Drawing laughter from Clavio and the two other forum co-hosts, the 45-year old Teodoro admitted that his age is already taking its toll as reflected in his receding hairline.

Aside from desiring the presidency in the forthcoming May 10, 2010, elections, Lakas-Kampi-CMD has another wish in his life — to have thicker hair.

During his appearance at the presidential forum “Kandidato” aired over GMA-7 television late Wednesday night, former Defense Secretary Gilberto "Gibo" Teodoro Jr. said he is becoming conscious of his thinning hair in his public appearances.

When asked by popular news anchor Arnold Clavio on what he has that he doesn't want to have, Teodoro quickly replied: “It's my thinning hair.”

Drawing laughter from Clavio and the two other forum co-hosts – veteran journalist Malou Mangahas and award-winning TV documenary host Howie Severino – the 45-year old Teodoro admitted that his age is already taking its toll as reflected in his receding hairline.

"Alam natin na nakaka-apekto sa pagkalalaki natin yan ,” the charming administration bet said. (“We all know that it reflects our macho image.”)

The first batch of questions centered on the lighter side of Gibo, the the first to appear as guest in “Kandidato.”

Among the sidelights the three hosts tackled about Gibo's life was his courtship style for then Monica “Nikki” Prieto who is now Mrs. Teodoro, congresswoman of the first district of Tarlac.

Teodoro recalled that when he first met Nikki, a commercial model, he consulted a group of Catholic nuns, bringing with him a photo of his love interest.

“I remember telling the nuns to pray for me that I get to win her heart. If not, I requested them just to return her photo to me,” Gibo recounted.

Having a reputation of being a very formal and uptight person, Gibo broke the ice when he released a barrage of side comments regarding his teenage days.

He even claimed that he was a “happy go lucky” person during high school and college days in Xavier School and De La Salle University, respectively. It was at the University of the Philippines (UP) when he started taking his studies seriously while taking up law.

When he graduated in college, Gibo was the bar topnotcher in his batch before having the opportunity to study in Harvard Law School.

Having grown up from a very strict father, the late Gilberto Teodoro Sr. who worked as administrator of the Social Security System (SSS) during the Marcos administration, Gibo said he learned how to take care of his wife and is family to ensure their well being.

Unknown to many, Gibo refused to report to UP Diliman for his class after then President Marcos left for Hawaii during the 1986 EDSA People Power Revolution for fear of being humiliated by some of his school mates.

Gibo's uncle, business tycoon Eduardo "Danding" Cojuangco Jr., was among those initially being linked as among the masterminds in the killing of former Senator Benigno "Ninoy" Aquino Jr. along with then First Lady Imelda Romualdez Marcos.

Teodoro's mother, Mercedes Cojuangco Teodoro, is the youngest sister of Danding.

However, some of his close friends in school were able to convince to he attend classes by picking him up in his house and drive him to the UP grounds.

By focusing his attention to his studies, Gibo graduated on top of his class.

Meanwhile, Teodoro appealed to various sectors to spare his uncle – business tycoon Eduardo “Danding” Cojuangco – from political intrigues that reportedly involved him, saying that every candidate’s campaign must always be focused on a platform of governance to guide the voters to the right choice of leader in the forthcoming May 10 elections.

“Ang usaping pamilya, hindi dapat maging bahagi ng national agenda…bansa ang pinaguusapan natin, eh,” Teodoro said during the “Kandidato” presidential forum shown in GMA-7 late Wednesday evening. (“Family matters should not be part of the national agenda…we are talking about issues concerning our country.”)

“At national governance ang pinaguusapan so ang issues na batayan ay dapat na issues o platform of governance or track record,” Teodoro emphasized. (“And since national governance is the issue being discussed, we should be talking about platform of governance and track record.”)

Teodoro responded to queries of the TV hosts on his alleged strained relationship with the 75-year-old Cojuangco, known in past elections as a “political kingmaker.”

Teodoro is the only son of Danding’s youngest sister, Mercedes Cojuangco Teodoro.

Danding left the country a few weeks ago without endorsing the candidacy of any of his nephews – Teodoro and Sen. Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III, who are both seeking presidency in the May 10 elections.

Danding’s wife, Gretchen Oppen Cojuangco, earlier said that she will support any presidential candidate except Teodoro. She accused Teodoro, whose political life started when he was elected congressman of Tarlac, as an “ingrate” who never took time to express gratitude to her husband.

The 45-year-old former defense secretary admitted that Danding – who is chairman emeritus of the Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC) – had a major impact in his life being his “political steward” when he ran for congressional seat in their home province.

Aside from that, Teodoro said that he also had a “very, very privileged” relationship with Danding who became his client when he worked for top caliber lawyer Estelito Mendoza.