Shy guy Bunye won’t take kiss from Booba

Normally calm and collected when facing veteran Palace reporters, Press Secretary Ignacio Bunye was flustered and boyish yesterday when interviewed by a sexy comedienne.

Television magazine show host Ethel Booba took part in the regular Malacañang press briefing yesterday with the aim of asking Bunye some questions. Booba was given a shot at grilling Bunye, whom she said is her idol.

After fielding the usual nasty political questions by the regular members of the Malacañang Press Corps, he addressed the simple and non-controversial questions lobbed by Booba, who was clad in a fuchsia paparazzi jacket.

"I’m not here because of politics," Booba told Bunye. "I came here because you are my idol." Booba is the host of the show "Jologs Guide" on GMA-7.

Bunye’s response was to blush and awkwardly reply: "The feeling is mutual."

Booba asked Bunye if he found his job as President Arroyo’s spokesman difficult and Bunye’s answer was that he had "gotten used to the Malacañang Press."

"But I have to come here prepared every time and the nice thing about the job is I believe in the program of the President — that makes my job easier."

Booba also asked Bunye how President Arroyo would define the slang term "jologs" — the mainstream definitions being "campy" and "corny."

Bunye’s answer was his own attempt at levity: "Jologs? Someone who fell asleep, just like reporters sometimes."

Booba stopped grilling Bunye at that point, after noticing that he was getting sweaty and gripping the rostrum a little too tightly.

After the briefing, Booba approached Bunye and shook hands with him but Bunye sidestepped Booba’s attempt to plant a kiss on his cheek.

"Not now. Maybe in private," Bunye joked. "I might wind up like Bayani Fernando." He was referring to the photographs taken of the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) chief kissing starlet Anna Leah Javier on her neck and cheek at a party.

However, Bunye did consent to having a picture taken with Booba.

This unorthodox interview prompted Palace reporters to comment that Booba had been able to get Bunye do something out of character: he conducted press briefings on two successive days.