Who says Loren doesn't "play favorites"?

They say that she’s a sure bet for Vice President, whoever her running-mate may be in 2004. But you can’t make Sen. Loren Legarda, topnotcher in the 1998 senatorial race, give a categorical answer whether she’s, well, running or not for a higher position.

"It’s too early," Loren told Funfare. "I just might spring a surprise, just wait and see," she added, recalling her last-minute announcement in 1998 to quit, temporarily, TV-hosting and plunge into the political arena. "Let’s buckle down to work first. Ang dami-daming problema ng bayan for us to be talking politics all the time."

So we decided to shift to a lighter topic and ask Loren to, you guessed it, "play favorites," a game which she found refreshingly enjoyable, asking for more after she answered the last item (Favorite Expression).

So without much ado, let’s go over Loren’s list of favorites:

• Political Figure – Cory Aquino. "She exemplified the kind of woman leader I admire when she said, although I can’t quote her verbatim, ‘Women make this world a kinder and gentler place to live in.’ She’s definitely making this world a kinder and gentler place to live in."

• Senator – Juan Flavier. "He’s my best friend, my seatmate, my mentor. He has made my four years in the Senate more tolerable."

• Religious Figure (Saint) – Our Lady of Manaoag (Pangasinan). "She has made many miracles in my life. In 1997, I had nodules in my throat. That was before I ran in the 1998 elections. I was due for an operation. I went to Manaoag and prayed. She cured me. The nodules disappeared."

• Project – Luntiang Pilipinas (her urban tree-planting program which has planted millions of trees around the country).

• Song – I Won’t Last a Day Without You (proceeds to sing, "Day after day I must face a world of strangers where I don’t belong, I’m not that strong. It’s nice to know that there’s someone I can turn to who will always care, who’s always there...").

• TV Show – All the local TV newscasts.

• TV Host – Kris Aquino. "She’s very spontaneous. She has a gift of gab." And Tintin Bersola. "She’s sweet and intelligent."

• Movie – A Beautiful Mind. "It’s touching and riveting, so well done. It has no violence at all and yet it’s so engaging. At walang sex, ha!"

• Actor (Foreign) – Harrison Ford. "Ay naku, I’ll die for him!," she swoons. "I love the lines in his face. I really hope to interview him someday."

• Actor (Local) – FPJ. "The one and only."

• Designer(s) –Rajo Laurel and Joe Salazar. "Rajo does my modern Filipiniana and Joe does my very beautiful gowns. Their styles are elegant but simple."

• Motto - Hold fast to dreams for if dreams die life is a broken-winged bird that cannot fly. "I saw that saying in a poster when I was in grade school. I’m a dreamer so I was attracted to it."

• Cartoon Character - Popeye. "He’s strong and he always protects Olive Oyl."

• Time of Day – Midnight. "That’s when everything is done and everything is quiet at home, the only time I have for myself, when I can have peace and serenity and calm. After watching the newscasts, I read The Daily Bread, a copy of which I keep beside my bed. Before I tuck my sons, Lance and Lean, into bed, we first pray The Rosary together."

• Day of the Week – Friday. . . night! "You know, thank God, it’s Friday! I look forward to a weekend with my children and with Tony. By the way, my boys are doing well in school (undisclosed). Lance 12, gets an average of 94.80; Lean, 9, garnered Second Honor."

• Part of the House. – Living room. "Because that’s the place that I decorate all the time, that’s where I entertain guests and friends."

• City – Paris. "I love the art, the culture and the antiquity."

• Restaurant – A lot! "I go to several restaurants, depending on what kind of food I am craving for. But I’m actually a simple eater. Give me steamed okra or steamed ampalaya at masaya na ako’nun. If you feed me boiled talong or steamed fish, happy na ako."

• Perfume – Nothing in particular. "Would you believe that I use whatever is given to me? I prefer baby cologne, ‘yung hindi matapang ang amoy."

• Flower –Lilium. "It stays long and it has a certain scent."

• Pastime – Painting. "I have done 12 paintings, mostly landscapes."

• Joke/Magic by Tony – "When he makes somebody disappear. When he produces dollars out of thin air. You see, we’ll never run out of cash!"

• Book – The Art of War by Sun Tzu. "I also read books about designs and architecture. I’m now reading a book about Lyndon Johnson. Before that, I read the biography of Barbara Walters."

• Color – White. "Forever white ako; white for serenity and purity. I have a very complicated life and when I go home, all I want to see is white – white walls, white bed sheets, white drapes. I have dozens of white blouses. Alam mo ba, I can’t sleep unless the bedsheets are white."

• Drink – Dalandan juice, or dayap juice. "No alcohol for me, please!"

• Fruit – Durian.

• Friends – "I have so many but the one closest to me is Kara Pascual-Gonzales, my best friend since prep school. There’s also Maritess Pineda and Ching Cruz, friends of my mom (the late Bessie Legarda). They understand me, including my ‘faults.’ They take me for what I am."

• Piece of Jewelry – A real necklace and earrings (given to her by her mom). "You know, I can’t go out of the house without earrings. I’m an earrings person."

• Possession – "My children, my family."

• Expression – "Oh, my God! Come on!"