■ PHYSICIST WINS MISS EARTH PHILIPPINES

A physicist who is hoping for the passage of a carbon tax law won the Miss Philippines-Earth crown, besting 39 other contestants. Karen Ibasco, 26, was crowned by Miss Philippines Earth 2016 Loren Artajos last Saturday at the Mall of Asia Arena. Ibasco, whose advocacy is conserving energy and embracing renewable and sustainable sources, will represent the country in the Miss Earth 2017 pageant this November.

A physicist who is hoping for the passage of a Carbon Tax law won the Miss PhilippinesEarth crown, besting 39 other contestants.

Karen Ibasco, 26, was crowned by Miss Philippines Earth 2016 Loren Artajos last Saturday at the Mall of Asia Arena.

Ibasco, whose advocacy is conserving energy and embracing renewable and sustainable sources, will represent the country in the Miss Earth 2017 pageant this November.

In the final question-andanswer portion, Ibasco was asked what change she wants to see in the country as far as national environmental policies are concerned.

"In terms of environmental policies, everyone is experiencing climate change. The whole world is experiencing climate change and I'm just grateful that the Philippines signed the Paris Treaty," said Ibasco.

"What I want to see is to pass a Carbon Tax. In that way, we would invest in renewable energy to help our world be a better place, greener and inhabitable for whole humanity,” she added.

Environmental protection is the main advocacy of the pageant.