KAREN Ibasco is both beauty and brains.
Ibasco, 26, was recently crowned Miss Earth Philippines 2017. Moreover, she finished both her BS Applied Physics major in Instrumentation and Masters of Science degree in Applied Physics major in Medical Physics from the Royal Pontifical University of Santo Tomas (UST).
Above this mouthful of academic accomplishment, Ibasco fears one thing: becoming irrelevant, especially among millennials.
“I believe not only the millennials but people of all ages lack the knowledge of what’s truly happening around us,” Ibasco, a self-confessed geek, said in reply to the BusinessMirror’s questions sent via e-mail. “That’s why I am very grateful for Miss Philippines Earth for paving a way for me to share my voice and my advocacy.”
Nevertheless, she said millennials can also help promote the worthy cause of saving Mother Earth by harnessing the power of social media.
Ibasco describes her master’s degree as “physics penetrating the world of medicine”. In a nutshell, she said the field deals about using radiation for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes.
“Specifically for my field, which is under radiation oncology, we use high-energy radiation to kill cancer cells while avoiding [risking] organs and normal tissues,” she explained.
Winning the crown boosted Ibasco’s confidence, developed her character and gave her emotional strength.
“It also allowed me to build relationships with my cocandidates [who] I treat as family,” she explains.
It took a while for Ibasco to realize she won this year’s edition of Miss Earth Philippines. She said she feels very thankful to God for giving her the opportunity to use the title as a platform to reach out to a wider range of audience in catering environmental awareness to people’s consciousness.
“I’m very excited to represent the Philippines in the international stage and shout ‘Philippines’ after my name,” Ibasco said.
She said she is always open for private-sector participation in promoting environmentalism. Moreover, Ibasco is a strong believer that the government should work hand in hand with companies like Merrell to invite other businesses or organizations to join in upholding the protection of the environment. She said she believes this is one of the best ways to reach out to people in making them aware and helping them to participate to care for the Earth.
“We are stronger if we are all together in this movement.”
As the reigning Miss Earth Philippines, Ibasco is expected to go on different school tours to educate the younger generation about the preservation of the environment.
Furthermore, she is raring to tour the country and see beautiful tourist spots “I haven’t visited and also to promote it to others”.
“I’m also excited to work hand in hand with different environmental organizations, how we can strengthen environmental awareness with different projects.”
After finishing her master’s degree, she taught mathematics and physics in UST for about a year. Later, she practiced her field of study at the UST Hospital’s Department of Radiation Oncology as a medical physicist.
Ibasco said after her reign, she’ll go back to her practice as a medical physicist to help cancer patients.
Image credits: The Varsitarian