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 radio programs of Super Radyo DZBB 594, Saksi sa Dobol B: Sino? and Dobol A sa Dobol B with Arnold Clavio.[1]

Ali Sotto
Born
Maria Aloha Leilani Sancianco Carag

(1961-05-29) May 29, 1961 (age 63)
NationalityFilipino
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

Personal life and career

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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.[2] She is the youngest in the family and has three brothers (Allan, Alvin & AJ).[3]

Sotto was separated from her first husband Maru Sotto, but they remained intimate friends. Today, she is married to her second husband, Omar Bsaies, an American-Tunisian who is a retired foreign diplomat.[4]

As Maru 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. With Maru, they 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".[5]

Filmography

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Film

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

Television

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Year Title Role(s) Network(s)
1988–1991
Magandang Umaga Po
Host
1990
Mongolian Barbecue[6]
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

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Year Title Network
1997–1999 Balitang Bayan Numero Uno: 5am Edition DZRH 666 kHz
1998–2008; 2014–2020 Dobol A sa Dobol B Super Radyo DZBB 594
2014–2020 Saksi sa Dobol B: Sino?
2021–present Ano sa Palagay N'yo? Radyo Agila 1062

Awards

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Year Award Giving Body Award
1991 Gawad Urian Best Supporting Actress (My Other Woman) Nominated[7]
2014 Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption Outstanding Radio Anchor (w/ Arnold Clavio) Won
2017 Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption Best Teleradio Anchor (w/ Arnold Clavio) Won
2018 Trinity University of Asia Best Female AM Broadcast Journalist Won
2019 Gawad Filipino Award Natatanging Filipina sa Larangan ng Pagbababalita at Pagtulong sa Karapatan ng Kababaihan Won
2019 FAMAS Dr Jose R Perez Memorial Award for Journalism Won
2019 Rotary Club of Manila Journalism Award for Radio Female Broadcaster of the Year Won
2019 ALTA Media Icon Awards Best AM Radio Female Personality Won
2019 Gawad Filipino Award Best Radio and TV Program Host Won
2019 Animo Media Choice Awards by De La Salle Dasmariñas Alumni Association, Incorporated AM Female Anchor Nominated[8]
2020 Gawad Lasallianeta Award by De La Salle Araneta University Most Outstanding Radio Broadcaster Nominated[9]
2020 Gawad Filipino Award Bayaning Pilipino Frontliners Award (w/ Joel Reyes Zobel) Won
2022 Gawad Filipino Award Outstanding Radio Female Broadcaster of the Year Won
2022 Gawad Pilipino Icon of the Year 2022 Outstanding Public Affairs Host of the Year Won
2022 Mrs. Universe Philippines Foundation Philippines' Most Exceptional Men & Women 2022 Won
2022 Asia Pacific Luminare Awards Asia’s Outstanding Achievement in the Field of Journalism Won
2023 Gawad Filipino Award Most Empowered Women Won

References

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  1. ^ "Ali Sotto: Home from Mexico - Philstar.com". philstar.com. Retrieved June 19, 2018.
  2. ^ Lanot, Marra PL. "Ali Sotto speaks". Philstar.com. Retrieved April 10, 2023.
  3. ^ Francisco, Butch. "Miko does mom proud even in death". Philstar.com. Retrieved April 10, 2023.
  4. ^ Tomada, Nathalie M. "Ali Sotto: You can surmount grief with love". Philstar.com. Retrieved April 10, 2023.
  5. ^ Francisco, Butch. "How INA came about". Philstar.com. Retrieved April 10, 2023.
  6. ^ "Primetime Sunday". Manila Standard. Standard Publishing, Inc. February 11, 1990. p. 12. Retrieved January 16, 2019.
  7. ^ "Ali Sotto". IMDb. Retrieved April 10, 2023.
  8. ^ Ilaya, Felix. "VOTE: Kapuso journalists and radio personalities, nominated at the "Animo Media Choice Awards 2019"". www.gmanetwork.com. Retrieved April 10, 2023.
  9. ^ "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.
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