Karen Ibasco

Karen Santos Ibasco (born December 17, 1990) is a Filipina physicist and beauty pageant titleholder who was crowned Miss Philippines Earth 2017.

Karen Santos Ibasco was born on December 17, 1990, in Manila, Philippines.

She is half-Filipino, half-Chinese.

She studied at Hope Christian High School in Manila and she speaks Chinese fluently.

She obtained her bachelor's degree in applied physics majoring in instrumentation. she also has a master's degree in applied physics, majoring in medical physics at the University of Santo Tomas in the Philippines, where she graduated cum laude on both degrees.

She was also a former college instructor at the College of Science of the University of Santo Tomas and worked as a medical physicist at St. Luke's Medical Center, Global City.

Ibasco was a candidate at Binibining Pilipinas 2016 pageant and represented the city of Manila.

She represented the Philippines at the Miss Earth 2017 pageant and won the title.

Ibasco entered and won the Miss Philippines Earth pageant 2017, on July 15, 2017, at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay.

During the hashtag, candidates drew from a fishbowl a topic to expound upon, Karen's hashtag was #fake news.

She said:

"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."

During the question and answer section of the top five finalists, she was asked what she wanted to change about the environmental policies of the country.

She responded:

"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."

As the winner, she went on to represent the Philippines at Miss Earth 2017.

Ibasco entered and won Miss Earth 2017, on November 4, 2017, at The Mall of Asia Arena, Manila, Philippines.

She was crowned as Miss Earth 2017 by the outgoing Miss Earth 2016 Katherine Espín of Ecuador.

She is the 4th Filipina to win the Miss Earth crown and the 3rd in the last four years.

During the hashtag segment, the top eight finalists were given 30 seconds to express their thoughts on a hashtag that they picked out of a bowl.

Karen's hashtag was #biodiversity.

She said:

"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."

During the final question and answer portion, the top four contestants were asked by the host James Deakin: "Who or what do you think is the biggest enemy of Mother Earth and why?"

She answered:

"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."

Ibasco was personally congratulated by former Philippine president and Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada when she paid a courtesy call on Estrada at the latter's office in Manila City Hall.

She was also congratulated by former Manila City Mayor and Buhay Party-List, Lito Atienza for giving pride and honor to the City of Manila in winning Miss Earth 2017.

The 17th Congress of the Senate of the Philippines through the Philippine Senate Resolution Number 539 authored by Philippine Senator Sonny Angara commended Ibasco on November 7, 2017, for being crowned as Miss Earth 2017.

In a separate Senate, Resolution Number 544 was filed on November 20, 2017, to recognize and commend Ibasco for honoring the Philippines in winning the Miss Earth 2017 pageant was authored by Senator Joel Villanueva.

The Resolution indicated that "the Filipina beauty queen’s positive and strong determination to fulfill her dream of winning the title is indeed a positive example and great inspiration to her countrymen, particularly the youth, that no dream is impossible as long as she puts her heart and mind to it; Resolve by the Senate, that the Senate of the Philippines recognizes and commends Karen Ibasco on her victory at the Miss Earth 2017, and extends its warmest gratitude for bringing pride and glory to all Filipino citizens."

The Lower House of the seventeenth Philippines Congress, House of Representatives of the Philippines also had two separate House Resolutions commending and conferring the "Congressional Medal of Distinction" to Ibasco for her victory in the Miss Earth 2017 pageant through the House Resolution Number 1438 authored by Congressman Eric L. Olivarez on November 6, 2017 and House Resolution 1465 authored by Congressman Yul Servo on November 21, 2017.

“The House Resolution stated “As the reigning Miss Earth 2017, Ibasco will serve as the ambassador to environmental protection campaigns worldwide, influencing millions of people and creating a huge effect to the preservation of our Mother Earth for future generations.

By being crowned Miss Earth, she made the country proud and has shown to the world the true meaning of Filipino beauty, excellence and love for the environment.

Her beauty is truly a beauty for a cause.”

In August 2017, Ibasco was invited in the Senate of the Philippines and voiced her support for the fuel excise tax provision at one of the hearings conducted by the Senate ways and means committee on the proposed Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion Act (TRAIN).

She indicated in the hearing that "as a signatory to the Paris climate change treaty that aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, the Philippine is committed within a specific timeframe to cut its carbon emissions, which can be done partly by approving the fuel excise tax provision under TRAIN."

In May 2018, Ibasco was one of the recipients of Philippines The Outstanding Men and Women of the Year awards for her contributions to society and the country, as well as her active pursuit of her environmental advocacies.

The event was held at the Teatrino Promenade in Greenhills, San Juan, Metro Manila where she also won the Face of the Year special award.

The University of Santo Tomas College of Science Alumni Association recognized Ibasco as a notable graduate in the Thomasian Outstanding Alumni Scientists Tribute Awards on March 2, 2019, for her environmental advocacies and in recognition of her significant and exemplary contribution to the science community and the nation.