Jose Maria Zubiri Jr.

Jose Maria Rubin Zubiri Jr., commonly known as Jose Ma. R. Zubiri Jr. or simply Jose Zubiri Jr., is a Filipino businessman and politician who is the incumbent governor of the province of Bukidnon in Mindanao, Philippines and was a three time representative of the 3rd District of the same province.

Early life and education

Zubiri was born on August 11, 1940 in Kabankalan, Negros Occidental to Jose Zubiri Sr. and Rosa Rubin. He spent his elementary years in Kabankalan Elementary School and finished his secondary years in La Salle College-Bacolod (now University of St. La Salle) in Bacolod City. He was a graduate of Bachelor of Science in Management at De la Salle University in Manila.

Aside from his native Hiligaynon, Zubiri is also fluent in Cebuano, Tagalog and English.

Business career

Before Zubiri entered politics, he worked as a private employee for different business firms. He was an Executive Vice President of the Bukidnon Sugar Milling Company. He was also the chairman of Valle Escondida Farms from 1979 to 1988 and the president of Rancho Mercedes Inc. from 1983 to 1988. Currently, aside from being governor, he still is the president of the following incorporations:

• Urban Green Inc.
• Services Cleaners Inc.
• SGABI
• Sugarcane Farmers of Bukidnon Multi-Purpose Cooperative

Politics

Zubiri's political career began by becoming an Assemblyman in Batasang Pambansa from 1984 to 1986. He served as a Congressional Representative of the third district of Bukidnon for three consecutive terms, from 1987 to 1998. In 2001 he won as Governor and served 3 terms until 2010. He then run and won as vice governor until 2013. He then again run for governor in the 2013 elections and won.^[1] He is now serving his second term after winning in the 2016 elections.^[2]

Personal life

Zubiri is married to socialite Maria Victoria "Vicky" Fernandez who was born in Libon, Albay but raised in Bukidnon. They have five children: Jose Maria III, who also became a Representative of the third district of Bukidnon; Manuel, who is the incumbent Representative of the third district of Bukidnon; Juan Miguel, who is an incumbent senator; Beatrice; and Stephanie. Zubiri's nephew includes incumbent Malaybalay City Mayor Ignacio "Iñaki" W. Zubiri.

References