Jose Maria Zubiri Jr.


José María Rubín Zubiri Jr., more 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 the Northern Mindanao region of the 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 education at La Salle College-Bacolod 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 Spanish 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. 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:
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. He is now serving his second term after winning in the 2016 elections.

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 former Malaybalay City Mayor Ignacio "Iñaki" W. Zubiri.