Seriously now, Mayor Joey

The unsavory rumors are resurging like unwelcome echoes from the past, giving showbiz-watchers that déjà vu feeling, to wit:

1) Parañaque City Mayor Joey Marquez has beaten up the city’s First Lady, Alma Moreno, because he caught her going out with a younger man;

2) The couple has finally (finally?) broken up after almost doing it a dozen times in the past, and

3) Mayor Joey is living by his lonesome in Pasig City while Alma is holed up in her own condo somewhere in Makati City.

The answers to all of the above is a resounding "No, they’re not true!," according to Mayor Joey and Alma who showed up together at the coffee shop of the Shangri-La Hotel Makati for this Conversation last Monday, July 23, two days before Mayor Joey was scheduled to leave for Harvard to enroll in a three-month special course in Public Administration.

Alma will be left behind with their six children– their own, Yeoj 11, and Winwin 8, both studying at South Villa, and Victory "VJ" Joe, 5, a kindergarten pupil in the same school; Mayor Joey’s son, Jeremy, 21, from a previous marriage; and Alma’s two love sons, Mark Anthony Fernandez by Rudy Fernandez and Vandolph by Dolphy – but will follow him first week of August, conditioned to the possibility of the wild rumors turning from embers into a conflagration.

But the couple is unperturbed.

"We’re used to it," Alma smiled, "but they still hurt."

Besides clarifying those rumors, Mayor Joey also talks about how it is to run a new city, how he balances between showbiz rumors and political intrigues, how he asked for forgiveness at the casket of his dead father (director Artemio "Temyong" Marquez) and the "political possibilities" in the near future.

What’s the best thing about being Mayor of Parañaque City?

"Having more chances of implementing your idealism and, so to speak, seeing the tree that you plant bear fruits."

And the worst?

"You lose your privacy completely and you enter the arena of intrigues."

In showbiz, you also lose your privacy, don’t you?

"It’s much worse in politics. In politics, intrigues could lead to loss of lives; ang intriga nakakamatay. In showbiz, medyo complimentary pa, e. Sa pulitika, may barilan; sa showbiz, kadalasan daldalan lang. You need more patience in politics than you do in showbiz."

How are you able to cope with (political) intrigues?

"I learned how in showbiz – take things in stride, face everything with a smile."

So your being showbiz is a plus-factor in your political career.

"Definitely! For example, if there’s any truth in what my opponents are saying, why would you explain?"

What was the worst accusation(s) against you?

"That I use public funds for my personal interests. If I buy a new watch, my opponents would say that I get the money from the city treasury; if I buy a new pair of shoes, ganoon din ang sasabihin nila. Jumping into the political arena, especially if you run for mayor, isn’t as simple as just shaking hands; you must have something to invest without thinking of getting something back in return."

What’s your biggest investment (in politics)?

"Respect, I guess. I wouldn’t have been elected to a third term as mayor if I didn’t respect my constituents and my constituents, in turn, didn’t respect me. I’m the first Vice Mayor in Parañaque to be elected Mayor in 1992, the youngest at 32 (at the time of his first election); the last Mayor of the municipality and the first Mayor of the city; and the first Mayor to be elected to a third term, my last."

Obviously, the people of Parañaque are with you, behind you.

"When I analyze it, I guess that I must have been elected into office the first time because I was a showbiz personality. At that time (early ’90s), mataas pa ang credibility rating ng mga actor-politician. When I was elected to a second term, I guess it must have been because of my performance, my achievements."

Among your achievements, what are you proud of?

"One of them, I think, is bringing back the respect of the people for the (Parañaque) government. Nandiyan din ’yung mga infrastructure projects ko. We have already put up a city college. That’s one achievement I’m really proud of because investing in education is one of my administration’s main concerns. Ganoon ang ginawa ng Japanese Government after the war, di ba? We have scholars, more than 300, studying in different colleges and universities in Metro Manila. Mayroon kaming special-education projects for special children. Na-upgrade namin ang educational system sa Parañaque, making our public schools among the most competitive in the country, erasing the (wrong) impression that if you come from a public school ay mababa ang rank mo."

Can you tell us more about your Harvard studies? (Mayor Joey is a business-degree holder from the Angeles University in Pampanga where he hails from.)

"Two years ago, I applied at the JFK Foundation and I was accepted. Unfortunately, I wasn’t given by the then (Estrada) administration to go to Harvard, maybe because I belonged to the other party (Lakas-NUCD). That was in 1998-1999. I would have studied in Harvard as a scholar for three months, in Public Administration."

It’s a pity that you forfeited that scholarship.

"Since it (the scholarship grant) had lapsed, I decided to reapply early this year and luckily, I was again accepted."

What were you required to submit to qualify for it?

"Well, my bio-data and some documents pertaining to my intellectual capacity. It’s only after a background check do they inform you if you’re qualified or not. But this time, it won’t be a scholarship grant dahil nag-lapse na nga, so I have to pay the dues. What I will learn there I hope to implement here, such as governmental policies and public administration."

Your being a comedian was described by your opponents as a "minus factor" from the beginning – you now, komedyante lang ’yan at walang alam kung hindi magpatawa. Did it challenge you all the more to prove yourself and your critics wrong (one TV host called him "that stupid Mayor of Parañaque")?

"In a way, yes. Hindi ko inaalis ’yung pagiging jolly ko. People have taken me for what I am and being a comedian is my outlet for stress and the pressures."

Running a city like Parañaque is no laughing matter, I’m sure.

"It’s a matter of organizing things, putting things in the proper perspective. For example, in the house you do different things in different rooms. Compartmentalized lahat ’yan. You cook in the kitchen, you take a bath in the bathroom, you relax in the sala, you sleep in the bedroom."

In the process, Alma is, so to speak, criticized for "meddling" in government.

"It’s expected."

Do you think your critics are hitting her to hurt you?

"They can’t hit me directly because they can’t find anything wrong with me, so they look for somebody close to me as target. My wife happens to be the one closest to me. I feel sorry for Ness (Alma). But I keep reminding her, ‘Eto ang pinasukan natin, so expect the worst.’"

Being also showbiz, isn’t Alma used to the character-assassination and the mud-slinging?

"From Day One since our marriage, hindi na kami tinantanan ng intriga. Before, they were saying that our marriage wouldn’t last a year. Look, we’re now into our 13th year! Now, they’re not saying na nambababae ako pero si Ness daw ang naloloko sa younger men. What will they think of next? They have such fertile imagination! They’re very creative! I feel sorry for them. All I can tell them is this: It will take the end of the world for you to destroy us."

Tapos na ba talaga ang womanizing days mo?

"Sabi ko nga, e, everything must end. I’m glad that I started young kaya maaga rin ako nagsawa."

How old were you ba when you started?

"At about 15."

Oh, medyo late ng konti. At what age naman did you, well, "get tired" of it?

"At about 32 or 33. That’s when I realized the importance of having a family."

But before you married Alma, you were previously married (eventually annulled) to somebody else, di ba?

"I was irresponsible then; hindi pa ako ready. But I tell you this: I never blamed anybody for my wayward days; I take all the blame. I don’t want to point a finger at anybody and live with the guilt for the rest of my life."

Do you still look at other women?

"Of course, I do. I’ll be telling a lie if I say that I don’t. I appreciate beauty, e."

How are you coping with, well, the "temptation"?

"Very well."

Supposing a beautiful woman passed by now and gave you the key to her room upstairs, would you bite?

"Ano na ’yan… dream na ’yan. I’d take the key and go to her room and wake up from that beautiful dream. These days kasi, I’m aroused more by intellectual conversation than by sexual temptation."

Back to Alma… If you had a choice, would you allow her to run for any public office?

"There should only be one politician in the family. ’Yan ang gusto ko; ’yan ang dapat mangyari. Magulo ang pulitika and I don’t think Ness has the stomach for it. Kung ako ang masusunod, ayaw ko, pero…"

…pero…?

"… pero Ness has the final say. Whatever her decision is, I will support her."

Is your going to Harvard a step toward a higher position (this term as Parañaque Mayor being your last)?

"It’s too early to tell. Masyado pang malayo ang 2004. I’ll cross the bridge when I get there, ‘ika nga."

Back to the rumors... They’re saying that your marriage is on the rocks...

"The only thing I know that’s on the rocks is Scotch. Di ba, Scotch on the rocks?"

The rumors say that you have separated – you know, you‘re staying daw in Pasig City while Alma is staying at a condo in Makati?

"I hope to meet that writer so he’ll tell me where I live para doon na ako umuwi gabi-gabi. Baka property ko ‘yon na hindi ko alam. But we do sleep in separate beds – when I am abroad, now that I’m going abroad to study. We are in separate rooms when I’m outside Metro Manila attending a seminar and she’s in Parañaque. After 13 years, mahirap na kaming mag-separate."

What do you usually fight about, if ever you do?

"Schedules. Like when I ask her to pinchhit for me in social functions and she begs off... ’yung kanyang studies... I want her to continue her studies... enrolled na siya sa Ateneo, e."

How do you make up?

"Well, in bed, at night, and things become as sweet as ever. Para kaming bagong mag-boyfriend at mag-girlfriend."

To what extent do you allow Alma to participate in running Parañaque?

"She doesn’t involve herself in running Parañaque; sa beautification projects lang siya. You know, in politics, kapag ang asawa mo walang pakialam at ayaw makialam, they’ll say she’s a worthless wife because she doesn’t help her husband. Ness is involved in the Libreng Libing Foundation and livelihood projects. She and her group are also cleaning the creeks around Parañaque. Our critics call it ‘meddling.’ All I tell Ness is, as long as you’re helping the people of Parañaque, go ahead, don’t mind the detractors. You know how your detractors are... they’ll never see anything right with you."

As far as your children are concerned, you have daw certain "policies," mga do’s and don’t’s.

"Simple: If you stay in my home, follow my rules. Finish school. Favorites? None. I consider all of them our children; walang step-child sa akin. I treat all of them equally. No special treatment."

With Mark and Vandolph, aren’t you perhaps handling them with care in deference to their (biological) dads?

"As far as I’m concerned, if you’re in my house, you are my responsibility and should submit yourself to the house rules. But when it comes to very personal problems, I leave them to their legitimate parents."

What are your other "house rules"?

"Monday to Friday, they have to go to school, which means that they have to sleep early. Saturday is their free day. Those are the rules for the minors. For the grown-ups, medyo maluwag ng kaunti. I was young before and I know. The more strict you are, the more they will rebel. I give them the freedom to decide for themselves and whatever their decisions are, I assure them that I’m behind them. I always remind them to be careful."

You and Alma are now grandparents (Mark has a love child, now three years old; and so has Vandolph, a few-months old). How does it feel to be a Lolo?

"Hindi pa masyadong nagsi-sink in. Yes, I’ve seen my grandchildren. Recognized ko sila na mga apo ko, in a way. I remind Mark and Vandolph of their responsibilities as fathers."

What did you learn from the way your father brought you (and your half-brothers and half-sisters) up that you’re now applying in bringing up your own children?

"I think there are 25 of us, all in all. Iba-ibang nanay. There are good points and bad points. I guess that because of the kind of childhood that we had, we became stronger. Had we been brought up in comfort and luxury, maybe we wouldn’t have grown up the big survivors that we are. Like me, I started working at age 13. First as a janitor, and I really worked my way up. Same with my brothers and sisters. Had we been pampered by our father, who knows, we might have grown up spoiled rotten na hindi marunong magtrabaho?"

You never held any grudge against your father?

"No. Not at all, even if I grew up feeling that I didn’t have any father."

Did you feel that you had something to apologize to your father for – and vice-versa – when you attended his wake?

"I did apologize to him. Beside his casket, I whispered to him, ‘I’m sorry that I didn’t love you that much.’ Binulungan ko siya. ‘Whatever it was,’ I told him, ‘you didn’t sin against us; you may have sinned against God but not to us.’ Ganoon lang."

You’ve gone back to showbiz, as a regular on the GMA sitcom Kool Ka Lang. Why?

"We need extra income for our family expenses. Mayors don’t really earn that much. What I earn in three years as a mayor, I can earn in only one month as an actor. So I cannot really quit showbiz."

Have you changed your comic style since you became a public official? You know, in respect for your position.

"There’s nothing to change, dahil hindi naman bastos ang style ko. In comedy, I make people laugh; in politics, I make people happy. Besides, as I’ve said, the public has accepted me for what I am and what I do as an actor, so bakit babaguhin ko pa? If it ain’t broke, why fix it?"

If you didn’t become a basketball player and later a comedian, what would you have been today?

(Pointing to a building under construction near the Shangri-La Hotel) "There. I would have been in real estate, supervising the construction of buildings."