Miguel reveals self in ‘alphabet game’ - FUNFARE by Ricardo F. Lo

Since he got into a very public romance (lasting for barely two years) with Vina Morales, and now being romantically linked to another actress (Isabel Granada), Bukidnon Rep. Juan Miguel Zubiri can never be "private" again. He has become, in a way, "very showbiz," especially now that he’s hosting his own show, The Explorer (Wednesday nights starting at 11:15 on Studio 23), which aims to make us aware of the immediate need to preserve nature.

Just what sort of person Miguel really is? Let’s find out from the following "alphabet game":

• A — Animals. "I’m an animal-lover." Anger? "Plastic people make me angry — and hypocrites, too."

• B — Bukidnon. "It’s the province dearest to me. I may be single but I’m married to Bukidnon."

• C — Cuckatoo. "It’s an endangered specie. I found out when we did an episode for The Explorer in Palawan recently." There's less than a thousand cuckatoos around. They should be preserved before they become extinct."

• D — Dogs. "I have two pet dogs, Rumba and Simba (from The Lion King). I live with them. Nice companions. Also, deer. I have a deer farm in Bukidnon, with 30 heads so far. The other weekend, four gave birth."

• E — Environment. "We should all work together to preserve our environment, not only for us but for the generations to come." Of course, The Explorer. "I enjoy doing my show. I hope people are learning from it."

• F — Family. "We’re a very closely-knit family. Every Sunday, we have family outings. We always get together everytime all of us are in Manila. If and when I have my own family, I want to have five kids."

• G — Granada (Isabel, said to be his new flame?) "Actually, we’re just friends. It’s like this: I invited her to go to Bukidnon for a show; no hanky-panky at all, nothing malicious." Also, God. "I’m, quite religious. When you travel a lot like I do, you can’t help being prayerful. My favorite saint is St. Michael. San Miguel. That’s why my name is Miguel."

• H — Home. "I’m a homebody. People think that I’m lakwatsero; I don’t go out that much. Iwas-gulo. I’d rather stay home when I have no work to do (in Congress). Yes, I live alone — with my dogs."

• I — Intelligence. "I admire people who are intelligent. Knowledge is power, indeed! I’m also an intuitive person. I can tell who are plastic and who are sincere."

• J — Jesus. "He’s at the center of my life."

• K — Kare-kare. "Did you know that when I woke up this morning I was craving for kare-kare? I love to eat, by the way. I also like Japanese food."

• L — Love. "It inspires. I’m a very, very passionate person. When I really like the person, I shower her with love and affection. I’m an Ilonggo (my father comes from Negros), so I’m basically cariñoso. I’m a loving person."

• M — Mom. "Mama’s Boy? Maybe I am. I’m the youngest boy, the middle child; we’re five children, three boys and two girls. Being the youngest, it’s normal for me to gravitate towards my Mom, di ba? My Mom calls me Miggy Wiggy, her expression of cariño to me. But when she’s mad, she calls me Michael."

• N — Nincompoops? "Nincompoops? Yeah, I admit there are many of them in government service, people who put themselves over and above public interest.

• O — Opposition. "We’ve been fighting tooth-and-nail in Congress. Sometimes, it can get very frustrating but we keep on fighting; we don’t give up."

• P — Power? "No, I’m not power-hungry. Being the youngest boy in the family, I never expected to be in politics, nor to follow in my father’s (former Congressman Jose Zubiri) footsteps. But I did work as my father’s chief-of-staff from 1995 to 1998." Yes, people. "I like being with people, dealing with people, talking to people. Among our group in Congress, I am the negotiator; I negotiate with people, all kinds of people."

• Q — Questions, questions, questions! "I have a lot of questions that need immediate answers. I’m inquisitive by nature. Being a member of the opposition, asking a lot of questions is part and parcel of my life.

• R — Reform. "There’s a lot of things that need to be reformed. One, the electorate. "We must educate the electorate. But in a democracy, we deserve the people we elect. If we elect a clown, we deserve a clown; if we elect a brilliant man, then we deserve a brilliant man." Two, reforms in the House (of Representatives). "We can hardly create a quorum. How can we, for instance, pass the Appropriations Act when there are only 20 to 30 Congressmen present? I’m a reformist in the House and a reformist for good governance."

• S — Spice Boys. "We are the spiciest opposition in the House, including Mike (Defensor), Ace (Barbers), Manny (Braganza), Ricky (Sandoval) and Nonoy (Andaya). We don’t claim to be ‘bright,’ we just claim to be spicy."

• T — Tequila Joe’s. "That’s one of the businesses I’ve put up with my friends, Johnny Lhuillier (of the Lhuillier pawnshop chain) and Archie (Rodriguez of the Bistro Group). Rico (Yan) is my partner for Tequila Joe’s (Glorietta 4); he owns 10 percent of the restaurant and a little bit of the Ortigas Center branch."

• U — Unity. "Is it possible under the present circumstances? Why not? If we Filipinos can do away with our crab mentality, our country will be better off. Even in the search for truth in the juetengate, walang unity among the people and committees involved; kanya-kanyang strategy and gameplan. Unity is important especially since I am from Mindanao. Only two things can happen in Mindanao — peaceful co-existence or genocide which is what’s happening now."

• V — Vina (Morales, his ex-girlfriend)? "We do text each other once in a while. I’m happy for her; I’m supportive of her career. If she needs anything from me, I’ll always be there. I’m glad that she has a quiet private life now. Am I going steady with anybody now? Yes, I’m seeing somebody from Iloilo, a provincial lass. That’s all I can say."

• W — Women. "Women inspire us, don’t they? I do like women. But one thing I learned in the past two years is to be very discreet where I go, what I do or what I say — about women. What part of a woman’s body do I look at first? The face! If the face matches the character, mas mabuti."

• X — X-rated films? "I’m against any form of pornography. I believe that many rape cases are committed by people who watch pornographic films, which can distort people’s values and the way they look at things."

• Y — Youth. "I care for the youth. Did you know that we don’t have a youth sector representative in Congress, even if the youth constitutes 70 percent of the voting population? The youth needs a voice in Congress. Our group is fighting for youth advocacy in Congress."

• Z — Zoo. "I’m trying to put up a wildlife zoo in Bukidnon. I hope we can build one soon."