Yes, Korina does play favorites

BREAKING NEWS: Did you know that the "un-put-downable" Korina Sanchez almost got married five years ago but she developed cold feet at the last minute, just when the invitations were about to be delivered?

But that sad incident (which also happened to other TV personalities, among them Angelique Lazo who backed out on the eve of her wedding to Manny Ayala, both of whom are now happily married to other partners) didn’t develop in Korina any phobia for marriage.

"It will come," she told a dozen movie writers over lunch at Shangri-La Restaurant, "sooner or later. Basta, it will come," added Korina who revealed that she and the guy went steady for three more years before they parted as good friends. Except to say that the guy "is in law," Korina refused to name him.

Korina was born in Hong Kong, in case you didn’t know, and her mother, Celia Moran (real surname: Baluyut), now 60, used to be a torch singer (in the same league as Pilita Corrales and Carmen Soriano in the ’60s). Her father, Ramon Sanchez, 80, is retired.

Today’s Funfare won’t dwell on the many issues swirling around Korina who, among other "accusations," has been tagged as pro-Erap when former President Joseph Estrada was in power, and now as pro-GMA now that President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo is the one in Malacañang. As Korina has always been saying, she doesn’t favor anybody, it’s all trabaho lang, walang personalan.

But she does play favorites and here are the proofs:

* Hero – Mahatma Gandhi. "I like his principle of passive resistance."

* Cause – The fight against breast cancer. "Did you know," asked Korina (whose younger brother died of cancer – leukemia – several years ago), "that the Philippines, according to statistics, ranks No. 3 among the countries with the most number of breast-cancer cases?"

* Movie – (Chen Kaige’s) Farewell My Concubine. "I love that movie. What a beautiful movie!"

* Actor(s) – Emil Harris who plays the director in the Jim Carrey starrer Truman Show and Anthony Hopkins. "I like character actors more than leading men, more for their talent than their looks."

* Actress(es) – Judi Dench, Glenn Close and Cate Blanchett. "I admire strong-willed actresses."

* Saint – None. "I’m a Christian; we don’t believe in saints. But I do pray – a lot. I light a white candle when I read the Bible."

* Cit(ies) – Paris ("Because it’s very romantic!"), London ("Because it’s very clean!") and Kuala Lumpur ("Magandang city"). Korina added, "When it comes to relaxation, no city can compare with the Philippines. Mayroon tayong Boracay at Amanpulo which are virtual paradise on earth."

* Part of Her Body – "My vocal chords. ‘Yan ang pinagkakakitaan ko, e. How do I take care of my vocal chords? I drink salabat. Tina (Monson-Palma), who has one of the best voices on radio and television, has given me a sulfuric tablet that can cure hoarseness like magic."

* Part of a Man’s Body – Shoulders (must be broad to be really impressive). "(Broad) shoulders symbolize power – kuno!"

* Time of Day – Six to 7 p.m., Monday through Friday – yes, the TV Patrol timeslot. "I really love doing TV Patrol."

* Day of the Week – Friday (Thank God, it’s Friday!). "That’s when I can catch up on sleep. I need at least eight hours of sleep everyday but I get only about six, kaya bumabawi ako on weekends."

* Author – Nobody in particular. "Basta maganda ang book, it doesn’t matter who the author is."

* Book – Memoirs of a Geisha. "I like biographies."

* Designer – Inno Sotto. "Very classic ang kanyang style. I wear Inno Sotto clothes on my trips abroad, for my interviews with heads of state. The designs are fluid, iba ang bagsak. Inno can create wonders for small women. Look at what he’s doing to (President) GMA."

* Perfume – Blue Sport (of Escada). "Unusual ang fragrance niya."

* Singer – Laura Fygi.

* Song – Tubig at Langis (by George Canseco, sung by Sharon Cuneta). Also, Touch Me in the Morning ("Maganda ang melody, di ba?")

* Motto – The measure of power is how you elect not to use it. "What will make me use my power to its fullest extent? I’ve never done that; I don’t think I’ll ever do it! Kasi, the moment you abuse your power, you lose it."

* Expression – (Thinks awhile and breaks into laughter) "Never mind. Masama. Censored!"

And now, for Funfare’s "If I were..." set of questions. What do you think Korina would do if she were somebody else? Let’s find out...

* Former President Joseph "Erap" Estrada – "If I were innocent, I would certainly fight it out to my last breath, no matter what happens. But if I were guilty, I’d try to strike a deal. If there is hidden wealth, I’d offer to return the money."

* President GMA – "I would prioritize three pressing problems, namely 1) Try to curb population; most of our problems are caused by over-population; 2) Check pollution; alam mo bang as far as pollution is concerned, Manila is No. 2 in the whole world, next to Mexico?; and 3) Corruption; it’s easy to solve, kung talagang gugustuhin ng gobyerno, if the government has political will."

* Cardinal Sin – "I’d be less political but I would work very hard for this country."

* Senator – "I will never be one, please!"

By the way, if she were to be somebody else, who would she be?

"I love creative work so I’d probably be an interior designer. Or a lawyer, like Katrina Legarda."

Okay, your honor, who would you send to jail first?