Thomasian physicist is PH bet in Miss Earth 2017
The University has produced another beauty queen after a Thomasian physicist was crowned Miss Philippines Earth 2017 on Saturday, July 15.
Karen Ibasco, who graduated cum laude with a bachelor’s degree in Applied Physics, bested 39 other candidates from different cities and municipalities in the country during the coronation night held at the Mall of Asia Arena.
The 26-year-old stunner from Manila wowed the judges when she expressed her opinion on fake news during the first round of the question and answer portion.
“Nowadays, a lot of people distribute fake news but one of the most important mediums is social media. We have to learn [how] to use it for social good. We have to learn to disseminate…and also to filter the right information not just for yourself…but also for the people in your circle of influence,” she said.
During the final round of interviews, Ibasco continued to impress everyone when she told the judges she would like to have law on carbon tax as part of the government’s action on environmental protection.
“Everyone [is] experiencing climate change. I’m just grateful that the Philippines has signed the Paris Treaty. What I want to see is to pass a carbon tax. In that way, we would invest in renewable energy to help our world to be a better place, greener, inhabitable for the whole country,” she answered.
Last March, the Philippines signed the Paris Agreement on Climate Change which calls for the reduction of carbon emissions. They have been linked to the occurrence of natural disasters and extreme weather conditions.
Ibasco obtained her master’s degree in Applied Physics major in Medical Physics at the UST Graduate School, where she also graduated cum laude in 2013.
She was also a former faculty member at the College of Science and worked as a medical physicist at St. Luke’s Medical Center, Global City.
Ibasco will represent the country in the Miss Earth pageant this coming Nov. 4.
Many of the country’s beauty queens who performed well in different international pageants were graduates of the University such as Charlene Gonzales (Miss Universe 1994 Top 6 finalist), Miriam Quiambao (Miss Universe 1999 1st runner-up), Janine Tugonon (Miss Universe 2012 1st runner-up), and Ann Colis (Miss Globe 2015). — W.N. Orlina
