José María R. Zubiri Jr.
Official portrait, 2022
Member of the Philippine House of Representatives from Bukidnon's 3rd District
Incumbent
Assumed office June 30, 2022
Preceded by	Manuel F. Zubiri
In office June 30, 1987 – June 30, 1998
Preceded by	Position established
Succeeded by	Juan Miguel Zubiri
Governor of Bukidnon
In office June 30, 2013 – June 30, 2022
Vice Governor	Alex Calingasan (2013–2016) Rogelio Quiño (2016–present)
Preceded by	Alex Calingasan
Succeeded by	Rogelio Neil Roque
In office June 30, 2001 – June 30, 2010
Vice Governor	Alex Calingasan
Preceded by	Carlos Fortich
Succeeded by	Alex Calingasan
Vice Governor of Bukidnon
In office June 30, 2010 – June 30, 2013
Governor	Alex Calingasan
Preceded by	Alex Calingasan
Succeeded by	Alex Calingasan
Mambabatas Pambansa (Assemblyman) from Bukidnon
In office July 23, 1984 – March 25, 1986 Serving with Lorenzo Dinlayan
Personal details
Born	José María Zubiri Jr. y Rubín (1940-08-14) August 14, 1940 Kabankalan, Negros Occidental
Nationality	Filipino
Political party	Bukidnon Paglaum (2012–present)
Other political affiliations	Lakas–CMD/Lakas–Kampi–CMD (1998–2012) NPC (1992–1998) Liberal (1987–1992) KBL (1984–1987)
Children	Jose Maria III Manuel Antonio Juan Miguel Beatrice Stephanie
Residence(s)	Malaybalay, Bukidnon Maramag, Bukidnon
Alma mater	De La Salle University (BS)
Occupation	Politician
Profession	Businessperson
Nickname	"Nonoy Joe Zubiri"[1]

José María Rubín Zubiri Jr. (born August 14, 1940), more commonly known simply as Jose Maria Zubiri Jr. or Jose Zubiri Jr., is a Filipino businessman and politician who is the incumbent representative of Bukidnon's 3rd congressional district in the Northern Mindanao region of the Philippines, a post he previously held three times. He was also the governor of the same province from 2001 to 2010 and from 2013 to 2022 and vice governor from 2010 to 2013.

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 at Kabankalan Elementary School and finished his secondary education at La Salle College-Bacolod (now University of St. La Salle) in Bacolod. He was a graduate of Bachelor of Science in Management at De La Salle University in Manila. His family is of Basque and Castilian heritage.

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

Business career

Before Zubiri entered politics, he worked as an employee for different business firms. He moved to Bukidnon and was an Executive Vice President of the Bukidnon Sugar Milling Company (BUSCO). 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 corporations:

• 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 Representative of the third district of Bukidnon for three consecutive terms, from 1987 to 1998. In 2001, he won as Governor and served three consecutive terms until 2010. He then ran and won as vice governor, serving one term until 2013. He then again ran for governor in the 2013 elections and won, serving three consecutive terms until 2022.^[2][3] He was reelected back to the Congress, representing the third district of Bukidnon once again, in 2022.

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, a former Representative of the third district of Bukidnon; Manuel Antonio, another former Representative of the third district of Bukidnon; Juan Miguel, who is an incumbent Senate President; Beatrice; and Stephanie, a columnist and television host. Zubiri's nephew includes former Malaybalay City Mayor Ignacio "Iñaki" W. Zubiri.

References