At 36, Chiz (so called because he was fond of cheese curls when he was a kid?) is undoubtedly the most charismatic politician – and presidentiable – today, bar none. When he opens his mouth, everybody falls under his spell. Unlike most (perhaps 98 percent of them) politicians, Chiz talks sense in a cool manner that is at once endearing, appealing and outright winsome. He is every inch a leader, no wonder he was chosen one of this year’s Ten Outstanding Young Men (TOYM – actually SOYM because only seven made it to the list, including Michael V. for Arts and Entertainment). Chiz, who represented Youth Leadership, has just duplicated the feat of his father, former Agriculture Secretary and Sorsogon Rep. Sonny Escudero, who was also a TOYM in 1971 (in the field of Veterinary Medicine). They are only the fourth father-and-son tandem to have made it to the honor roll.
Chiz has an older brother, Philip, a photographer, and a sister, Bernadette, an industrial engineer; and is married to Bernadette Flores, a UST Conservatory of Music graduate who used to be with Repertory Philippines (they don’t have a child yet).
Chiz stands 5’8", weighs 150 lbs., wears medium-sized shirt (waistline is 33") and size 7.5 shoes.
By popoular request, here’s a Body Talk with the reluctant "sex symbol," in person so down-to-earth and so low-key – and so approachable – that during the pictorial at Gloriamaris (Greenhills, after a birthday dinner hosted by Regal Matriarch Mother Lily for talent manager Dolor Guevarra last Dec. 2) onlookers gravitated towards him, all smiles, calling him by his nickname, shaking his hand and asking for his autograph and wanting to pose with them.
Say Chiz! Celebrity photographer Richard Chen requested The Man, but Chiz only blushed and felt all the more self-conscious, saying under his breath that the situation was getting to be "too embarrassing" as more onlookers came to watch. Was Chiz greatly relieved when it was all over!
He’s an Idol in his own right, with a following maybe even bigger than those of most actors.
A lot of people consider you a sex symbol. How do you feel about it?
"Who me, sex symbol!?! I’m flattered but I don’t think I’m deserving."
Why not?
"Wala lang. Ever since I was in high school, all my crushes didn’t have a crush on me. I would rate as sawi at bigo my courtship score when I was a student, so I never look at myself as God’s gift to women."
You mean, you were torpe (timid) when it came to courting girls?
"I didn’t know how to court a girl."
How did you court your wife?
"It just happened. Basta pagdating sa ligawan, mahina ako."
Many people find you sexy.
"Again, I’m not deserving."
What do you find sexy in a woman?
"The whole package – how she talks, how she walks and how she carries herself especially during a conversation. You know, a conversation before, during and after is very important." (Laughs)
What do you want to talk about, well, during...?
"Not politics, for sure."
What’s your favorite question during the, ehem, crucial moment?
"‘Is everything okay?’ If she smiles, then it means yes."
What part of a woman’s body do you look at first?
"The face in general."
What part of your body is your favorite, your brain?
"Actually, people say, you know, ‘Magaling magsalita,’ but again, way back in college I was never considered as such. I guess nakakalamang lang ako sa mga kasabay ko sa Kongreso but it doesn’t necessarily mean that I’m good at it."
What part of your body do you think needs improvement?
"Everything – from the chest to the abs to the arms to the legs."
How do you take care of your body?
"I don’t."
You look fit.
"I’m fortunate that my metabolism is fast. My weight remains the same whatever I eat."
How ’s your health?
"I was given a clean bill of health during my last medical exam recently."
With your hectic schedule, do you get to eat three square meals a day?
"Yes, I do."
Snacks in between?
"None."
Favorite food?
"I eat everything but my favorite is tinolang manok."
Being from Bicol, are you fond of hot/spicy food?
"No, I’m not."
How much sleep do you get per night?
"Six to seven hours."
Of restful sleep?
"Of very restful sleep. If I can sleep for 10 to 12 hours, that’s a luxury already."
Do you really relax by playing with a Gameboy?
"Yes, I do."
Do you read?
"No, I’m not fond of reading. I only read what I have to read. I don’t read for fun."
Not even newspapers?
"I only subscribe to only two." (One of them The STAR.)
What sort of workout do you do?
"My only exercise is mountain-biking occasionally. I do push-ups reguarly at home."
Favorite sports?
"Swimming and target-shooting."
How much water do you take every day?
"For the past four days, about 12 to 15 glasses because I have colds. Ordinarily, around six to seven."
Do you drink?
"I used to drink a lot in the province. But not anymore."
Do you smoke?
(Blushes) "Yes, I do."
How do you cope with stress?
"I just don’t take things seriously. Once home, I forget about politics."
What’s your favorite hideaway?
"Just at home. Being with my wife."
What about Sorsogon (maybe Donsol where the giant whales butanding are)?
"It a nice place, part of my district. But I can’t go there as a tourist. I go there to work."
Do you take vitamins and/or minerals?
"Only vitamin C, 1,000 mgs. per day but 2,000 mgs. when I’m sick, like right now."
How often do you see your doctor?
"Only when I’m sick, only when something hurts."
Do you have a nightlife?
"Sometimes. On a regular day, I go home after work. The exception to the rule is when I go out with friends, which rarely happens. And when I do, it’s usually with friends from my high school days."
Do you have any pet peeves?
"Idle people. I don’t like them, but I can tolerate them for as long as they don’t work for me. Hypocrites. People who think as if they know everything and can speak for everyone."
What about liars?
(Laughs) "And cheats and thieves."
Are you a slave driver?
"Not really. I like to think that I’m good to my staff."
Are you a perfectionist?
"No. I know my limitations."
You are not vain, are you?
"No, I’m not."
How long does it take you to fix yourself?
"My record time for making up? Seven minutes – from the time I wake up to the time I take a shower to the time I dress up. That’s when I wake up late and I’m in a hurry. Otherwise, it takes me 20 minutes."
In the bathroom, what do you soap first?
"My hair. I have a few, di ba? Then, I brush my teeth and I shave before taking a bath. In dressing up, I put on my underwear first, of course, and then my socks, my pants, my shirt, my belt and check my wallet and everything else."
Do you apply anything (on your face)?
‘No, I don’t. I just spray myself with a little perfume."
What’s your favorite perfume?
"Halo-halo. I don’t buy my own perfume. Depende sa regalo sa akin. I use what’s there and move on to the next bottle."
What’s the last thing that you do before you go to sleep?
"I pray."
What do you usually pray for?
"I pray for my family, meaning my extended family. And, of course, na sana bigyan na kami ng baby."
And the first thing you do when you wake up?
"Magpaluto ng agahan (breakfast)."
What’s your favorite breakfast?
"Bacon, fried crispy and hard-boiled egg."
What’s one thing you cannot do without?
"Aside from my wife?" (Laughs). "My ability to speak and communicate. That’s why I feel handicapped right now because of my voice (sore throat)."
What’s your biggest fear?
"Dying. And commiting a mistake that will affect lives other than my own, given the position that I’m in right now."
Do you have any fantasy figure?
"None in particular. But before, yes, si Catherine Zeta-Jones."
What’s your all-time favorite movie?
"American President (starring Michael Douglas and Annette Benning). It shows that there’s life outside politics. And in the midst of politics, despite the fact that he is supposed to be the most powerful man in the world and the man who runs the biggest organization in the world, dapat may buhay ka pa rin outside politics and you should never lose sight of it."
In your case, do you have life outside politics?
"Yes – with my wife. She’s not into politics."
What was the last movie that you saw?
"The Legend of Zorro (starring Antonio Banderas and Catherine Zeta-Jones)."
Who’s your role model?
"Actually, none in particular. Come to think of it, I guess my role model is a mix of Mahatir Mohammad (of Malaysia) for his nationalism and vision for his country, Lee Kuan Yew (of Singapore) for the same reason...both knew when it was time to step down..., (Ferdinand) Marcos for his legal mind, (Joseph) Erap (Estrada) for being able to communicate with the masses and being understood by the people, Cory (Aquino) for bringing a tinge of her personality which has nothing to do with politics into government."
Name three women you find sexy.
"Still Catherine Zeta-Jones. I like her body and her face and her lips. Kate Hudson bago naging anorexic. I read about it in a magazine I found in our bathroom. She was beautiful in How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days, wasn’t she? And Sharon Stone; her appeal, not so much her looks."
Name three men who you think have nice bodies.
"Sana ako sila! I can name only two – Brad Pitt and Tom Cruise."