Vic Sotto
A closeup of Vic Sotto
Sotto in February 2022
Born
Marvic Valentin Castelo Sotto

(1954-04-28) April 28, 1954
Manila, Philippines
Occupations
  • Actor
  • comedian
  • television personality
Years active1976–present
Spouses
  • (m. 1981; ann. 1992)
  • (m. 2016)
Children5, including Oyo Boy and Vico
RelativesSotto family

Marvic Valentin "Vic" Castelo Sotto (born April 28, 1954) is a Filipino actor and television personality. Prolific in Philippine film and television in the Philippines since the 1970s, he is known for playing comedic roles in television sitcoms and films.

Sotto began his career in the 1970s as a member of the disco band VST & Company, where he helped the group popularize the hit songs "Ikaw ang Aking Mahal", "Awitin Mo at Isasayaw Ko", "Magsayawan", and "Rock Baby Rock". He later formed a trio with his brother Tito and Joey de Leon, where they starred together in the long-running sitcom Iskul Bukol (1978–1988). From 1979 to 2023, Sotto hosts the noontime variety show Eat Bulaga! until 2023, where he left from the show's production company TAPE Inc. due to a dispute. He became one of the founders of TVJ Productions, and currently hosts E.A.T. for 6 months before the show was renamed to its original title Eat Bulaga!.

Sotto has appeared in the other sitcoms Okay Ka, Fairy Ko!, Daddy Di Do Du, Ful Haus, Vampire ang Daddy Ko, Hay, Bahay!, Daddy's Gurl and Open 24/7. In film, he played the lead role as the title character in the Enteng Kabisote film series. His other notable films include Lastikman (2003), Ang Darling Kong Aswang (2009), My Little Bossings (2013), Jack Em Popoy: The Puliscredibles (2018), and Mission Unstapabol: The Don Identity (2019). He has also ventured into television hosting, appearing in Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? and Bossing & Ai.

Early life

Vic Sotto was born as Marvic Valentin Castelo Sotto on April 28, 1954, at Manila, Philippines. He is the youngest son of Marcelino Antonio Ojeda Sotto Sr. (19171999) and Dr. Herminia Castelo. He has three brothers namely Val Sotto (b. 1945), Tito Sotto (b. 1948) and Marcelino Antonio Sotto, Jr. (b. 1951).

Sotto comes from a notable political family in the Philippines. His paternal grandfather was Vicente Sotto y Yap, who infamously authored the Press Freedom Law of 1946 during his term in the Senate. His granduncle, Filemon Sotto, also served as a member of the House of Representatives for four consecutive terms and a senator in the 1910s, while his brother, Tito, served as a senator from the 1992 to 2004 and again from 2010 to 2022.

Education

He studied at Colegio de San Juan de Letran.

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 was still active on both Holy Week Dramas every Lenten Season and also on comedy variety show on Eat Bulaga! until their departure from the show 2023.

TVJ–TAPE Inc. dispute

On May 31, 2023, Tito, Vic, and Joey announced their departure from TAPE Inc., the producer of the longtime variety show Eat Bulaga! They cited the refusal of the company's new management to allow the show to go live as a potential reason for their departure. Not long after, the other hosts and mainstays known as the "Dabarkads" resigned as well.

In June 2023, TVJ announced their move to TV5, where they began hosting a new variety show called E.A.T. that aired on July 1 until January 6, 2024 when the show brought back the original title 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 married actress Dina Bonnevie in 1982 and had two children, one of whom is notable actor Oyo Boy Sotto. The married couple broke up in 1986 before their marriage was annulled in 1992. Actress Coney Reyes joined Eat Bulaga! in 1982 as Chiqui Hollman's replacement. During her hosting stint, Coney and Vic got together and had a son, politician Vico Sotto. Angela Luz was a one-time leading lady for Vic in the television series Okay Ka, Fairy Ko when they got together sometime after he broke up with Coney Reyes. Angela Luz gave birth to Vic Sotto's fourth child.

He also had relationships with his fellow Eat Bulaga! co-hosts, Christine Jacob in the early 1990s and Pia Guanio in the late 2000s, but both ended in a breakup. While Christine Jacob quit hosting Eat Bulaga! after ending the relationship, Pia Guanio decided to stay in the show.

Eventually, he married young actress Pauleen Luna, who is also an Eat Bulaga! co-host. They were married in 2016[1] and have one child, who is the youngest of Sotto's five children.[2]

Sotto also has nine grandchildren (three from Danica, five from Oyo, and one from Paulina).

Controversies

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. 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.[3] 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 pressured her into signing an "Affidavit of Desistance" to drop the rape charges against his brother and cohorts[4]—Tito Sotto had allegedly placed a pistol on the table in front of Paloma when he went to talk to her.[5]

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.[6]

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.[7][8] In 2018, Sotto requested The Philippine Inquirer to remove published articles available online mentioning the Pepsi Paloma Case, claiming them to be "fake news"[9] and damaging to his current reputation as a Senator.[10][11]

In May 1985, 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.[12] Dela Cruz was murdered years later.[13]

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role Production company
1979 Swing It Baby Vic Lea Productions
Rock Baby Rock
Mang Kepweng Tres Dwendes GP Films
Mamang Sorbetero Ariston JE Productions
1980 Ako, Ikaw...Magkaagaw Greggy JPM Productions
Mr. One-Two-Three Toto
Iskul Bukol Vic Ungasis GP Films
1981 Age Doesn't Matter Enteng Regal Films
Palpak Connection Jaworsky GP Films
Mr. One-Two-Three Part 2 Toto
Bilibid Gays Vic
D'Gradwets Maverick Regal Films
Mag-toning Muna Tayo Vic GP Films
Iskul Bukol Vic Ungasis
Tartan Tartan
1982 Si Ako at... Tres Muskiteros! Poldong Muskitero
Tatlo Silang Tatay Ko Eastwood 'D Wonder Films
1983 Buhay Misis Ilyo GP Films
1984 Goodah Renato Seiko Films
Give Me Five! Michael Viva Films
Naku Ha! Toribio Seiko Films
1985 Ride on Baby Paul Regal Films
Super Wan-tu-tri Gaspar APG Films
Doctor, Doctor, We Are Sick Ricky Viva Films
I Have Three Hands Jovito 'Bitoy' Agatep Regal Films
Mama Said Papa Said I Love You Bogs
Ma'am May We Go Out Chip Soriano Viva Films
1986 Working Boys Bert
Horsey-Horsey: Tigidig-Tigidig Eddie Seiko Films
Send in the Clowns Ricky
1987 Forward March Omeng Regal Films
The Best of Iskul Bukol: The Movie Vic Ungasis
Shoot That Ball Manoy
Ready!.. Aim!.. Fire!.. Sugar Ray Cineventures
1988 Fly Me to the Moon Galileo Seiko Films
Wake Up Little Susie Napoleon Timawa Regal Films
Good Morning, Titser Pedro
Smith & Wesson Jessie Wesson Viva Films
1989 Si Malakas at si Maganda Oyo / Malakas Regal Films
Gawa Na ang Bala para sa Akin Nanding
1990 My Funny Valentine Florante
Hotdog Jose
Twist: Ako si Ikaw, Ikaw si Ako Bogart
Ganda Babae, Ganda Lalake Victor
Crocodile Jones: The Son of Indiana Dundee Crocodile Jones
Kabayo Kids Jockey Nanding
I Have 3 Eggs Sylvester
Samson & Goliath Samson
Iputok Mo... Dadapa Ako! (Hard to Die) Bruce OctoArts Films
1991 Onyong Majikero Onyong Regal Films
Rocky Plus V Rocky
Okay Ka, Fairy Ko!: The Movie Enteng M-Zet TV Productions, Inc.
1992 Ano Ba Yan? Victor OctoArts Films
Okay Ka, Fairy Ko!: Part 2 Enteng M-Zet TV Productions, Inc.
Boy Anghel: Utak Pulburon Boy Anghel Movie Arts Productions
Sam & Miguel (Your Basura, No Problema) Sam Regal Films
Ang Tange Kong Pag-ibig Restituto Roso Movie Arts Productions
1993 Ano Ba 'Yan 2 Victor Dimasupil OctoArts Films
Ang Kuya Kong Siga Johnny Movie Arts Productions
1994 Hindi Pa Tapos ang Labada, Darling Victor "Toryo" Dimasupil Star Cinema
Tunay na Magkaibigan, Walang Iwanan... Peksman! Estong Movie Arts Productions
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
Biyudo si Daddy, Biyuda si Mommy Victor Star Cinema
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
Fantastic Man Fredo / Fantastic Man
2004 Enteng Kabisote: OK Ka Fairy Ko... The Legend Enteng Kabisote
2005 Perfect: Eat Bulaga SpecialHimself TAPE, Inc.
Ispiritista: Itay, May Moomoo! Victor OctoArts Films
The GMA All-Star Special Himself GMA Network
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
2007 Enteng Kabisote 4: Okay Ka Fairy Ko...The Beginning of the Legend
2008 Dobol Trobol: Lets Get Redi 2 Rambol! Arthur Calaycay RVQ Productions
Scaregivers Specialist Doctor APT Entertainment
Iskul Bukol: 20 Years After Vic Ungasis OctoArts Films
2009 Love on Line (LOL) Samson Alumpihit Jr.
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
Enteng ng Ina Mo Enteng Kabisote
2012 D' Kilabots Pogi Brothers Weh?! Bossing Chairman APT Entertainment
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 Don Robert Fortun APT Entertainment, M-Zet Productions

Television

Year Title Role Network
1975–1976 OK Lang! Himself/host IBC
1975–1979 Discorama Himself/ co-host GMA Network
1976–1979 Student Canteen
1978–1988 Iskul Bukol Vic Ungasis IBC]
1979–1981 C.U.T.E. (Call Us Two for Entertainment) Himself / host
1979–present Eat Bulaga! RPN (CNN Philippines)
ABS-CBN
GMA Network
TV5
1982–1983 2+2 Banahaw Broadcasting Corporation
1987–1997 Okay Ka, Fairy Ko! Enteng Kabisote RPN
ABS-CBN
GMA Network
1988 Coney Reyes on Camera Himself / guest RPN
1989–1992 TVJ (TeleVision's Jesters) Himself / host IBC
1992 TVJ on 5 (TeleVision's Jesters on 5) TV5
Rock n' Roll 2000 Himself / host / performer
1994–1997 Mixed nuts! (Numero Unong Terrific Show) Himself / host GMA Network
1997 1 for 3
2001 Korek na Korek Ka Dyan
2001–2007 Daddy Di Do Du Kul
2004 Eat Bulaga! Silver Special Himself / Host
2005 A Telefantastic Christmas: The GMA All-Star Special Himself / Various Roles
2007–2009 Ful Haus Ful
2009–2015 Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? Himself / host TV5
2010–2011 My Darling Aswang Victor
LOL: Laugh Or Lose Himself / host
2011 R U Kidding Me!
2011–2012 The Jose and Wally Show Starring Vic Sotto
2012–2013 The Million Peso Money Drop
2013–2016 Vampire ang Daddy Ko Victor Ventura GMA Network
2014–2015 Lucky Me Nam Nam Dear Bossing Himself / hist
2015 Eat Bulaga Lenten Special: Sukli ng Pagmamahal Greg
Sabado Badoo Cameo
2016 Eat Bulaga Lenten Special: Panata Moises
2016–2017 Hay Bahay! Vio
2017 Eat Bulaga Lenten Special: Kaibigan Vito
2017–2018 Bossing & Ai Himself / host
2018 Eat Bulaga Lenten Special: Taray ni Tatay Mario delos Santos
2018–2023 Daddy's Gurl Barak Otogan
2019 Eat Bulaga Lenten Special: Ikigai: Buhay ng Buhay Ko Tonio
2022–present Love, Bosleng and Tali Himself NET 25
2023–present Open 24/7 Elvis Zacharus "Boss Ez" Fontanilla GMA Network
2023–2024 E.A.T. Himself / host TV5

Awards and nominations

Year(s)AwardCategoryResult
Guillermo Mendoza's Entertainment AwardsFive-time Box-Office KingWon
1986, 1987,
1989, 1990,
1992, 1996,
2001, 2003
and 2004
PMPC Star Awards for TelevisionBest Actor in a Comedy SeriesWon
Okay Ka Fairy Ko
Daddy Di Do Du (GMA)
1989, 1990,
1992, 1995,
1997, 1998
2000, 2003,
and 2008
PMPC Star Awards for TelevisionBest Male Variety Show HostWon
Eat Bulaga! (GMA)
2006-07
2009
EnpressBest Male Variety HostWon
Eat Bulaga! (GMA)
2007Guillermo Mendoza's Entertainment AwardsComedy Box Office KingWon
2008GMMSF Box-Office Entertainment AwardsAll Time Box-Office King
Special Award[14]
Won
2009GMMSF Box-Office Entertainment AwardsComedy Box Office King[15]Won
(with Dolphy for Dobol Trobol)
2009 35th Metro Manila Film Festival Best Festival Actor for Ang Darling Kong AswangNominated
2010GMMSF Box-Office Entertainment AwardsComedy Box Office King[16]Won
2010GMEComedy Box Office KingWon
2010Eastwood City Walk Of FameCelebrity InducteeWon
2010-11PMPC Star Awards for TelevisionBest Game Show HostWon
Who Wants To Be A Millionaire? (TV5)
2011-12NSSUUBest Variety Game Show HostWon
Eat Bulaga! (GMA)
2011GMMSF Box-Office Entertainment AwardsBox-Office Kings (with Bong Revilla)[17]Won
Si Agimat at si Enteng Kabisote
201137th Metro Manila Film FestivalBest Festival Actor for Enteng Ng Ina MoNominated
2012GMMSF Box-Office Entertainment AwardsBox-Office Tandem (with Ai Ai delas Alas)[18]Won
Enteng Ng Ina Mo
2013Reader's DigestMost Trusted TV Host for Entertainment and VarietyWon
Eat Bulaga! (GMA)
2013Yahoo! Philippines OMG! AwardsFavorite Male TV Host of the YearWon
Eat Bulaga! (GMA)
201339th Metro Manila Film FestivalBest Festival Actor for My Little BossingsNominated
2014GMMSF Box-Office Entertainment AwardsPhenomenal Stars (with Vice Ganda)[19]Won
My Little Bossings
20166th EdukCircle AwardsMost Influential Film Actor of the Year for My Bebe Love: #KiligPaMoreWon

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. del Carmen, Cristina P. (September 29, 1982). "It Hurts Only When They Laugh". Who.
  4. Rodis, Rodel (March 5, 2014). "The rape of Pepsi Paloma". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Archived from the original on June 27, 2018.
  5. Jimenez-David, Rina (November 3, 2012). "Jimmy Savile and our own 'lovable louts'". Philippine Daily Inquirer.
  6. "_". People's Journal. October 13, 1982.
  7. De Jesus, Topel V. (March 3, 2016). "Tito Sotto denies whitewashing Pepsi Paloma rape case". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved March 4, 2016.
  8. "Tito Sotto: Pepsi Paloma scandal was a 'gimmick'". ABS-CBN News. March 4, 2016. Retrieved March 4, 2016.
  9. "Sotto: Pepsi Paloma rape stories are 'fake news'". ABS-CBN News. Retrieved February 28, 2019.
  10. "INQUIRER.net statement on the Pepsi Paloma stories". July 5, 2018. Retrieved February 28, 2019.
  11. "Beware The Streisand Effect: a Short Explainer for Sen. Tito Sotto". Esquire. June 18, 2018. Retrieved February 28, 2019.
  12. Rodis, Rodel (March 15, 2014). "Was Pepsi Paloma murdered?". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Archived from the original on June 27, 2018.
  13. Smith, Chuck D. (July 20, 2017). "I am the son of a dead '80s bold star". Esquire.
  14. "The 38th Box-Office Entertainment Awards (Part 2)". Pep.ph. Retrieved May 24, 2014.
  15. "40th Box Office Entertainment Awards given out". Pep.ph. Retrieved May 21, 2014.
  16. "ABS-CBN big winner at GMMSF Entertainment Awards". ABS-CBN News. Retrieved May 21, 2014.
  17. "42nd Box-Office Entertainment Awards honors outstanding actors and actresses of 2010". Pep.ph. Retrieved May 21, 2014.
  18. "Vice Ganda named Phenomenal Box-Office Star; Derek Ramsay is Box-Office King while Anne Curtis and Cristine Reyes share Box-Office Queen title" Archived 2015-07-01 at the Wayback Machine. Pep.ph. Retrieved May 20, 2014.
  19. "Star Cinema named most popular film producer". Star Cinema. Retrieved May 19, 2014.
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