Senator Tito Sotto on P-Noy and Miriam's hair, and the rift between Helen and Sharon

Life is tragedy when seen in close-up, but a comedy in long-shot. — Charlie Chaplin

You can turn painful situations around through laughter. — Bill Cosby

Senate Majority Leader Vicente “Tito” Sotto III is a veteran actor, comedian, musician, TV host, athlete and legislator who previously served as vice mayor of Quezon City. As sportsman, he is a class A golfer and formerly an award-winning bowler. As celebrity endorser of the high-end hair care chain Svenson for already one year, he said he also wishes to encourage the public to take care of their hair because it is part of our health.

This writer first sat down for a chat with him for the first time in 2010 about politics, with his niece Sharon Cuneta Pangilinan introducing both of us. When I remarked, “I didn’t know your uncle’s intelligent pala,” Sharon laughed out loud and replied: “Of course! My uncle’s a comedian, and most comedians are smart.”

Senator Tito Sotto recently gave STAR an exclusive interview. Excerpts:

PHILIPPINE STAR: Are you already losing your hair, or is your hair genuine?

TITO SOTTO: (laughs) Of course, my hair is genuine. Many people have this misconception that people who go to Svenson are limited only to those needing hair transplants or hair weaving. In my case, and for many of their clients, we go to Svenson for prevention of hair loss and for maintenance. Kasi doon mag-uumpisa, pag naninipis na ang buhok, doon papunta na iyan sa hair weaving at hair transplanting (Because that’s the start, the thinning of hair, it goes towards eventually needing hair weaving and hair transplanting).

Do you recommend that President Noynoy also go to Svenson for his hair needs?

 (Smiles) Ano ito eh... it’s a very personal thing, hair, so I’d rather not comment on that, except to talk about my own hair. Aside from hair being very personal, anong tawag natin sa maselan?

Sensitive?

Yes, it’s a sensitive and personal matter.

Hair there and everywhere: Svenson takes care of Tito Sotto’s hair, including his mustache and his beard. Photos by JOEY VIDUYA

How do you stand now that it seems P-Noy’s Liberal Party will compete with the new coalition of Vice President Jojo Binay and ex-President Erap Estrada in the election next year? Will you move to any of their coalitions?

We’re friends with both groups, that’s the good thing about being part of the Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC). Wala kaming masamang tinapay sa kanila (We’re no trouble for them). As long as we’re doing our work in public service well, we have no problems with either camp. I’m staying with NPC.

On hair and politics, I’m just curious, is the hair of 88-year-old Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile genuine?

Oo, it’s real.

Why are you so certain?

I know, because I see him every day.

Any comments on the Maoist hairstyle of Justice Serafin Cuevas?

Style niya ‘yon (that’s his style).

Were you surprised at the hairstyle of Navotas Congressman Toby Tiangco, when he testified during the impeachment trial?

 No, no, I actually think it’s cute. It’s ‘in,’ kasi iyan ang in ngayon (because that’s what is in nowadays). Before, a few years ago when I was in the US, I saw the actor Harrison Ford on a TV show at ang gulo-gulo ng buhok niya, akala mo bagong gising lang (his hair was a mess, as if he had just gotten up from bed), but actually that was his hairstyle then. There are some people who prefer certain hairstyles.

How come you and your brother Vic Sotto are such good comedians, so popular all these many years?

(Smiles) You know, comedy is a very high form of art. Did you know that William Shakespeare was a comedian? Not many people know this. We should not, you should not misconstrue it directly with comic...

What do you mean?

Iba ang comical sa comedy. Ang comedian (being comical is different from comedy, a comedian), he or she need not have to be a comic. High-fallutin’ writers can do comedy without being a comic.

How would you classify Dolphy, is he a comic or a comedian?

Dolphy can be both, ganoon din kami (that’s what we are also) — Tito, Vic and Joey — we can be both comedians and comics. That is probably the secret why Dolphy has reached and achieved what he has all these many years. Like us also, we’re both. Unlike others, who concentrate only on being comics and not on the art of comedy.

You’re a comedian and comic, but without the TV cameras, are you basically a happy or sad person?

Ang hirap sagutin iyan ah (That’s difficult to answer)... I would probably gauge myself as happy siguro (maybe). Yes, I’d classify myself as a happy person, although I can also be serious. I’m a happy person, because I find lighter moments on the serious things that happen....

On the serious and quite contentious impeachment trial, what lighter side can you see there?

The way some people are conducting themselves, without naming names...merong mga nagpapatawa, merong nakakatawa ang mga suot, meron ding nakakapagtataka ang mga buhok (There are those who are funny, there are those who are funny in  their clothes, there are also those with puzzling hair styles) (laughs).

How is the hair of Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago?

It’s natural hair, at makapal buhok niya (and her hair is quite thick).

How about her humor and sarcasm?

Malakas ang comedy ni Miriam (The comedy of Miriam is strong).

What about Senator Lito Lapid, he just stands up and the people in the gallery would already be laughing?

Senator Lito Lapid  takes everything in stride. He’s actually a very intelligent person, it’s just so happens that he doesn’t have a good command of the English language, or to be more precise, he may not have a good command of English but he’s intelligent.

Your comments on our many politicos who seem to be clowns?

(Laughs) Did you notice nga, gusto ng maraming mga pulitiko magpatawa (actually, many politicos want to make people laugh), because they know that through comedy, you can get your message through without being offensive.

On a really more serious topic, my last interview with Sharon Cuneta seemed to have sparked a public rift between her and her aunt, your wife Helen Gamboa. Have they reconciled?

Ok na sila (they’re okay already), since last week.

What about on your side, are you okay with Sharon?

Hindi naman ako nagkaroon ng problema (I never really had any problem) with Sharon ever. It was my wife Helen Gamboa and Sharon, they had a miscommunication, it was just a misunderstanding.

When did the reconcilation start? Who initiated it, your daughter Ciara?

They were texting each other in the last few days, so they’re okay. Sharon initiated it, she’s always been close to my daughters, especially to Ciara.

How do you see or feel about your niece Sharon Cuneta, please describe her?

Sharon, she’s my eldest daughter.

What do you mean exactly?

Ano ba tingin ng tao pag sinabi ko panganay kong anak si Sharon? Di ba ibig sabihin niyan mabait, maganda (What does it mean when I say I consider Sharon my eldest child? It means she’s good, beautiful), it says it all, no more words needed.

What about her husband Senator Kiko Pangilinan?

Okay lang kami (We’re just okay). We come from different political parties, but we can live with each other (laughs).

What about your grandfather and namesake Senator Vicente Sotto, his face in old photos look like he was stern and also at the same time comical. Did he look more like you or your brother Vic?

I think our grandfather looked more like Vic. You know, our grandfather was the best journalist of his time. In fact, he was the best journalist/lawyer. They used to call him as “the lawyer of lost causes” because they’d usually run to him for legal assistance if their cases seemed lost or hopeless.

Your grandfather and his brother Filemon Sotto were both senators, do you think your brother Vic has plans to enter politics next year?

Wala pa, nag-iisip pa (None yet, he’s still thinking it over).

Your grandfather’s mother was a Chinese mestiza surnamed Yap?

Yes, my grandfather’s mother was Pascuala Yap, she was a humble fish vendor in Carbon market of Cebu. My grandfather’s dad Marcelino Sotto was a cargador (cargo handler or laborer) in the pier of Cebu. So when my grandfather and his brother entered politics in the colonial era, the traditional elites of Cebu looked down upon them, because they came from poor families.

But your lolo became an outstanding legislator and was a Renaissance man too?

Yes , he was not only a statesman who was courageous, he also wrote plays. He had five newspapers, he built an empire.

Was he was a comedian too?

Yes, lolo wrote a zarzuela musical comedy entitled Elena. He also wrote a Cebuano play entitled Mamming.

You yourself composed songs, what are your favorites?

My favorites are the Magkaisa song of the Edsa revolution, and also Balat Kayo.

Last question, if you had not gone into showbiz and politics, what would you have been?

I wanted to be a sportsman.

You’ve excelled in bowling and now golf, but if you were an athlete, what sport would you want to really focus on or to devote your whole life to?

(Laughs) Kung saan padparin ng hangin (Wherever the wind blows me).

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