Tito Sotto | |||||||||||||||
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23rd President of the Senate of the Philippines | |||||||||||||||
In office May 22, 2018 – June 30, 2022 | |||||||||||||||
Preceded by | Aquilino Pimentel III | ||||||||||||||
Succeeded by | Migz Zubiri | ||||||||||||||
Senate Majority Leader | |||||||||||||||
In office July 25, 2016 – May 21, 2018 | |||||||||||||||
Preceded by | Alan Peter Cayetano | ||||||||||||||
Succeeded by | Migz Zubiri | ||||||||||||||
In office July 26, 2010 – July 22, 2013 | |||||||||||||||
Preceded by | Migz Zubiri | ||||||||||||||
Succeeded by | Gregorio Honasan (acting) | ||||||||||||||
Senate Minority Leader | |||||||||||||||
In office July 28, 2014 – August 24, 2015 | |||||||||||||||
Preceded by | Juan Ponce Enrile | ||||||||||||||
Succeeded by | Juan Ponce Enrile | ||||||||||||||
In office June 3, 2002 – June 30, 2004 | |||||||||||||||
Preceded by | Aquilino Pimentel, Jr. | ||||||||||||||
Succeeded by | Aquilino 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 | |||||||||||||||
President | Gloria Macapagal Arroyo | ||||||||||||||
Preceded by | Anselmo Avenido Jr. | ||||||||||||||
Succeeded by | Antonio Villar Jr. | ||||||||||||||
12th Vice Mayor of Quezon City | |||||||||||||||
In office February 2, 1988 – January 1, 1992 | |||||||||||||||
Mayor | Brigido Simon, Jr. | ||||||||||||||
Preceded by | Amado Zabala (OIC) | ||||||||||||||
Succeeded by | Alicia Herrera (OIC) | ||||||||||||||
Personal details | |||||||||||||||
Born | Vicente Castelo Sotto III August 24, 1948 Manila, Philippines | ||||||||||||||
Political party | NPC (2007–present) | ||||||||||||||
Other political affiliations | LDP (1988–2007) | ||||||||||||||
Spouse | [1] | ||||||||||||||
Children | 4 (including Gian and Ciara) | ||||||||||||||
Relatives | Sotto family | ||||||||||||||
Residence(s) | Quezon City, Metro Manila | ||||||||||||||
Alma mater | Colegio de San Juan de Letran (BA) | ||||||||||||||
Signature | |||||||||||||||
Nickname | Tito | ||||||||||||||
Military service | |||||||||||||||
Allegiance | Philippines | ||||||||||||||
Branch/service | Philippine Army Philippine Constabulary | ||||||||||||||
Years of service | 2013–present (PAR) 1998–2013 (PCR) | ||||||||||||||
Rank | Lieutenant Colonel Major | ||||||||||||||
Commands | 1502nd Infantry Brigade (Ready Reserve) | ||||||||||||||
Musical career | |||||||||||||||
Also known as | Tito Sen | ||||||||||||||
Genres | OPM, Manila sound | ||||||||||||||
Instruments | Vocals | ||||||||||||||
Years active | 1960–1988 | ||||||||||||||
Sports career | |||||||||||||||
Country | Philippines | ||||||||||||||
Sport | Bowling | ||||||||||||||
Medal record
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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]