Vic Sotto

Children6, including Oyo Boy and VicoRelativesSotto family

Marvic Valentin "Vic" Castelo Sotto (born April 28, 1954), popularly known as Bossing, is a Filipino actor, comedian, and television personality, Prolific in film and television in the Philippines since the 1970s, he is known for playing comedic roles in television sitcoms and films. he is also one of the three pioneer hosts of Eat Bulaga! since 1979. and also the member of the three comedic trio Tito Sotto and Joey De Leon (TVJ), and also hosts E.A.T., after six months to bringing back on its original title.

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 hosts E.A.T..

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 and background

Marvic Valentin Castelo Sotto was born on April 28, 1954, to Marcelino Antonio Ojeda Sotto and Herminia Castelo Sotto. He has three brothers namely Val Sotto (b. 1945), Tito Sotto (b. 1948) and Marcelino Antonio Sotto Jr. (b. 1951). He finished his secondary education 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^[3] and have two children.^[4]

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.^[5] 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^[6]—Tito Sotto had allegedly placed a pistol on the table in front of Paloma when he went to talk to her.^[7]

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.^[8]

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.^[9][10] In 2018, Sotto requested The Philippine Inquirer to remove published articles available online mentioning the Pepsi Paloma Case, claiming them to be "fake news"^[11] and damaging to his current reputation as a Senator.^[12][13]

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.^[14] Dela Cruz was murdered years later.^[15]

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
	Lab en Kisses	Lab	OctoArts Films, GMA Films
1997	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 Special	Himself	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
TBA	Petrang Kabisote	Enteng Kabisote	OctoArts Films, M-Zet TV Productions, Inc., Star Cinema & Viva Films

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)	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[16]	Won
2009	GMMSF Box-Office Entertainment Awards	Comedy Box Office King[17]	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[18]	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)[19]	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)[20]	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)[21]	Won My Little Bossings
2016	6th EdukCircle Awards	Most Influential Film Actor of the Year for My Bebe Love: #KiligPaMore	Won

References

External links

• Vic Sotto at IMDb