Korina: It’s time to be me again!

No, Korina Sanchez is not about to join the mad scramble for the Senate and risk being accused of, yes, "conjugal" (take note: in quotation marks) legislation. As it is, the Senate race is getting crowded with "political dynasty" members and if Korina throws her already much-decorated hat into the political ring – and mind you, she’s "winnable" – she might find herself seated beside her boyfriend, Sen. Mar Roxas, and unwittingly compete with him during debates. It won’t do Mar’s ego any good if Korina outspeaks him, ‘no?

Seriously now, Korina would rather retreat to her farm in Batangas than be in a lion’s den that’s the Senate.

"I bought the farm a few years ago," said Korina when I bumped into her in – of all places! – the Farmers Market (in Cubao, Quezon City), owned by Mar’s family. "I plan to have it landscaped and grow flowers."

By then, Korina wouldn’t have to make weekly trips to Farmers Market where she regularly buys flowers for her dining table – and that of somebody’s home in the vicinity of the Araneta Center? "Oh," said Korina good-humoredly, "that’s taken care of. I’ve made some suggestions (floral arrangement, etc.) and they have taken them up na."

Year 2006 was, fortunately, "flowery" for Korina who became scarce in December, disappearing for about a week from anchoring the ABS-CBN late-night newscast Bandila. Oops! Sorry but Korina would rather not talk about any unpleasant incidents, so back to her flowers.

"I entertain a lot before and after Christmas," she continued. "With a schedule like mine, the Christmas season can be crazy. But I’m more relaxed now because Gaita (Fores, Mar’s cousin) does gorgeous arrangements (at her Fiori d’M) and I can’t compete with her. I ask for her help this time. These flowers that I’m getting are just for the bathrooms."

Korina might sound like Martha Stewart (ranked by Forbes magazine as No. 3 among the richest women in showbiz, next to Oprah at No. 1 and Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling at No. 2) when she’s talking about her home, but that’s her private side. The public side is, of course, the feisty journalist who stops at nothing getting at the truth. (Asked how much she’s worth, Korina abruptly changed the subject.)

Last year, she scored a grand slam: Best Magazine Show and Best Magazine Host in the PMPC Star Awards, Best Public Affairs Commentator for Radio for Tambalang Failon at Sanchez on DZMM at the KBP Golden Dove Awards, Best News Magazine Show for Rated K at the Catholic Mass Media Awards (CMMA) (her ANC and radio shows were also among the three finalists nationwide for Best Talkshow and Best Public Affairs Show).

She was also voted one of the 10 Most Popular Female Personalities and Rated K as one of the Most Watched TV Shows by the Anak Youth TV Awards, Best Newscaster for the third straight year in the annual UST Broadcast Awards and Best Newcaster for Bandila (and three other awards for radio and TV) in the UPLB Gandingan Broadcast Awards given out last week.

So what does Korina plan to focus on this year?

"It’s time to be me again," she smiled, smelling three red roses intended, I suspected, for, well, you-know-who. "You see, I had a bit of identity crisis last year. But I guess it’s better to celebrate than to sulk. It’s time to celebrate 20-plus years in broadcasting; it’s time to celebrate another graduation to yet another, hopefully, fruitful year. I look at the mirror and I say, ‘You did it, girl. You did it’"

Yes, Korina has gone a long, long way from being the original Morning Girl (circa 1987 on Magandang Umaga Pilipinas, with now Vice President Noli de Castro as co-anchor).

Cheers for Chin-Chin and her late mom

Funfare’s story about Maria Cecilia Arnaldo, Chin-Chin Gutierrez’s late mother, published last Monday, entitled A Beautiful Message from Mommie Angel (authored by Anjie Ureta, Chin-Chin’s manager and best friend) drew varied reactions from readers, all of whom wanted to know where and when Chin-Chin’s mom’s book would be available. (Watch for an announcement in this corner.)

• Tessie Tomas: I cried while reading the story. It’s so touching!

• Phillip Banguiran (Dubai, UAE): I shed tears of joy knowing that "angels" really exist in this world. For me, Maria Cecilia is a graphic example of an angel, physically weak but emotionally strong.

• Jenny Pearl K. Lizares (VisMin coordinator, Ayala Land-VisMin/Cebu Holdings, Inc., Ayala Ave., Makati City): Very, very touching!

• Rosemarie Leviste: I have a copy of The STAR every day but I usually read only the business section. I’m intrigued by angels and that’s what attracted me to the story.

• Richard Y. Insigne: The story made me realize how beautiful life is, and to continue to love and cherish every single moment with my family and loved ones.

• Susan Lontok: I lost my mother two years ago but I haven’t quite gotten over it up to now. Everytime I see a member of the Apostleship of Prayers, I grieve for her although I know that she’s happy where she is. Yes, Anjie is right. Many people in the pink of health sometimes take things for granted. As someone who has been ill with all sorts of ailments, I know how it is to wake up and pray that I will be well enough to go through another day. After reading the story, I started to appreciate so many things all the more.

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