Vic Sotto

Marvic Valentin Castelo Sotto Sr. (Tagalog pronunciation: [ˈsɔtɔ]; born April 28, 1954) is a Filipino actor, singer, and comedian, best known for his various television and film projects on the major Philippine television networks GMA, TV5, and ABS-CBN. He is one of three pioneer hosts of Eat Bulaga!, which is the longest-running Philippine noontime variety show.

Vic Sotto
Sotto in 2017
Born	Marvic Valentin Castelo Sotto Sr. April 28, 1954 Manila, Philippines
Occupation	Actor, singer, comedian
Years active	1977–present
Spouse(s)	Dina Bonnevie ​ (m. 1981⁠–⁠1992)​ Pauleen Luna ​ (m. 2016)​
Children	5, including Oyo and Vico
Relatives	Tito Sotto (brother) Marc Pingris (son-in-law) Kristine Hermosa (daughter-in-law)
Website	eatbulaga.tv

He owns the film and TV production company M-Zet Productions. Sotto won four consecutive titles for Philippine Box Office King from 2004 to 2007 awarded by the Guillermo Mendoza Memorial Scholarship Foundation Awards, and received three nominations for Best Actor at the Metro Manila Film Festival.

Biography

Family background

Sotto was born on April 28, 1954. He is the youngest son of Marcelino Antonio Ojeda Sotto Sr. and Dr. Herminia Castelo. He studied at Colegio de San Juan de Letran. He is the brother of Valmar "Val" Sotto, Vicente "Tito" Sotto III, and Marcelino "Maru" Sotto Jr.

Career

Early career

He started his career as a folk singer and guitarist. During these years, Sotto was also the lead vocalist of the disco funk band VST & Company. He produced such songs as "Awitin Mo at Isasayaw Ko", "Rock Baby Rock", and "Kung Sakali".

He joined his brothers Tito and Val in the early 1970s gag show OK Lang under IBC 13. This is where he met another comedian, Joey de Leon, who invited the brothers to join him. The trio of Tito, Vic and Joey (TVJ) was thus formed, casting in Iskul Bukol, TVJ (Television's Jesters), Rock and Roll 2000 and hosting Eat Bulaga!.

Tito, Vic and Joey

In 1976, the Sotto brothers Tito, Vic and Val were invited by former OK Lang co-star Joey de Leon to co-host an episode of GMA Network's late afternoon variety show Discorama hosted by Bobby Ledesma. Only Tito and Vic accepted de Leon's invitation. The newly formed trio began to do comedy newscast segments interspersed with Top 40 hit-song parodies. Originally, the trio's appearance was supposed to be a one-off invitation as Discorama was set to be axed but after getting good feedback from the viewers and ratings were high, the show was given a new lease on life by GMA management. The trio was later invited to become part of the noontime show Student Canteen as they released 12 albums based on their Discorama Tough Hits segment.

The sitcom Iskul Bukol that gave them nationwide fame as comedians. Soon after, other TV and movie offers came knocking on the trio's door.

In 1979, Tito, Vic and Joey began hosting the noontime show Eat Bulaga!, which was pitted against the more established Student Canteen. Not long after, Eat Bulaga! toppled Student Canteen from the ratings. The trio is still active on both Holy Week Dramas every Lenten Season and also on comedy variety show on Eat Bulaga!.

Later career

In the last three decades, he has done sitcoms and television shows for three networks, ABS-CBN, GMA Network and TV5 (most of which were for GMA).

Personal life

Sotto has five children from various relationships. He also has seven grandchildren (two from Danica, four from Oyo, and one from Paulina).

Sotto confirmed his engagement to Eat Bulaga! co-host Pauleen Luna in September 2015. The couple married on January 30, 2016 at Ayala Alabang, Muntinlupa City.[1] On May 6, 2017, Sotto announced on Eat Bulaga! that he and Luna were expecting their first child together.[2]

Pepsi Paloma gang rape case

In 1982 the 15-year old actress Pepsi Paloma accused Sotto and fellow comedians Joey de Leon and Richie D'Horsie of gang raping and taking photos of her on June 21 in a room at the Sulo Hotel in Quezon City.[3] On July 31, Paloma's manager Rey dela Cruz lodged a formal complaint with Defense Minister Juan Ponce Enrile. On August 18, Paloma filed charges of rape and acts of lasciviousness against the three television personalities before the Quezon City fiscal's office.[4] The crime of rape at the time, carried the death penalty in the Philippines, and to prevent his brother from being sent to the electric chair, Tito Sotto quickly went to see Paloma while she was still securing the services of Atty. Rene Cayetano. According to Paloma, Tito Sotto coerced her into signing an "Affidavit of Desistance" to drop the rape charges against his brother and cohorts[5]—Tito Sotto had allegedly placed a pistol on the table in front of Paloma when he went to talk to her.[6]

In exchange for the dismissal of the charges of rape, Vic Sotto, de Leon and D'Horsie issued a public apology to Paloma:

We hope that you will not allow the error we have committed against you to stand as a stumbling block to that future which we all look forward to. We therefore ask you to find it in your heart to pardon us for the wrong which we have done against you.[7]

Despite the suspects' earlier apology, Tito Sotto has maintained his position against any involvement in the whitewashing of the rape case and alleges that the scandal was a gimmick by Paloma's party for publicity. Again, in spite of a live apology issued to the people, Sotto said that he was not involved as a perpetrator in the rape of Paloma and he denied using his position in government to influence the court decision. Sotto became Vice Mayor in Quezon City in 1988 before being elected as a Senator in 1992.[8][9] In 2018, Sotto requested The Philippine Inquirer to remove published articles available online mentioning the Pepsi Paloma Case, claiming them to be "fake news" (though clearly was not the case),[10] and damaging to his current reputation as a Senator.[11][12]

Three years later, Paloma was found dead in an apparent suicide, though evidence suggests this was actually murder in order to prevent her from testifying against Sotto in court.[13] Dela Cruz was murdered years later.[14]

Filmography

Film

Year	Title	Role	Production Company
1979	Swing It Baby	Vic	Lea Productions
1979	Rock Baby Rock	Vic
1979	Mang Kepweng	Tres Dwendes (TVJ)	GP Films
1979	Mamang Sorbetero	Ariston (1st Comedy Solo Movie)	JE Productions
1980	Ako, Ikaw...Magkaagaw	Greggy (first dramatic role)	JPM Productions
1980	Mr. One-Two-Three	Toto (as TVJ)
1980	Iskul Bukol	Vic Ungasis (as TVJ)	GP Films
1981	Age Doesn't Matter	Enteng	Regal Entertainment, Inc.
1981	Palpak Connection	Jaworsky	GP Films
1981	Mr. One-Two-Three Part 2	Toto
1981	Bilibid Gays	Dina Maria Bombolina Estofada y Bonnevie (as Vic)
1981	D'Gradwets	Maverick (as TVJ)	Regal Entertainment, Inc.
1981	Mag-toning Muna Tayo	Evita (as Vic)	GP Films
1981	Iskul Bukol	Vic Ungasis
1981	Tartan	Tartan
1982	Si Ako at... Tres Muskiteros!	Poldong Muskitero
1982	Tatlo Silang Tatay Ko	Eastwood	'D Wonder Films
1983	Buhay Misis	Ilyo	GP Films
1984	Goodah	Renato	Seiko Films
1984	Give Me Five!	Michael (as Vic)	Viva Films
1984	Naku Ha!	Toribio	Seiko Films
1985	Ride on Baby	Paul	Regal Entertainment, Inc.
1985	Super Wan-tu-tri	Gaspar (as Vic)
1985	Doctor, Doctor, We Are Sick	Ricky (as TVJ)	Viva Films
1985	I Have Three Hands	Jovito 'Bitoy' Agatep (as Vic)	Regal Entertainment, Inc.
1985	Mama Said Papa Said I Love You	Bogs (as Vic)
1985	Ma'am May We Go Out	Chip Soriano	Viva Films
1986	Working Boys	Bert
1986	Horsey-horsey: Tigidig-tigidig	Eddie	Seiko Films
1986	Send in the Clowns	Ricky (as TVJ)	Seiko Films
1987	Forward March	Omeng	Regal Entertainment, Inc.
1987	The Best of Iskul Bukol: The Movie	Vic Ungasis
1987	Shoot That Ball	Manoy
1987	Ready!... Aim!... Fire!...	Sugar Ray	Seiko Films
1988	Fly Me to the Moon	Galileo		Regal Entertainment, Inc.
1988	Wake Up Little Susie	Napoleon Timawa
1988	Good Morning, Titser	Pedro	Regal Entertainment, Inc.
1988	Smith & Wesson	Jessie Wesson	Viva Films
1989	Si Malakas at si Maganda	Oyo/Malakas	Regal Entertainment, Inc.
1989	Gawa Na ang Bala Para sa Akin	Nanding
1990	My Funny Valentine	Florante
1990	Hotdog	Jose
1990	Twist: Ako si Ikaw, Ikaw si Ako	Bogart
1990	Ganda Babae, Ganda Lalake	Victor
1990	Crocodile Jones: The Son of Indiana Dundee	Crocodile Jones
1990	Kabayo Kids	Jockey Nanding
1990	I Have 3 Eggs	Sylvester
1990	Samson & Goliath	Samson
1990	Iputok Mo... Dadapa Ako! (Hard to Die)	Bruce	OctoArts Films
1991	Onyong Majikero	Onyong	Regal Entertainment, Inc.
1991	Rocky Plus V	Rocky
1991	Okay Ka, Fairy Ko!: The Movie	Enteng	M-Zet TV Productions, Inc.
1992	Ano Ba Yan?	Victor	OctoArts Films
1992	Okay Ka, Fairy Ko!: Part 2	Enteng	M-Zet TV Productions, Inc.
1992	Boy Anghel: Utak Pulburon	Boy Anghel	Movie Arts Productions
1992	Sam & Miguel (Your Basura, No Problema)	Sam	Regal Entertainment, Inc.
1992	Ang Tange Kong Pag-ibig	Restituto Roso	Movie Arts Productions
1993	Ano Ba 'Yan 2	Victor Dimasupil	OctoArts Films
1993	Ang Kuya Kong Siga	Johnny	Movie Arts Productions
1994	Hindi Pa Tapos ang Labada, Darling	Victor "Toryo" Dimasupil	Star Cinema
1994	Tunay na Magkaibigan, Walang Iwanan... Peksman!	Estong	Movie Arts Productions
1994	Once Upon a Time in Manila	Jet
1995	Isang Kahig, Tatlong Tuka... (Daddy Ka Na, Mommy Ka Pa!)	Victor
1996	Enteng and the Shaolin Kid	Enteng
1997	Lab en Kisses	Lab	OctoArts Films GMA Films
1997	Biyudo si Daddy, Biyuda si Mommy	Victor	Star Cinema
1997	Enteng en Mokong: Kaming mga Mababaw ang Kaligayahan	Andrew	MAQ Productions
1998	D'Sisters: Nuns of the Above	Victor Dimasupil / Sister Victoria	GMA Films
1999	Basta't Ikaw... Nanginginig Pa	Enteng	Viva Films
2000	Bakit Ba Ganyan? (Ewan Ko Nga Ba, Darling)	Ricky Belo	M-Zet TV Productions, Inc.
2003	Lastikman	Larry / Lastikman	OctoArts Films
2003	Fantastic Man	Fredo / Fantastic Man
2004	Enteng Kabisote: OK Ka Fairy Ko... The Legend	Enteng Kabisote
2005	Perfect: Eat Bulaga Special	Himself	TAPE Productions
2005	Ispiritista: Itay, May Moomoo!	Victor	OctoArts Films
2005	The GMA All-Star Special	Himself	GMA Network
2005	Enteng Kabisote 2: Okay Ka Fairy Ko... The Legend Continues!	Enteng Kabisote	OctoArts Films
2006	Enteng Kabisote 3: Okay Ka, Fairy Ko: The Legend Goes On and On and On	Enteng Kabisote
2007	Enteng Kabisote 4: Okay Ka Fairy Ko...The Beginning of the Legend	Enteng Kabisote
2008	Dobol Trobol: Lets Get Redi 2 Rambol!	Arthur Calaycay	RVQ Productions
2008	Scaregivers	Specialist Doctor	APT Entertainment
2008	Iskul Bukol: 20 Years After	Vic Ungasis (as Vic)	OctoArts Films
2009	Love on Line (LOL)	Samson Alumpihit Jr.
2009	Ang Darling Kong Aswang	Victor Lagman
2010	Si Agimat at si Enteng Kabisote	Enteng Kabisote	GMA Films
2011	Pak! Pak! My Dr. Kwak!	Angelo	Star Cinema
2011	Enteng ng Ina Mo	Enteng Kabisote
2012	D' Kilabots Pogi Brothers Weh?!	Bossing Chairman	APT Entertainment
2012	Si Agimat, Si Enteng at Ako	Enteng Kabisote	GMA Films
2013	My Little Bossings	Torky Villanueva	OctoArts Films M-Zet TV Productions, Inc. APT Entertainment Kris Aquino Productions
2014	My Big Bossing's Adventures	Bossing/Vince/Torius	OctoArts Films M-Zet TV Productions, Inc. APT Entertainment
2015	My Bebe Love: #KiligPaMore	Vito Carillo	OctoArts Films M-Zet TV Productions, Inc. APT Entertainment MEDA Productions GMA Films
2016	Enteng Kabisote 10 and the Abangers	Enteng Kabisote	OctoArts Films M-Zet TV Productions, Inc. APT Entertainment
2017	Meant to Beh	Ronaldo Balatbat
2018	Jack Em Popoy: The Puliscredibles	Perfecto "Popoy/ Pops" Fernandez	CCM Film Productions, APT Entertainment, M-Zet Productions
2019	Mission Unstapabol: The Don Identity		APT Entertainment, M-Zet Productions

Television

Year	Show	Role	Network
2019	Eat Bulaga Lenten Special: Ikigai: Buhay Ng Buhay Ko	Tonio	GMA Network
2018	Daddy's Gurl	Barak Otogan
	Eat Bulaga Lenten Special: Taray ni Tatay
2017	Bossing & Ai	Himself / Host
	Eat Bulaga Lenten Special: Kaibigan	Vito
2016–2017	Hay, Bahay!	Vio
2016	Eat Bulaga Lenten Special: Panata	Moises
2015	Sabado Badoo	Cameo footage, featured
2015	Eat Bulaga Lenten Special: Sukli ng Pagmamahal	Greg
2014–2015	Lucky Me Nam Nam Dear Bossing	Host
2013–2016	Vampire ang Daddy Ko	Victor Ventura
2012–2013	The Million Peso Money Drop	Host	TV5
2011–2012	The Jose and Wally Show Starring Vic Sotto	Direk Vic
2011	R U Kidding Me!	Host
2010–2011	LOL: Laugh Or Lose	Host
2010–2011	My Darling Aswang	Victor
2009–2015	Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?	Host
2007–2009	Ful Haus	Ful	GMA Network
2004	Eat Bulaga Silver Special	Host
2001–2007	Daddy Di Do Du	Kul
2005	A Telefantastic Christmas: The GMA All-Star Special	Various
2001	Korek na Korek ka Dyan	Host
1997	1 for 3	Host
1994–1997	Mixed Nuts! (Numero Unong Terrific Show)	Host
1992	Rock n' Roll 2000	Host/Performer	ABC (now TV5)
	TVJ on 5 (TeleVision's Jesters on 5)	Host
1989	TVJ (TeleVision's Jesters)	Host	IBC
1987–1989; 1989–1995; 1996–1997	Okay Ka, Fairy Ko!	Enteng Kabisote	IBC ABS-CBN GMA Network
1982–1983	2+2	Host	City 2 Television
1979–present	Eat Bulaga!	Host	RPN ABS-CBN GMA Network
1979–1981	C.U.T.E. (Call Us Two for Entertainment)	Host	IBC
1978–1988	Iskul Bukol	Vic Ungasis
1977	Student Canteen	Co-Host	GMA Network

Awards and nominations

Year(s)	Award	Category	Result
	Guillermo Mendoza's Entertainment Awards	Five-time Box-Office King	Won
1986, 1987, 1989, 1990, 1992, 1996, 2001, 2003 and 2004	PMPC Star Awards for Television	Best Actor in a Comedy Series	Won Okay Ka Fairy Ko Daddy Di Do Du (GMA)
1989, 1990, 1992, 1995, 1997, 1998 2000, 2003, and 2008	PMPC Star Awards for Television	Best Male Variety Show Host	Won Eat Bulaga! (GMA)
2006-07 2009	Enpress	Best Male Variety Host	Won Eat Bulaga! (GMA)
2007	Guillermo Mendoza's Entertainment Awards	Comedy Box Office King	Won
2008	GMMSF Box-Office Entertainment Awards	All Time Box-Office King Special Award[15]	Won
2009	GMMSF Box-Office Entertainment Awards	Comedy Box Office King[16]	Won (with Dolphy for Dobol Trobol)
2009	35th Metro Manila Film Festival	Best Festival Actor for Ang Darling Kong Aswang	Nominated
2010	GMMSF Box-Office Entertainment Awards	Comedy Box Office King[17]	Won
2010	GME	Comedy Box Office King	Won
2010	Eastwood City Walk Of Fame	Celebrity Inductee	Won
2010-11	PMPC Star Awards for Television	Best Game Show Host	Won Who Wants To Be A Millionaire? (TV5)
2011-12	NSSUU	Best Variety Game Show Host	Won Eat Bulaga! (GMA)
2011	GMMSF Box-Office Entertainment Awards	Box-Office Kings (with Bong Revilla)[18]	Won Si Agimat at si Enteng Kabisote
2011	37th Metro Manila Film Festival	Best Festival Actor for Enteng Ng Ina Mo	Nominated
2012	GMMSF Box-Office Entertainment Awards	Box-Office Tandem (with Ai Ai delas Alas)[19]	Won Enteng Ng Ina Mo
2013	Reader's Digest	Most Trusted TV Host for Entertainment and Variety	Won Eat Bulaga! (GMA)
2013	Yahoo! Philippines OMG! Awards	Favorite Male TV Host of the Year	Won Eat Bulaga! (GMA)
2013	39th Metro Manila Film Festival	Best Festival Actor for My Little Bossings	Nominated
2014	GMMSF Box-Office Entertainment Awards	Phenomenal Stars (with Vice Ganda)[20]	Won My Little Bossings
2016	6th EdukCircle Awards	Most Influential Film Actor of the Year for My Bebe Love: #KiligPaMore	Won

References

1. Policarpio, Allan (January 31, 2016). "Vic Sotto weds Pauleen Luna: A promise of forever". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved January 31, 2016.
2. "Vic Sotto's big news: wife Pauleen Luna pregnant". ABS-CBN News and Current Affairs. May 6, 2017. Retrieved May 6, 2017.
3. Stieber, Zachary (March 5, 2014). "Pepsi Paloma Rape: What Really Happened?". www.theepochtimes.com. Retrieved January 22, 2019.
4. del Carmen, Cristina P. (September 29, 1982). "It Hurts Only When They Laugh". Who.
5. Rodis, Rodel (March 5, 2014). "The rape of Pepsi Paloma". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Archived from the original on 2018-06-27.
6. Jimenez-David, Rina (November 3, 2012). "Jimmy Savile and our own 'lovable louts'". Philippine Daily Inquirer.
7. "_". People's Journal. October 13, 1982.
8. De Jesus, Topel V. (March 3, 2016). "Tito Sotto denies whitewashing Pepsi Paloma rape case". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved March 4, 2016.
9. "Tito Sotto: Pepsi Paloma scandal was a 'gimmick'". ABS-CBN News. March 4, 2016. Retrieved March 4, 2016.
10. "Sotto: Pepsi Paloma rape stories are 'fake news'". ABS-CBN News. Retrieved February 28, 2019.
11. "INQUIRER.net statement on the Pepsi Paloma stories". Retrieved February 28, 2019.
12. "Beware The Streisand Effect: a Short Explainer for Sen. Tito Sotto". Esquire. June 18, 2018. Retrieved February 28, 2019.
13. Rodis, Rodel (March 15, 2014). "Was Pepsi Paloma murdered?". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Archived from the original on 2018-06-27.
14. Smith, Chuck D. (July 20, 2017). "I am the son of a dead '80s bold star". Esquire.
15. "The 38th Box-Office Entertainment Awards (Part 2)". Pep.ph. Retrieved May 24, 2014.
16. "40th Box Office Entertainment Awards given out". Pep.ph. Retrieved May 21, 2014.
17. "ABS-CBN big winner at GMMSF Entertainment Awards". ABS-CBN News. Retrieved May 21, 2014.
18. "42nd Box-Office Entertainment Awards honors outstanding actors and actresses of 2010". Pep.ph. Retrieved May 21, 2014.
19. "Vice Ganda named Phenomenal Box-Office Star; Derek Ramsay is Box-Office King while Anne Curtis and Cristine Reyes share Box-Office Queen title". Pep.ph. Retrieved May 20, 2014.
20. "Star Cinema named most popular film producer". Star Cinema. Retrieved May 19, 2014.

External links

• "Senator Vicente Yap Sotto"
• Vic Sotto at IMDb