Philippines’ Karen Ibasco crowned Miss Earth 2017

(PH bet shines with her smile after being crowned as Miss Earth 2017. Photo courtesy of Danny Pata, GMA News Online)

THE HOMETOWN crowd brimmed the Mall of Asia Arena with joyful cheers as Philippines’ Karen Ibasco was hailed Miss Earth 2017 on Saturday.

Ibasco bested 84 other candidates and was crowned by Miss Earth 2016 Katherin Espin from Ecuador.

Ibasco, the fourth Filipina to win the crown, made an early lead in the pre-pageant competition, bagging gold medals for the National Costume-Asia Pacific category; swimsuit competition for Group 2; Darling of the Press and silver medals for Group 2’s long gown competition and resorts wear competition.

A 26-year-old medical physicist and professor from the University of Santo Tomas, Ibasco advocates conservation of energy and embracement of renewable and sustainable resources as seen in her Miss Earth Philippines 2017 profile.

In the final question and answer, the top 4 candidates were tasked to answer the same question: “Who or what do you think is the biggest enemy of Mother Earth and why?” where Ibasco said that apathy and ignorance among people were the real problem.

The beauty queen’s winning answer in full:

I believe that the real problem is not climate change. The problem is us, because of our ignorance and apathy. What we have to do is to start changing our ways, to start re-calibrating 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.

Joining the elemental queens for this year were Miss Earth Air Nina Robertson, a Filipino-Australian, from Australia; Miss Earth Water Juliana Franco from Colombia; and Miss Earth Fire Lada Akimova from Russia.

On its 17th year, Miss Earth was themed: “Heroines Fighting Climate Change.”