It’s divided into three major sections. Kulay Buhay chronicles his childhood and his life with his family and as an ordinary student. Kulay Showbiz is about his life as an actor where he became known as Bistek and starred in hits like “Bagets” and “Puto”. Kulay Serbis is his life as a public servant from being a Sangguniang Kabataan official to councilor to vice mayor and mayor.
The book is full of heretofore unpublished photos showing Mayor Bistek in various stages of his life and is surely a very interesting read. But of course, he cannot escape from the press without being asked about his controversial relationship with Kris Aquino who just mentioned him again in the recent presscon of her upcoming movie, “I Love You, Hater”.
“We are dabarkads,” he says. “Not boyfriend-girlfriend, but we have a friendship na hindi namin maintindihan. I think our friendship is based on mutual respect. Yun ang anchor noon, respeto. We became close at a time na she’s at a low point. The term of her brother has just ended and then ABS-CBN didn’t renew her contract with them. It was a sad moment in her life and I was there to listen to her.”
How did he feel when Kris declared that she is ready to give up her career for him? “Siempre, nabigla ako kasi pinaghirapan niya yung career niya, but it’s flattering and I’m thankful sa sinabi niyang yun. It’s a good gesture on her part and I’ll do the same kung kinakailangan. Pero pagkatapos na ng term ko. Wala na akong igi-give up, e.”
He’s thankful for the times they’ve spent together. “Maraming salamat sa kanya dahil sa maikling panahon ng pagiging magkaibigan namin, she shared her life with me at marami kaming natutuhan mula sa isa’t isa. In some ways, she guided me, like in putting up my own social media team. Nagpapasalamat din ako sa sinasabi niyang she can now move on, okay lang sa’kin yun kasi both of us, we are moving on and I’m happy for her. Ang maganda, she was able to rise again on her own two feet at iginapang niya ang sarili niya para makabalik siya without the backing of anyone. Congratulations to her dahil may bagong movie siya. Good luck at sana, kumita.”So what’s the status of their relationship? “Friends pa rin. It’s a special bond. We text each other. Although as of now, about one month na kaming walang communication kasi busy kami pareho.”
At the presscon of her movie, Kris removed her blaser to show off her slim figure then said, specifically addressing it to him: “Hashtag Mayor, this is what you are missing.” So what’s his reaction to that?
Mayor Herbert, with a naughty glint in his eye, then blurts out: “Iisa lang ang masasabi ko, hindi niya ako matitikman.” But he quickly took back his comment. “Joke. Huwag nyong isusulat yan. Nakakahiya. Biro lang. Ha ha ha!”
He’s on his last term as Quezon City Mayor. What is his plan for the next election? Is he really running for senator? “As of now, wala pa. I just want to leave my post na tapos na lahat ng projects ko rito. As of now, I have 14 new infrastructures constructed inside the Quezon City Hall compound, including new parking buildings. I want to leave a good legacy to the people of Quezon City. For any future plan, we have to wait muna for the State of the Nation Address (SONA) of the President on July 23 at sa charter change.”
