Karen Ibasco

All posts tagged Karen Ibasco

Bonding 101 with the Miss Philippines Earth 2017 Warriors

Posted by Norman on June 17, 2017
Posted in: 1 Pageant Pages, 2 Shout-out-Looks. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , . 2 Comments

Your blogger with the Miss Philippines Earth 2017 Candidates at Pioneer St. Market

Konrad Ong of Sash Factor took this photo of us

There has never been a more fruitful year of bonding with the Earth Warriors than the 2017 batch. I have actually met all of them in person and have started bonding with a lot of them even before the Press Presentation scheduled early next month at the Diamond Hotel Manila.

It really helps to know them beyond the superficial hi/hello pleasantries. The quality time spent with them gives me a better impression as to who deserves to be up there come finals night on July 15 and who are continuously slugging it out with the rest to make good with their respective bids for the highest crown and the elemental positions.

At this point, I am giving good marks so far to the following ladies because they have started to show their beauty, brains and personality that would be good indicators of potential high placers.

Vanessa Mae Castillo of Lobo, Batangas | Samantha Acosta of Pulilan, Bulacan | Sherlyn Doloriel of Cagayan de Oro City | Rianne Kalaw of Lipa City | Nelzza Bautista of Villanueva, Misamis Occ | Jessica Rose McEwen of Fil-New Zealand | Lea Audrey Laano of Tayabas City | Karen Ibasco of the City of Manila | Jessica Marasigan of Caloocan City | Celine Pangan of Ozamiz City | Danna Rose Socaoco of Magsaysay, Misamis Or.| Princess Nicolas of Camiling, Tarlac | Catherine Tabaniag of Panglao, Bohol | Shane Tormes of Mandaluyong City | Krishia Antonio of Porac, Pampanga and Madelle Estaya of Nueva Valencia, Guimaras.

But who knows what the other ladies have in store for the upcoming weeks? There’s still a long way to go before the crystal-clear front-runners take their place in the eyes of everyone. 🙂

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Miss Philippines Earth 2017: The First 21 Candidates

Posted by Norman on May 3, 2017
Posted in: 1 Pageant Pages, 2 Shout-out-Looks. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , . 13 Comments


After Bb. Pilipinas, we move on to the next national beauty pageant in line – Miss Philippines Earth 2017. I now present to you the first twenty-one Earth Warriors who will vie for the crown currently being held by Loren Mar Artajos. The following ladies are raring to go for the continuous promotion of environmental causes and moving forward with their individual advocacies for Mother Earth. They are:

Samantha Acosta of Pulilan, Bulacan

Tammy de Roca of Pasay City

Pamela Grace Janson of the City of Mati

Sherlyn Doloriel of Cagayan de Oro

Jessica Rose McEwen of New Zealand

Danielle Anthea Mayo of Quezon City

Kim de Guzman of Olongapo City

Jessica Marasigan of Caloocan City

Lea Audrey Laano of Tayabas City

Suzanne Dale Perez of Los Angeles, CA, USA

Celine Pangan of Ozamiz City

Rianne Charlotte Kalaw of Lipa City

Abigail Libre of San Miguel, Bulacan

Mary Cheene Pastoral of Dasmariñas, Cavite

Nellza Bautista of Villanueva, Misamis Oriental

Sofia Jane Panapanaan of Paranaque City

Rheena Rae Ferrer of Makati City

Cheysen Fabriquer Capuno of Dauin, Negros Oriental

Karen Ibasco of the City of Manila

Vanessa Mae Perez Castillo of Lobo, Batangas

Nikkie Elizalde of Biñan, Laguna

Sunday Specials: The Miss Philippines Earth 2017 Final Screening 

Posted by Norman on March 19, 2017
Posted in: 1 Pageant Pages, 2 Shout-out-Looks. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , . 10 Comments

Your blogger and his partner Joy Arguil (rightmost) with Malaya Columnist Jay Patao and a few of the ladies who screened


Yesterday afternoon, the final screening of Miss Philippines Earth 2017 went without a hitch at the Carousel Mansion in Mandaluyong City. The ladies who came have already been pre-selected before attending the all-important interview with the judging panel which included Lorraine Schuck, Peachy Veneracion and (newly-placed) Miss Philippines Air 2016 Shannon Bridgman.

There were a few familiar faces who showed up, like Jessica McEwen from Mutya ng Pilipinas, Karen Ibasco from Bb. Pilipinas and Iya Antonio from Miss Global Philippines, just as there are notably promising ladies in contention like Samantha Acosta, Odeza Duqueza (Bb. Aurora 2017) and Heike Marlis.


The selected applicants from this group will join the official entries from the different key cities and provinces in the Philippines plus the Filipino Commumities abroad to form the 2017 batch of Earth Warriors who will vie for the crown of reigning titleholder Loren Mar Artajos come June.

Good luck to everyone! 🙂

P.S. The new Elemental Court of Miss Philippines Earth 2016 Loren Mar Artajos is composed of:

Air: Shannon Bridgman
Water: Melanie Mader
Fire: Tim Alsowyed
Eco-Tourism: Charinna Barro
——
Kiara Giel Gregorio had to give up on her Miss Air duties in favor of her demanding university schedule in London.

Rodgil Flores turns Golden

Posted by Norman on February 6, 2017
Posted in: 1 Pageant Pages, 2 Shout-out-Looks. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , . 14 Comments

​​

Rodgil Flores (center) and his KF team

Rodgil and his family members

Last night, I was the only member of the recognizable pageant media ​​who attended the surprise 50th Birthday Bash of Rodgil Flores – the well-loved man behind Kagandahang Flores – which was held at Club One 690 in Quezon City. There was a visible outpouring of love from everyone who became part of his life as a beauty queen-maker, friend and loved one. The core team behind the event – led by Georgette Garrido, Kristine Caballero-Aplal, Gelbert Aplal and David Isaac Buenaventura – made sure that everything was kept in utmost secrecy up until the final reveal when the celebrant showed up at the venue unaware of what he will witness upon arrival (he was made to know that it was an important client meeting instead). He could not hold back the tears especially when an emotionally-made three-part video (which included Janicel Lubina who is currently in Brisbane for a project and Karen Agustin-Ostrea who is tied up with commitments as well) was shown detailing some of the individuals who have benefitted from his love, generosity and unconditional care.

Beauty queens spotted last night included Bea Rose Santiago, Angelia Ong, MJ Lastimosa, Parul Shah, Maggie Wilson-Consunji, Angelee Delos Reyes, Patricia Fernandez, Precious Lara Quigaman, Karla Henry, Kris Tiffany Janson, Athena Imperial, Camille Hirro, Janela Joy Cuaton, Ganiel Krishnan, Jaya San Jose, Mia Howell, Rachel Peters, Julian Flores, Abigail Cruz, Alexandra Faith Garcia, Gail Ventic, Kristine Estoque, Karen Ibasco, Brenna Gamboa and more. Mr. Gay World Philippines Organization Head Wilbert Tolentino (who was there with John Raspado and Bench Ortiz) was his usually generous self as he added a big amount to the already raised funds (whole-heartedly contributed upon by all previous titleholders and sponsors) for the future training of all KF beauty queen-aspirants. I won’t mention the exact amounts anymore but it’s definitely worth a lot.

Here are more photos from the event.

Your blogger (2nd from right standing) with the other guests and Mutya ng Pilipinas people

With Janela Cuaton, Jaya San Jose, Ganiel Krishnan, CJ Hirro and Angelo Mendez

From all of us here at normannorman.com, may you have more fruitful and love-filled years to come, Rodgil Flores!

Keep on helping and training and loving our beautiful Filipinas! You are really well-loved by everyone.

Cheers! 😀

Binibini 8 Karen Ibasco: “…I am a person ready to face my fears and be better in where I am not so good at.”

Posted by Norman on March 21, 2016
Posted in: 1 Pageant Pages, 2 Shout-out-Looks. Tagged: , , . 12 Comments

Binibini 8 Karen Ibasco kicks off our Lenten Posts for Bb. Pilipinas 2016 (Photo credit: Lito Caleon)

 
It’s Holy Monday. And as annual tradition in this blog, I try to come up with daily articles that touch on something a little more contemplative and faith- or belief-related. I know that this can be a sensitive topic to some, but I respect each and every religion that the Binibinis are devoted to. I selected my interviewees by random. And all my short-listed candidates will answer the same set of four (4) questions, so it’s all up to you how you would size up their individual personalities even more.

FYI, I might not be able to upload several topics daily just for this week since I need to take a good rest after the hectic (read: punishing) schedules I immersed myself into these past two months.

So without further ado, let us now start with Binibini 8 Karen Ibasco who is the Medical Physicist (and honor Masteral graduate) in the batch:

1) Do beauty pageants and religion make a good mix? Explain your answer.
– Personally I would prefer to use the term faith. Yes I do believe that they can be together. The belief of every person comes out of his/ her character and I see beauty pageants as an avenue in which I could show my stand in what I believe in. As a follower of Jesus Christ, joining beauty pageants can reach out to people nation wide and share my testimony to others.

2) How spiritual are you as a Binibini?
– Every aspect of a woman is very important to be balanced but for me the most essential of them all is my spiritual aspect. I believe that every aspect excels if I put my the spiritual area above everything. Putting Christ first above all is my core purpose as I live my life. I trust Jesus to navigate my life because I am nothing without Him. He has written great plans in my life and I am ready where He would lead me to experience each one of them as I unfold every chapter of my life with excitement.

3) What is the most selfless act that you have made to another person or group of persons outside your family?
– When I was working in radiation oncology as a medical physicist, I had a 5-year old patient who never failed to light up our department with her smart and bubbly personality. From the first day of her treatment until the last day for almost a month, I accompanied her from the reception to the treatment room until she finished and went home. I left whatever work I was doing to accompany her and made her feel that she had nothing to be afraid of and that she was not alone. She was a brave young girl who battled with stage 4 kidney cancer. That’s why our visit to the Children’s hospital was very special to me because that was also the same hospital she had her chemo sessions. I did it for her.

4) Would you for a Binibini who is religious with a lot of restrictions or someone who is liberal and with a come-what-may attitude in life?
– I would choose to be a Binibini who is grounded with principles and led by my faith and relationship in Jesus Christ. I would be a role model with an advocacy and a voice to share to the people. I believe that’s what is all about showcasing my true self worth looking up to by others but not leaving the fact that I also have my fears and weaknesses. I also am just like everybody who has strengths and weaknesses but I am a person ready to face my fears and be better to where I am not so good at. I am also the kind of person not easily swayed by people, controversies or criticism but someone who knows myself worth showing as a follower of Christ.

Your thoughts on Karen, dear readers?

Binibini 8 Karen Ibasco

The Talented Binibinis of Bb. Pilipinas 2016

Posted by Norman on March 2, 2016
Posted in: 1 Pageant Pages, 2 Shout-out-Looks. Tagged: , , , , , , , . 16 Comments

 

The fifteen Binibinis who did the talent auditions

 
The routines varied – from singing to dancing to monologues to more singing and dancing – but the one thing that any screening panelist can say is that we always have talented Binibinis around.

Fifteen (15) of the forty Bb. Pilipinas Official Candidates showed what they got during the Talent Auditions held recently. The actual competition as to who will eventually win Miss Talent has been scheduled this coming Saturday.

One of the following – Janelle Olafson, Angelique de Leon, Vina Openiano, Karen Ibasco, Edjelyn Gamboa, Jeslyn Santos, Alexandra Faith Garcia, Maria Lina Prongoso, Apriel Smith, Paula Rich Bartolome, Kristine Angeli Estoque, Jennyline Carla Malpaya, Maria Gigante, Niza Sabrina Limjap and Anjellica Lopez – will prove to be the Most Talented.

Let us see who will prevail. 🙂

Candy, Angelique, Karen, Roshiela and Jeslyn: Your Binibinis 6-10

Posted by Norman on February 29, 2016
Posted in: 1 Pageant Pages, 2 Shout-out-Looks. Tagged: , , , , , . 26 Comments

 

Binibinis 6-10 for PLDT Home

 
Here now are Binibinis 6-10 of Bb. Pilipinas 2016 as they were photographed during their PLDT Home Tour during the weekend at SM Mall of Asia and Megamall, starting with:

Binibinis 6 Candy del Castillo, the teacher from Bocaue, Bulacan and Binibini 8 Karen Ibasco, the Medical Physicist from Manila who initially slipped past the judges’ nods during the screening but were luckily called back to replace two of the original 40 who were reviewed as not meeting the height requirements.

Binibini 7 Angelique de Leon – the only remaining R-L Angel – who is fiercely pushing forward in her bid for a crown this year after learning the points she may have fallen short of last 2014.

Binibini 9 Roshiela Tobias, the Registered Nurse from Pampanga who took a chance in screening as an independent, fortunately got selected to be an Official Candidate and is now a proud Aces & Queens bet.

And Binibini 10 Jeslyn Santos of Hagonoy, Bulacan, one of the several second-timers in Bb. Pilipinas who has been significantly re-trained by the JDV camp for this edition.

Who floats your boat among them, dear readers? 😉