had the caption, “Mi amor.”
SEPTEMBER 2022: TIkTOCLOCK
In the course of promoting their new series Start-Up PH, Jeric and co-star Yasmien Kurdi were asked to guest in TiktoClock, the show hosted by Rabiya.
This was the first time that the ex-couple faced each other after their breakup back in June.
In an exclusive interview on TiktoClock’s All Access, Jeric revealed he was initially nervous about being on the show, but he eventually had a good time.
He said, “Actually kinakabahan talaga ako sa guesting na ito with TiktoClock. Yung mga hiritan, yung mga hugutan medyo kinakabahan ako.
“Pero sobrang nag-enjoy ako kasi fun-fun siya.
“Yung mga games namin na-enjoy ko kasi pinag-pair talaga kami e, ano?
"Surprisingly, kilala ko kasi Rab e, competitive talaga iyan, hindi nagpapatalo.
“Pero di rin ako nagpatalo. Nanalo ako.”
OCTOBER 2022: HALLOWEEN BALL
The ex-lovers were spotted sitting together and casually talking at the Sparkle Halloween Ball.
As seen on the Instagram post of Kapuso news personality Nelson Canlas, Rabiya and Jeric were quietly sitting side by side at Xylo at The Palace as the Halloween party held on October 31 was ongoing.
Both came in costume: Rabiya channeled Princess Jasmine from the Disney movie Aladdin, while Jeric dressed as Clark Kent, the alter ego of Superman.
In a separate interview, Jeric said the main reason for their breakup was a misunderstanding of their priorities in life.
DECEMBER 2022: JERIC AND RABIYA SPOTTED WATCHING ERASERHEADS' reunion concert
Maraming fans ang nakakitang magkasamang pinanood ng dalawa ang reunion concert ng Eraserheads na ginanap sa SMDC Festival Grounds, Parañaque City, noong December 22.
Sa report ng Cabinet Files, lumipat na rin daw ng bahay ang dalaga.
Ang location: malapit sa bahay ni Jeric.
FEBRUARY 2023: BACK TOGETHER?
Jeric appeared on Fast Talk with Boy Abunda lastFebruary 15.
When asked if he and Rabiya have gotten back together, Jeric slowly answered that they haven’t... yet.
"Getting there,” he added.
Asked to rate how close they are to reuniting, with 10 being the closest to being in a relationship, he hesitantly said they’re on six. He then quickly changed his answer to eight.
But came the evening, the 31-year-old actor settled the real score between him and beauty queen through an Instagram post.
“Hindi pa siguro late para bumati? Happy Valentine’s my love Rabiya. I will and always love you!” wrote Jeric in his post.