Thomasian professor hailed Miss Earth 2017
by Cielo Erikah Mae Cinco
Thomasian alumna and professor Karen Ibasco was reduced to tears as she was crowned Miss Earth 2017 during the pageant’s coronation night at the Mall of Asia Arena last night.
A licensed physicist, Ibasco emerged victorious among the sea of 84 candidates from all over the world as she represented the country in the pageant.
The crown was passed to Ibasco by Ecuador’s Katherine Espin, the reigning queen from last year’s pageant.
In the EarthTalk segment, the top eight finalists were given 30 seconds to discuss the hashtag they would draw from the bowl.
Drawing #biodiversity, Ibasco highlighted its importance as well as the need to protect the environment.
“Biodiversity is very important. We are very known in the Philippines to have a lot of biodiversity, and they’re very important because they also balances the ecosystem. It’s very important for us to protect them, because as we protect them, we protect the environment to help save our home, our planet, our Earth, to be a better place to live in. Thank you,” she said.
For the much-awaited question and answer portion of the pageant, Ibasco went against Australia’s Nina Robertson, Colombia’s Juliana Franco, and Russia’s Lada Akimova as they were made to answer the question “Who or what do you think is the biggest enemy of Mother Earth and why?”
Ibasco quickly pointed out ignorance and apathy as problems.
“I believe that the real problem in this world is not climate change; the real problem is us because of our ignorance and apathy. What we have to do is to start changing our ways, to start recalibrating our minds, and redirecting our steps, because together, as a global community, our micro efforts will have a macro effect to help save our home, our planet. Thank you.”
Robertson, Franco, and Akimova were crowned Miss Earth-Air, Miss Earth-Water, and Miss Earth-Fire, respectively, making up Ibasco’s so-called “elemental court.”
Together, they will serve as the pageant’s global ambassadors in promoting environmental conservation and protection.
Aside from the much-coveted Miss Earth crown, Ibasco also took gold medals for Asia Pacific National Costume category for her Maria Clara-inspired costume design by Louis Pangilinan, Darling of the Press, and Group 2 Swimsuit Competition, as well as bagging silver medals for Resorts Wear Competition and Long Gown Competition.
The 26-year-old beauty queen graduated cum laude on her bachelor’s degree in Applied Physics at UST and in her master’s degree in Applied Physics major in Medical Physics UST Graduate School.
She also served as a former faculty member of the College of Science and worked as a medical physicist at St. Luke’s Medical Center, Global City.
Ibasco is among the long list of successful Thomasian beauty queens including Charlene Gonzales (Miss Universe 1994 top six finalist), Miriam Quiambao (Miss Universe 1999 first runner-up), Janine Tugonon (Miss Universe 2012 first runner-up), and Ann Colis (Miss Globe 2015).
She was able to represent the country in the Miss Earth pageant after winning the Miss Philippines-Earth crown last July 15. (READ: Thomasian physicist is PH bet in Miss Earth 2017)
