Tito Sotto

Tito Sotto
Sotto in 2018
23rd President of the Senate of the Philippines
In office
May 22, 2018 – June 30, 2022
Preceded byAquilino Pimentel III
Succeeded byMigz Zubiri
Senate Majority Leader
In office
July 25, 2016 – May 21, 2018
Preceded byAlan Peter Cayetano
Succeeded byMigz Zubiri
In office
July 26, 2010 – July 22, 2013
Preceded byMigz Zubiri
Succeeded byGregorio Honasan (acting)
Senate Minority Leader
In office
July 28, 2014 – August 24, 2015
Preceded byJuan Ponce Enrile
Succeeded byJuan Ponce Enrile
In office
June 3, 2002 – June 30, 2004
Preceded byAquilino Pimentel, Jr.
Succeeded byAquilino Pimentel, Jr.
Senator of the Philippines
In office
June 30, 2010 – June 30, 2022
In office
June 30, 1992 – June 30, 2004
Chairman of the Dangerous Drugs Board
In office
July 2008 – November 2009
PresidentGloria Macapagal Arroyo
Preceded byAnselmo Avenido Jr.
Succeeded byAntonio Villar Jr.
12th Vice Mayor of Quezon City
In office
February 2, 1988 – January 1, 1992
MayorBrigido Simon, Jr.
Preceded byAmado Zabala (OIC)
Succeeded byAlicia Herrera (OIC)
Personal details
Born
Vicente Castelo Sotto III

(1948-08-24) August 24, 1948 (age 76)
Manila, Philippines
Political partyNPC (2007–present)
Other political
affiliations
LDP (1988–2007)
Spouse
(m. 1969)
[1]
Children4 (including Gian and Ciara)
RelativesSotto family
Residence(s)Quezon City, Metro Manila
Alma materColegio de San Juan de Letran (BA)
Signature
NicknameTito
Military service
Allegiance Philippines
Branch/servicePhilippine Army
Philippine Constabulary
Years of service2013–present (PAR)
1998–2013 (PCR)
Rank Lieutenant Colonel
Major
Commands 1502nd Infantry Brigade (Ready Reserve)
Musical career
Also known asTito Sen
GenresOPM, Manila sound
InstrumentsVocals
Years active1960–1988
Sports career
Country Philippines
SportBowling
Medal record
Representing  Philippines
Men's Bowling
Asian Games
Bronze medal – third place 1978 Bangkok Trios

Vicente Castelo Sotto III (Tagalog pronunciation: [ˈsɔtɔ]; born August 24, 1948), professionally known as Tito Sotto and also known as Tito Sen or Tito XN, is a Filipino politician, actor, entertainer and athlete who served as the 23rd Senate President from 2018 to 2022. Before that, he had two stints each as Senate Majority Leader and Senate Minority Leader. He served a total of four terms in the Senate: 1992 to 2004 and 2010 to 2022, tying the record for the longest-serving Senator with Lorenzo Tañada and Franklin Drilon. In between his stints in the Senate, he led the Dangerous Drugs Board for a year. He became the Vice Mayor of Quezon City from 1988 to 1992, and later unsuccessfully ran for vice president in the 2022 elections as Panfilo Lacson's running mate.

Beyond politics, Sotto is an accomplished songwriter, known for founding the iconic musical group VST & Co. alongside his brothers Vic and Val Sotto, which is considered one of the best Filipino bands of all-time and the "pioneer of the Manila sound".

In television, he is known as a co-host of Eat Bulaga!, the longest-running variety show in Philippine television history,[2] and has appeared in numerous television shows and films as an actor. He is colloquially dubbed as "Tito Sen" by audience viewers.

As an athlete, Sotto was also a member of the Philippine national bowling team, representing the country several times at the AMF World Cup. He notably won a bronze medal in the 1978 Asian Games.[2]

  1. ^ "Tito Sotto, Helen Gamboa celebrate 50th wedding anniversary".
  2. ^ a b "Vicente C. Sotto III". senate.gov.ph. Senate of the Philippines. Retrieved August 22, 2012.