Jose Maria Zubiri Jr.

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 (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.

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

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 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.[2] He was re-elected in 2016 and 2019.[3]

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, a columnist and television host. Zubiri's nephew includes former Malaybalay City Mayor Ignacio "Iñaki" W. Zubiri.