By: Emme Rose Santiagudo
TWENTY-year-old Karen Piccio of Maasin, Iloilo is the newest Ilongga beauty queen after clinching the Miss Earth Philippines Eco-Tourism title during the pageant’s coronation night at Okada Manila, Parañaque on Wednesday.
When asked about the tricky question on what should be the better strategy to encourage people to be environmentally cautious, Piccio answered, “I think the best way would be through positive reinforcement. So, I would go for giving incentives to those who practice good habits and help in saving our environment.”
Piccio studied in Manila Science High School and earned her degree in International Studies major in European Studies at De La Salle University-Manila
She also studied law for a year at the University of Asia and the Pacific.
The beauty queen is also a passionate artist who is into music and painting.
On her social media site, Piccio shared that she loved to play musical instruments and had done solo and group art exhibits in collaboration with partner organizations.
“I am a passionate artist and I am in endless pursuit of the arts. I am a singer and I love playing musical instruments. I have been drawing since the age of 7 and unlocked the mastery of painting acrylics on canvasses. I have held solo and group art exhibits in the past and will stage another one for a cause in partnership with organizations like the Haribon Foundation and the Center for the Philippine Environment,” she said on her post.
In the pageant, Piccio pushed several advocacies such as combating flora and fauna, specifically deforestation, helping Filipino child victims of abuse and exploitation, become environmental angels, and promoting the Bamboo Ecopreneurship of Maasin, Iloilo.
Another Ilongga who represented Iloilo City, Ana Thea Cenarosa, made it to the top 10 of the competition.
Meanwhile, Janelle Tee of Pasig City was named as Miss Philippines Earth 2019 while Miss Earth Philippines Air is Ana Tan of Tagoloan, Misamis Oriental; Miss Earth Philippines Water: Chelsea Fernandez of Tacloban City, and Miss Earth Philippines Fire is Alexandra Dayrit of Marikina.
