Ali Sotto

Last updated

Ali Sotto
Born
Maria Aloha Leilani Sancianco Carag

(1961-05-29) May 29, 1961 (age 64)
Nationality Filipino
Other namesAloha, Ali Sotto
Occupation(s)Actress, radio broadcaster, news anchor, segment host
Years active1987–present
Agents
Spouse(s)Marcelino "Maru" Sotto Jr. (annulled)
Omar Bsaies (current)
Children2, including Miko

Ali Sotto (Tagalog pronunciation: [ˈsɔtɔ] ; born Maria Aloha Leilani Sancianco Carag; May 29, 1961) is a Filipino actress, radio broadcaster and news anchor and former singer. Her previous screen name was Aloha and now Ali Sotto. She was popularly heard on Net 25 programs like are: Ano Sa Palagay N'yo? With Pat P-Daza and Mata Ng Agila Primetime with Alex Santos.

Contents

Personal life and career

Ali was named Aloha by her parents as they married in Hawaii. Her mother was a professor in Food and Nutrition at the University of Santo Tomas. Her father was with the US Navy until 1969. [1] She is the youngest in the family and has three brothers (Allan, Alvin & AJ). [2]

Sotto separated from her first husband Maru Sotto, but they remained intimate friends. She is now married to her second husband, Omar Bsaies, an American-Tunisian who is a retired diplomat. [3]

As Sotto's wife, Helen Gamboa and Dina Bonnevie were her sisters-in-law and the Sotto brothers were her brothers-in-law: Val, Tito and Vic Sotto. She and Maru had two children, Chino Sotto and late actor Miko Sotto.

Ali was discovered by George Canseco at the Inter-University Songfest at FEU in November 1976.

She was a host of the television shows Ali! and Metro, which was the sole public service program at that time on television, and the only public affiliate program of ABC (now 5) that earns. She used to co-host Sino? with Mike Enriquez and Arnold Clavio from 9:00 AM to 10:00 AM and Dobol A sa Dobol B , a DZBB program, with Clavio every Monday to Friday from 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM until 2020.

It was an exception that TV hosts could invite successive showbiz names as their guests in just a few months. These were Vilma Santos, Maricel Soriano, Sharon Cuneta, Susan Roces and Dolphy. She was the only one who was courageous enough to ask questions directly to Susan Roces if she believed Fernando Poe Jr. had an illegitimate child.

After her son, Miko, passed away in December 2003, she co-founded INA (Inang Naulila sa Anak) Foundation, a foundation whose mission statement is "to provide psycho-social support to its members and other mothers who have also lost their children through projects and programs aimed at helping them move on from a place of grief to a place of hope – empowering them to reach out to others". [4]

Filmography

Film

YearTitleRole(s)
1987 Kung Aagawin Mo ang Lahat sa Akin Joyce
1987 Jack & Jill Delia
1987 Walang Karugtong ang Nakaraan Sandra
1991 Maging Sino Ka Man Tala
1992 Boboy Salonga: Batang Tondo Dolor Salonga
1994 The Maggie dela Riva Story (God... Why Me?) Ms. Marcos
1995 The Flor Contemplacion Story Alicia Ramos, Philippine Ambassador to Singapore
2014 Where I Am King

Television

YearTitleRole(s)
1988–1991
Magandang Umaga Po
Host
1990
Mongolian Barbecue [5]
Guest
1993–1994
Co-host
1995–1998
Host
1998–1999
1999
Karina Latada
2000
GMA Mini-Series: Umulan Man o Umaraw
Doña Luisa
2004–2006
Anchor
2011
Host
2011–2012
2017–2020
2021–present
A.S.P.N: Ano sa Palagay N'yo'?
2024–present
Anchor

Radio

YearTitle
1996–1998 Damdaming Bayan
1997–1999 Balitang Bayan Numero Uno: 5am Edition
1998–2008; 2014–2020 Dobol A sa Dobol B
2014–2020 Saksi sa Dobol B: Sino?
2021–2024Ano sa Palagay N'yo?

Awards and nominations

YearAward Giving BodyAwardResult
1991Gawad UrianBest Supporting Actress (My Other Woman)Nominated [6]
2014Volunteers Against Crime and CorruptionOutstanding Radio Anchor (w/ Arnold Clavio)Won
2017Volunteers Against Crime and CorruptionBest Teleradio Anchor (w/ Arnold Clavio)Won
2018Trinity University of AsiaBest Female AM Broadcast JournalistWon
2019Gawad Filipino AwardNatatanging Filipina sa Larangan ng Pagbababalita at Pagtulong sa Karapatan ng KababaihanWon
2019FAMASDr Jose R Perez Memorial Award for JournalismWon
2019Rotary Club of ManilaJournalism Award for Radio Female Broadcaster of the YearWon
2019ALTA Media Icon AwardsBest AM Radio Female PersonalityWon
2019Gawad Filipino AwardBest Radio and TV Program HostWon
2019Animo Media Choice Awards by De La Salle Dasmariñas Alumni Association, IncorporatedAM Female AnchorNominated [7]
2020Gawad Lasallianeta Award by De La Salle Araneta UniversityMost Outstanding Radio BroadcasterNominated [8]
2020Gawad Filipino AwardBayaning Pilipino Frontliners Award (w/ Joel Reyes Zobel)Won
2022Gawad Filipino AwardOutstanding Radio Female Broadcaster of the YearWon
2022Gawad Pilipino Icon of the Year 2022Outstanding Public Affairs Host of the YearWon
2022Mrs. Universe Philippines FoundationPhilippines' Most Exceptional Men & Women 2022Won
2022Asia Pacific Luminare AwardsAsia's Outstanding Achievement in the Field of JournalismWon
2023Gawad Filipino AwardMost Empowered WomenWon

References

  1. Lanot, Marra PL. "Ali Sotto speaks". Philstar.com. Retrieved April 10, 2023.
  2. Francisco, Butch. "Miko does mom proud even in death". Philstar.com. Retrieved April 10, 2023.
  3. Tomada, Nathalie M. "Ali Sotto: You can surmount grief with love". Philstar.com. Retrieved April 10, 2023.
  4. Francisco, Butch. "How INA came about". Philstar.com. Retrieved April 10, 2023.
  5. "Primetime Sunday". Manila Standard . Standard Publishing, Inc. February 11, 1990. p. 12. Retrieved January 16, 2019.
  6. "Ali Sotto". IMDb. Retrieved April 10, 2023.
  7. Ilaya, Felix. "VOTE: Kapuso journalists and radio personalities, nominated at the "Animo Media Choice Awards 2019"". www.gmanetwork.com. Retrieved April 10, 2023.
  8. "Gawad Lasallianeta - Who is your most trusted AM Radio Broadcaster? 📰🤩🗞️ Make your voices heard!📣 Share & Comment under this post your winner! Be our top fan and receive limited editions of Gawad Lasallianeta Lasallian merchadise! and we will choose some to receive FREE TICKETS to the event on Jan 27, 2020! De La Salle Araneta University is proud to present the 3rd GAWAD LASALLIANETA nominees for the Most Outstanding AM RADIO STATION in the country! 🏆 👍 Like and follow our page to be updated! More than 50 categories will be posted until Monday! 🏆 The 3rd Gawad Lasallianeta Awarding Ceremony will be held at the DLSAU campus on Jan. 27, 2020. Animo! 🎉". www.facebook.com. Retrieved April 10, 2023.