Libre: Tito Sotto

VICENTE “Tito” Sotto III is the Senate President succeeding Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III. It is quite a feat for one who kickstarted his political career by using his popularity as TV host and comedian. My first encounter of the name “Tito Sotto” was when he was in the company of the Apo Hiking Society in the Channel 13 gag show, “OK Lang” in 1973. He went on become part of the wacky trio “Tito Vic & Joey” that produced records, made movies and hosted Eat Bulaga. He was never political, until he wrote “Magkaisa” that became one of the anthems (together with Jim Paredes’s “Handog ng Pilipino sa Mundo”) in the aftermath of the 1986 Edsa People Power Revolution.

A grandson of former senator Vicente Sotto (1877–1950) and grandnephew of Senator Filemon Sotto (1872–1966) who were full-bloodied Cebuanos, Tito Sotto did not grow up neither was he educated in Cebu. I doubt if he can speak fluent Bisaya. But he traced his roots to Cebu in his several runs for the Philippine Senate. While the two elder Sottos were prominent as lawyers and writers, Tito is neither. But he now stands above them as the Senate President.

It was a different time and age for the elder Vicente Sotto. He was not only a pioneering publisher (for “Ang Suga,” the first newspaper in Cebuano in 1900), he was, also a playwright and director, a literary writer and most importantly, a patriot who campaigned for Philippine independence. He was described as “recalcitrant, principled Sotto” by his colleagues in the Senate.

Tito Sotto, on the other hand, was first and foremost, an entertainer. He did not fight against the dictator, Ferdinand Marcos. Rather, he thrived during those dark times. A political butterfly of utmost efficiency, he had no loyalty to any party, banking on his showbiz glitter that assured victory.

While other showbiz personalities (like Eddie Ilarde, Lito Lapid, Ramon Revilla and Noli de Castro) seemed to simply sit through their terms in the Senate, Tito Sotto’s longevity may have been inherited from the political stock of his prominent ascendants. With Juan Ponce Enrile as his mentor, Tito is learned in the art of politics, and the Senate presidency is his crowning glory. He joins the ranks of such illustrious names as Manuel L. Quezon, Manuel Roxas, Gil Puyat, Jovito Salonga, Marcelo Fernan and Aquilino “Nene” Pimentel Jr.

The rise of Tito Sotto is not surprising anymore. We already had an actor for a president (Joseph Estrada) and who knows a boxer (Manny Pacquiao) may just follow Erap’s footsteps to Malacañang.

Sadly, the making of laws in the Philippines does not require those with brilliant minds (think of the failed candidacies of Solita Monsod, Jose Concepcion, Haydee Yorac and Nemesio Prudente). Even one who plagiarizes his speech can be the leader in the Senate.

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