Karen Ibasco

All posts tagged Karen Ibasco

Journeys: The Rebirth of Kagandahang Flores

Posted by Norman on November 17, 2021
Posted in: 1 Pageant Pages, 2 Shout-out-Looks. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , .


KF’s new logo

Earlier tonight, an online media launch was held for Kagandahang Flores (KF) which signals the rebirth of an exciting new campaign for the successful beauty camp that has produced countless national and international beauty titleholders since it started way back in 1995.

Since then, KF has managed to stand the test of time and gradually evolved into becoming one of the most sought-after training groups for pageant aspirants and crowned titleholders who have represented the Philippines well in Global pageants here and abroad. Names like Precious Lara Quigaman, Bea Rose Santiago and Karen Ibasco went through its tried-and-tested methods in achieving victory, with fresh new winners like Roxie Baeyens and Naelah Alshorbaji adding more luster to the camp’s reputation.

Journey in Beauty
“Beauty is everywhere…it is a journey…you just have to recognize it.”


KF Founder Rodgil Flores and co-founder Gio Lazaro are at the forefront of this brand new reimagining for the camp, tagged as The Engineer and Queenmaker respectively. Not many people know that the former is an actual Chemical Engineer by profession, while the latter is one of the most respected makeup gurus in the country. Together, they will lead a team of talented professionals whose individual specializations contribute to the all-around development of future pageant aspirants and beauty queens.

Gio Flores for Aesthetics, Hair and Makeup
Angelo Mendez for Nutrition and Fitness
Michael Dimapinto for Q&A, Current Events and Public Speaking
Andrew Bryan Galleguez for Makeup
Karen Loren Agustin for Personality Development & Image Styling


Just to refresh your memory on the Queens who have been trained and polished by KF, here are some of them (aside from those mentioned above): Rachel Peters, MJ Lastimosa, Karla Henry, Jamie Herrell, Angelia Ong, Gazini Ganados and Emma Tiglao. Very recently, Miss Aura International Alexandra Faith Garcia and The Miss Globe 2021 Maureen Montagne were added to the tally of successful beauty champions.

There are more, but this list will go on forever if we name them one by one.

In summary, KF is welcoming to each and everyone who wants to start a journey with them. Being a KF Beauty is not just being part of a camp, but a member of a family that will look after you along the way.

Start your journey in beauty with KF.

Miss Philippines Earth 2020’s Most Familiar Eco Angels

Posted by Norman on June 14, 2020
Posted in: 1 Pageant Pages, 2 Shout-out-Looks. Tagged: , , , , , , .

Based on the criteria in selecting the winner of Miss Philippines Earth 2020, Beauty of Face, Beauty of Intelligence and Beauty of Form/Fitness/Poise account for 95% of the total score. The remaining 5% is earmarked for behavior/personality. Of late, the most familiar names and faces usually end up getting crowned as the country’s representative to Miss Earth. Examples are the reigning titleholder Janelle Tee and the other recent queens like Celeste Cortesi and Karen Ibasco. You can even include Imelda Schweighart who resigned before her reign was completed.

In this year’s edition, the Eco Angels who need no long introductions happen to be former Bb. Pilipinas and Miss World Philippines candidates plus one who already represented us in a smaller international beauty pageant.

Any one among the trio above is expected by many to take it all the way to the top and become the next winner. Spoilers, of course, are not counted out just yet. The representatives of Talacogon, Agusan del Sur and Vincenzo Sagun, Zamboanga del Sur are fine examples of potential come-from-behind winners.

What are your thoughts about the other contenders, dear readers? Is it high time to crown a fresh face since the new normal in pageantry has already crept in?

If you ask me, it will all boil down to whoever will be the best spokesperson among them. Beauty of Intelligence will be the first key to unlock the magic circle. And a composed and articulate speaker is likely to give the best performer the second key to become the successor of Janelle.

Stunning face is important to many. But a committed, hardworking and cooperative lady with a little of everything is likely to top the competition.

Kagandahang Flores: A Toast to 25 Years of Training a Generation of Beautiful Filipinas

Posted by Norman on April 21, 2020
Posted in: 1 Pageant Pages, 2 Shout-out-Looks. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , .

Happy 25th Anniversary, KF!

Cousins Rodgil and Gio Flores

A period of 25 years is a “generation” – the time from birth to someone having a child of their own and starting the next generation. For beauty camp Kagandahang Flores, 2020 marks the year of its Silver Jubilee. And Rodgil Flores must be beaming with pride, alongside his cousin Gio Flores, in what their initial efforts have transformed into the past two and a half decades.

It all started from humble beginnings. Back in the mid-90s, the group fielded a sole candidate – Sonia Santiago – for Bb. Pilipinas 1996. In between, more beautiful Filipinas started undergoing training and polish for bigger beauty competitions. And in the process, a good number of the ladies started winning national titles left and right, until their successes were justly rewarded when Precious Lara Quigaman was crowned Miss International 2005 – their very first claim to grand slam fame.

Precious on top, Bea Rose below. Precious on top, Bea Rose below.


Below is a rundown of the KF alumni who went on to win their international pageants, either here or abroad:

Miss International 2005 Precious Lara Quigaman
Miss International 2013 Bea Rose Santiago
Miss Earth 2008 Karla Henry
Miss Earth 2014 Jamie Herrell
Miss Earth 2015 Angelia Ong
Miss Earth 2017 Karen Ibasco
Miss Intercontinental 2018 Karen Gallman
Miss Asia Pacific International 2018 Sharifa Akeel
Miss Tourism International 2012/13 Rizzini Alexis Gomez
Miss Tourism International 2013/14 Angeli Dione Gomez
Mr Gay World 2017 John Raspado
Mr Gay World 2019 Janjep Carlos
Mister Tourism Ambassador World 2018 Kerr Cruz

I won’t make a separate list of their winners in Bb. Pilipinas, Miss World Philippines, Miss Philippines Earth, Mutya ng Pilipinas/Mutya Pilipinas and even in Mr World Philippines or Misters of Filipinas anymore because this entry will get very long.

Rodgil during one of his training sessions with Miss Universe Philippines 2019 Gazini Ganados

Some of the core members of Team KF

In essence, Team KF discovers and teaches potential women and men to become successful pageant titleholders. The series of training and level workshops are focused on Personality Development, Visual Poise, Fitness, Pageant Question and Answer, Pageant Hair & Make-Up styling and Pageant Catwalk and Projection – all tailored fit for the biggest national pageants for both genders in the Philippines.

KF is now established as one of two most prominent beauty camps as well as internationally sought-after pageant training groups in the country. It’s no secret that beauty queens from other countries have also given their trust to them. And I am not surprised at the progressive move. If at any, that is already expected. Just like the last two Miss Earth winners Phuong Khanh Nguyen of Vietnam and Nellys Pimentel of Puerto Rico. They were both prepared (or perfected, if you will) at KF before their respective competitions.

Rodgil and his 28 Binibinis for Bb. Pilipinas 2020

I can remember during one of his past interviews (watch below) for Assignment Asia of the China Global Television Network (CGTN) how Rodgil called beauty aspirants – “beauty athletes” – because all the learnings are continuously practiced in their individual lives outside the confines of the camp itself. I could not think of a more appropriate term that could better that.

Congratulations to your 25th Anniversary, Kagandahang Flores! Here’s a toast to the passion and unstinting efforts to train a generation of Beautiful Filipinas!

Our International Beauty Queens for SEA Games 2019

Posted by Norman on November 30, 2019
Posted in: 1 Pageant Pages, 2 Shout-out-Looks. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , .

Megan and Pia


If you missed the live broadcast of the Opening Ceremony of the 30th Southeast Asian Games at the Philippine Arena, eleven of our international beauty queens paraded with the eleven participating nations in the biennial regional sporting event that drew a full house in the gigantic venue.

Pia Wurtzbach, Megan Young, Precious Lara Quigaman, Karen Gallman, Jamie Herrell, Angelia Ong, Karen Ibasco, Cynthia Thomalla, Sharifa Akeel, Jannie Alipo-on and Sophia Senorom added World-Class Beauty to the proceedings when they led each of the SEA Games nations during the parade onstage.

Just in case you missed it, you can watch below:

Our Pride: The Muses of SEA Games 2019

Posted by Norman on November 28, 2019
Posted in: 1 Pageant Pages, 2 Shout-out-Looks. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , .


Amidst all the controversies (and unforgiveable embarrasments) with the initial days of SEA Games hosting in the country, the Opening Ceremony this coming Saturday, November 30, should be a source of pride for Filipinos. Aside from the showcase of World-Class singing talents, the muses of the participating countries in the region’s biennial sporting event will be eleven (11) of our international beauty titleholders, namely:

Miss Universe 2015 Pia Wurtzbach for Team Philippines

Miss World 2013 Megan Young for Team Indonesia

Miss International 2005 Precious Lara Quigaman for Team Malaysia

Miss Earth 2014 Jamie Herrell for Team Singapore

Miss Earth 2015 Angelia Ong for Team Thailand

Miss Earth 2017 Karen Ibasco for Team Myanmar

Miss Intercontinental 2018 Karen Gallman for Team Brunei

Miss Eco International 2018 Cynthia Thomalla for Team Laos

Miss Asia Pacific International 2018 Sharifa Akeel for Team Vietnam

Miss Tourism International 2017 Jannie Alipo-on for Team East Timor
and
Miss Multinational 2017 Sophia Senoron for Team Cambodia

Let’s hope that things go on an upswing after the festive start.

Fingers tightly-crossed!

Karen “Braveheart” Ibasco: On the day she will crown her Miss Earth successor

Posted by Norman on November 3, 2018
Posted in: 1 Pageant Pages, 2 Shout-out-Looks. Tagged: , , .


She stood up against the odds without flinching.

Miss Earth 2017 Karen Ibasco is a braveheart – someone who was called (make that crowned) to action, who stepped out in courage, and who followed through to completion the task she has been called to do or become.

As Miss Earth 2017, she faced one of the most mud-slinged reigns in modern international pageant history. Blame it on the common perception of physical beauty by many fans, supporters and followers from other countries who could not accept her inclusion in their idea of a deserving winner. Heck, even some of her fellow Filipinos joined in the fray and threw their own bushels of tomatoes in dismay. It also didn’t help that the competition was held here in the Philippines where a hometown decision is sure to be met with more than quizzical looks.

And so, she was faced with ferocious resistance the night the crown was placed on top of her head. The most unpleasant shots spread like wildfire on social media, just like the hurtful memes that bruised her feelings like nonstop jabs from an unseen class of opponents.

But Karen is not one to be cowered by such below-the-belt attacks. She remained undaunted, and took the queenly path instead – keeping her cool/composure every step of the way.

And more than midway through her year of reign, the hits gradually grew silent and acceptance crept in a painfully slow manner. It didn’t matter. She continued to hold her head up high.

And now that she is about to crown her successor tonight, Karen can look back to all the painful moments she had surpassed. And give out a generous smile. Because true to her title, she is one of the most down-to-Earth Queens I have ever met. She fulfilled (and continues to fulfill) her responsibilities with clockwork precision, while preserving the pageant brand she was tasked to sustain and strengthen.


Karen “Braveheart” Ibasco. Move on with an even braver heart. Continue to be an inspiration to many. And keep up with the efforts in making our Earth a most environmentally safe place to live in.

Miss Earth 2018: normannorman.com’s Choices to Win

Posted by Norman on November 2, 2018
Posted in: 1 Pageant Pages, 2 Shout-out-Looks. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , .



I will do my Miss Earth 2018 Predictions in a top-to-bottom order for a change. Starting off with my big winner and elemental court, I can see two Latinas – Melissa Flores of Mexico and Diana Silva of Venezuela – fighting close to become the successor of Karen Ibasco. I am giving the edge to the Mexican beauty because she is the more consistent all-around. It also helps that the Miss Earth Mexico Organization that sent her has been making great efforts in sustaining and making the brand more popular in the Americas. Now if the final decision would come down to a Q&A answer, then it wouldn’t surprise me as well if the judges would lean on Melissa. But if she falters – even marginally along the way – then Diana is likely to benefit from the lapse and could give Venezuela its 3rd Miss Earth crown. I would be happier with the former finishing on top, though.

As for Water and Fire, it could be interchangeable between Priya Sigdel of Nepal and Telma Madeira of Portugal. Anyone among the two would be good choices for the elemental court. The Nepalese, however, has the upper hand should she ace the interview round. She could even spoil the two Latinas. But for now, I am sticking to the final lineup I made.

The Portuguese Telma would have made a refreshing Miss Earth winner. Her relative youth might be a concern when the going gets tough, though.

Hence, above is a photo grid of my Top 8, with the 5th to 8th places occupied by Danijela Burjan of Slovenia, Margaretha de Jong of Netherlands, Celeste Cortesi of the Philippines and Melanie Mader of Austria (the one who might benefit from an upper push if the organizers find it beneficial to have an elemental Queen whose attitude and work ethics they are already accustomed to after reigning as Miss Philippines Earth-Water back in 2016).


Just to complete a Top 16, my 9th to 16th Goddesses in ranking are: Phuong Khanh Nguyen of Vietnam, Yashvi Aware of the USA, Maristella Okpala of Nigeria, Antonia Figueroa of Chile, Nerada Chitsadapriyakun of Thailand, Lisa Hayet of Guatemala, Jessica Russo of Peru and Margo Faith Fargo of South Africa.

Let’s see how the actual results will compare tomorrow night at the Mall of Asia Arena.

Four Miss Earth titleholders from the Philippines in One

Posted by Norman on November 1, 2018
Posted in: 1 Pageant Pages, 2 Shout-out-Looks. Tagged: , , , , , , , , .



In anticipation of the Miss Earth 2018 Finals this coming Saturday, here are images from the photoshoot of the Philippines’ four (4) Miss Earth titleholders:

From 2008, Karla Henry
From 2014, Jamie Herrell
From 2015, Angelia Gabrena Ong
and from 2017, Karen Ibasco

HMUA Team headed by Angelo Tacadena
Photographer: Torrontegui Robert
Stylist: Rick Sotelo

High time to have a new Miss Earth winner from another country!

Miss Earth turns 18 in 2018

Posted by Norman on October 11, 2018
Posted in: 1 Pageant Pages, 2 Shout-out-Looks. Tagged: , , , , .


Miss Earth celebrates 18 years of Beauties for a Cause
 
Another season of beauty and responsibility is underway as Miss Earth marks 18 years of promoting environmental awareness. 90 delegates from across the world have made their way to Manila, each one poised to WORK TOWARDS A SUSTAINABLE LIVING.
 
The 18th edition of the premier beauty and environmental event promises to be another year of learning, sharing, PROMOTING THE BEAUTY OF THEIR RESPECTIVE COUNTRIES AND THEIR ADVOCACY’S.
 
Prior to the grand coronation night, the delegates are scheduled to visit various destinations in the Philippines promoting environmental awareness. They will also visit various schools in line with Miss Earth’s mission to educate the youth on the importance of taking care of the environment.
 
Also included in their hectic itinerary are the much talked-about preliminary judging in beauty and poise, figure, and intelligence and environmental awareness which will be streamed live on Miss Earth’s official Facebook page and YouTube channel.
 
“It is going to be another busy year for us,” says Carousel Executive Vice President Lorraine Schuck. “It is really quite tiring with all that traveling and pre-pageant activities, but we cannot sidestep the organization’s main focus, which is to educate and get the public involved in the global movement to save the planet.”
 
In addition to the environmental activities of the delegates, Carousel’s President, Ramon Monzon says, “Preparation is likewise in full swing for the goddess-themed finals night. Hall of Famer journalist James Deakin makes a comeback to do hosting chores, while Grammy nominated Brian McKnight will be the guest performer, THE FINAL STAGE WILL BE MORE OR LESS 80% BE MADE OF RECYCLED MATERIALS.
 
The two-hour grand coronation night is slated on Saturday, November 3 at the Mall of Asia Arena, telecast live on FOXlife at 8:00 PM and on TV networks of participating countries. It will also be streamed live via Miss Earth’s Facebook page and YouTube channel, and on gmanetwork.com. The local Philippine airing will be on Sunday, November 4, 10:30 PM on GMA-7.
 
Miss Earth 2018 is made possible with PARTNERS: Official Hotel Residences, Century Park Hotel, Diamond Hotel Philippines, Pan Pacific Manila, Viking Car Rental – the official bus transport, Gandang Ricky Reyes official stylists, KITTCO Travel & Tours, and the Miss Earth Foundation.