Tito Sotto facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Tito Sotto
Official portrait, 2025
29th & 32nd President of the Senate of the Philippines
In office September 8, 2025 – May 11, 2026
Preceded by	Francis Escudero
Succeeded by	Alan Peter Cayetano
In office May 22, 2018 – June 30, 2022
Preceded by	Koko Pimentel
Succeeded by	Migz Zubiri
Senate Minority Leader
Incumbent
Assumed office May 11, 2026
Preceded by	Alan Peter Cayetano
In office July 28, 2025 – September 8, 2025
Preceded by	Koko Pimentel
Succeeded by	Alan Peter Cayetano
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	Nene Pimentel
Succeeded by	Nene Pimentel
Senator of the Philippines
Incumbent
Assumed office June 30, 2025
In office June 30, 2010 – June 30, 2022
In office June 30, 1992 – June 30, 2004
Senate Majority Leader
In office July 25, 2016 – May 21, 2018
Preceded by	Alan Peter Cayetano
Succeeded by	Juan Miguel Zubiri
In office July 26, 2010 – July 22, 2013
Preceded by	Juan Miguel Zubiri
Succeeded by	Gregorio Honasan (acting)
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 (1948-08-24) August 24, 1948 (age 77) Manila, Philippines
Political party	NPC (2007–present)
Spouse	Helen Gamboa ​ (m. 1969)​
Children	4 (including Lala, Gian and Ciara)
Relatives	Sotto family
Alma mater	Colegio de San Juan de Letran (BA)
Occupation	Politician record producer composer songwriter television host actor
Signature
Military service
Allegiance	Philippines
Branch/service	Philippine Army
Rank	Lieutenant Colonel
Commands	1502nd Infantry Brigade (Ready Reserve)
Musical career
Also known as	Tito Sen
Genres	OPM, Manila sound
Instruments	Vocals
Years active	1960–1988
Labels	Vicor
Tito Sotto Sport Country  Philippines Sport Bowling Medal record Representing  Philippines Men's Bowling Asian Games Bronze 1978 Bangkok Trios

Vicente "Tito" Castelo Sotto III (born August 24, 1948) is a well-known Filipino politician and television personality. He served as the President of the Senate of the Philippines from 2025 to 2026. He also held this important position earlier, from 2018 to 2022.

Sotto has been a senator since 2025. He also served as a senator from 1992 to 2004 and from 2010 to 2022. He is known as the longest-serving Philippine senator ever, having been elected for five terms that were not all in a row.

During his time in the Senate, he was a Senate Majority Leader and a Senate Minority Leader. Between his terms as senator, he led a government agency that helped keep people safe from harmful substances for a year. He was also the Vice Mayor of Quezon City from 1988 to 1992. In 2022, he ran for Vice President but did not win.

Outside of politics, Tito Sotto is a talented songwriter. He started the famous musical group VST & Co. with his brothers, Vic and Val Sotto. This group is seen as one of the best Filipino bands and helped create the "Manila sound" music style. On television, he is a co-host of Eat Bulaga!, which is the longest-running variety show in Philippine TV history. He has also acted in many TV shows and movies. People often call him "Tito Sen."

Tito Sotto was also a skilled athlete. He was part of the Philippine national bowling team and represented his country in several competitions. He even won a bronze medal in bowling at the 1978 Asian Games.

Early Life and School Days

Vicente Castelo Sotto III was born on August 24, 1948. His parents were Marcelino Antonio "Nonong" O. Sotto Sr. and Dr. Herminia Castelo-Sotto. His mother came from Cabanatuan City. He has three siblings: Valmar, Marvic Valentin (who is also known as Vic Sotto), and Marcelino Antonio C. Sotto, Jr.

Sotto's grandfather, Vicente Y. Sotto, Sr., was also a senator. He was the main author of the Press Freedom Law. His granduncle, Filemon Y. Sotto, also served as a senator. Filemon helped write the 1935 Constitution of the Philippines.

Tito Sotto attended Colegio de San Juan de Letran in Intramuros, Manila. He completed his elementary, high school, and college education there. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree, focusing on English.

Entertainment Career

Sotto began his career in the 1960s. He joined a band called Tilt Down Men, which included his brother Val. The band played songs by groups like The Dave Clark Five. Later, he became the vice president of Vicor Music Corporation.

In 1977, he was the singer for a group called Bluejeans for a short time. He also wrote the music for Anthony Castelo's hit song "Balatkayo." He then formed the Manila sound group VST & Company. The initials "VST" came from his own name. One of his most famous songs is "Magkaisa," which became an anthem for the 1986 People Power Revolution.

Public Service in Quezon City

Sotto served as the Vice Mayor of Quezon City from 1988 to 1992. During this time, he started the Vice-Mayors' League of the Philippines and was its first president. He was also named Vice Chairman of Citizens' Drugwatch, a group that helped citizens stay safe from harmful substances.

Serving in the Senate (1992–2004)

Sotto was elected as a Senator of the Philippines in the 1992 Philippine Senate election. He received almost 12 million votes, which was the highest number of votes. This made him the third person in his family to become a senator. His grandfather, Vicente Y. Sotto, Sr., and granduncle, Felimon Y. Sotto, were also senators.

He served as the Assistant Majority Floor Leader. He was also a member of the Commission on Appointments and chaired several Senate committees. In the 1998 Philippine Senate election, Sotto was re-elected to the Senate, finishing in third place.

From April 30 to May 1, 2001, he participated in public gatherings to show support for Joseph Estrada. In 2007, he ran for another term as senator but was not successful.

Return to the Senate (2010–2022)

In late 2009, Sotto resigned from his role as chairman of a government agency that helped keep people safe from harmful substances. He did this to run for senator again. He ran under the Nationalist People's Coalition party. He campaigned on his own and was notably supported by Kris Aquino.

After the 2010 Philippine Senate election, Sotto won a seat. He placed ninth among the twelve winning candidates with about twelve million votes. This marked his third term as senator.

When the 15th Congress began in July 2010, his fellow senators elected him as the Majority Leader. He also became the Chairman of the Committee on Rules. In these roles, he managed the Senate's legislative work during sessions. He was also one of the senators who voted to remove Chief Justice Renato Corona from his position in May 2012.

Sotto in 2012

In July 2013, Sotto resigned as the Majority Leader. This happened after Senator Juan Ponce Enrile, who was Senate President, also resigned from his position. Following Sotto's resignation, Senator Gregorio Honasan became the acting Majority Leader.

When the 16th Congress started in July 2013, Sotto joined the new Senate minority group. His colleagues chose him to be the Deputy Floor Leader. In July 2014, after a change in leadership, Sotto became the acting Minority Floor Leader. Senator Enrile later returned to his position as Minority Floor Leader in August 2015.

In 2013, Sotto proposed a bill that would require all employees, both in government and private companies, to receive a 14th month of annual salary.

Senate President (2018–2022)

Sotto in 2016

Sotto was re-elected in the 2016 Philippine Senate election. He received 17.2 million votes, placing third among the twelve contested Senate seats. In July 2016, at the start of the 17th Congress, Sotto was again elected as Majority Leader. He also became chairman of the Senate committee on rules and the Senate committee on ethics and privileges. As a member of the NPC, Sotto was part of the "supermajority" coalition.

At the start of the 18th Congress in 2019, Sotto became the third-highest-ranking official in the Philippine government. He was re-elected as Senate President. Senator Panfilo Lacson administered his oath. In his speech, Sotto said that the Senate would remain independent but would also work with the Duterte administration. Senators Ralph Recto, Migz Zubiri, and Franklin Drilon also regained their leadership posts.

2022 Vice Presidential Campaign

Sotto speaking at a campaign rally at Quezon Memorial Circle, Quezon City on April 9, 2022

In March 2021, Sotto mentioned that he and fellow Senator Panfilo Lacson were being encouraged to run together. By June 7, Sotto declared that he would "definitely" run for vice president if Panfilo Lacson decided to run for president. On July 20, Sotto and Lacson announced they would run as a team in the 2022 elections. Their official campaign launch was on September 8.

Sotto and Lacson's campaign focused on bringing back trust in the government. They also aimed to improve the lives of Filipinos. Their plans included working against corruption, improving the national budget, and making government services more digital.

Sotto placed third in the election results for Vice President. He lost to Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte. The next day, Sotto accepted the results, saying, "The people have made their choice. I accept the will of the People." His running mate, Lacson, also lost his bid for president.

Return to the Senate (2025–2026)

Sotto being proclaimed as a senator-elect on May 17, 2025

After his 2022 vice presidential campaign, Sotto decided to run for the Senate again. He filed his certificate of candidacy on October 2, 2024, for the 2025 midterm elections. He ran under the Alyansa para sa Bagong Pilipinas party. In the May 2025 elections, Sotto was elected as one of the twelve senators.

Minority Leader (2025)

Official portrait, 2025

When the 20th Congress started on July 28, 2025, Sotto ran for Senate President. However, he was defeated by Francis Escudero. After this, Sotto became the Senate Minority Leader.

Senate President (2025–2026)

Sotto's Commission on Appointments portrait for the 20th Congress

On September 8, 2025, the position of Senate President was declared vacant. Sotto was nominated by Juan Miguel Zubiri and was elected as the new Senate President. Fifteen senators voted for him.

Sotto promised to continue Senate investigations into how government projects were managed. He said the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee would proceed to help create new laws.

On May 11, 2026, there was a change in Senate leadership. Sotto was replaced as Senate President by Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano.

Political Views

Local media has described Sotto as a conservative. This is because of his views on social issues, which are influenced by his Roman Catholic faith.

In 2013, Sotto joined the military as a reservist in the Philippine Army. He holds the rank of Lieutenant Colonel.

Personal Life

Sotto is married to Helen Gamboa, who is a beauty queen, actress, and singer. They married on September 22, 1969. They have four children, including Gian Carlo and Ciara. They also have eleven grandchildren. Sotto is a devoted Catholic.

His nephews include actors Oyo Boy Sotto and Miko Sotto. The singer-actress Sharon Cuneta is also his niece.

In the 2010 Quezon City local elections, his son Gian Carlo was elected as a councilor in Quezon City. He served three terms before becoming the city's vice mayor in the 2019 Quezon City local elections. His daughter Diorella Maria "Lala" was elected as a councilor in Quezon City. She was later appointed chairperson of the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board in 2022. His nephews Vico Sotto and Viktor Eriko "Wahoo" Sotto were elected as mayor of Pasig and councilor of Parañaque, respectively.

As of 2016, he was the chairman of the Philippine Bowling Federation (PBF). Sotto also enjoys playing golf and has won several tournaments.

Electoral History

Filmography

Film

As Actor

As Composer Only

Television

Notes

See also

In Spanish: Tito Sotto para niños

• Pepsi Paloma
• Spoliarium (Eraserheads song)