All About Lala Sotto, Tito Sotto's Daughter and MTRCB Chairperson
The MTRCB has been getting a lot of heat recently in light of the controversy surrounding Ion Perez and Vice Ganda. The internet is big mad, with one side condemning It's Showtime and another bringing TV5's E.A.T. into the whole thing. And at the center of it all is Diorella Maria "Lala" Sotto-Antonio, Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB) chairperson and Vicente "Tito" Sotto III's daughter.
Here's what to know about Sotto.
Sotto is the daughter of Tito Sotto and Helen Gamboa.
Sotto is the daughter of former senate president Tito Sotto and veteran actress Helen Gamboa. She has three siblings Romina, Gian, and Ciara. She attended Poveda Learning Center in Quezon City, and studied Consular Diplomatic Affairs at the De La Salle–College of Saint Benilde in Manila. She then took executive education at the Kennedy School of Government and Harvard University.
Sotto was appointed MTRCB chair in 2022.
President Bongbong Marcos personally picked Sotto as MTRCB chair. Sotto took her oath of office in Malacañang on July 7, 2023, succeeding Jeremiah Jaro who led the board since October 2021.
A PEP report details how Sotto got appointed as MTRCB chair:
"I got the call from Malacañang. I was so surprised. Because tinawagan nila ako from the Office of the Presidential Management Staff asking me to attend the July 5 oathtaking. Can you imagine how I felt? I was positive for COVID. So, hiyang-hiya naman ako to tell them na I couldn’t make it because I had to complete the seven-day quarantine that the Quezon City health department gave me and it was to be completed on July 5. So, they called again few days later and they asked me attend the July 7 oathtaking at doon ako nakapunta, finally."
"I was asked to submit a CV [curriculum vitae] form prior to that. But, hindi ko akalain na bigla na lang tatawagan at sasabihin na mag-o-oathtaking ka na as MTRCB chair. So, nagulat talaga ako. Pero like I said, while this is a big surprise to me, a pleasant surprise to me, I’m ready to take on the job.”
Sotto is married to Mike Antonio.
There is very little information about Sotto's family life, save for the fact that she has a daughter named Helena and a son named Marciano.
The Philippine Star reports that she was previously married to Vince de Leon who she met while studying in De La Salle–College of Saint Benilde. They wed at the Santuario de San Antonio in Forbes Park, and had their reception at the NBC Tent. Attendees included former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, Sharon Cuneta, Nene Pimentel, Lucio Tan, and more.
She has spoken out about her parents Tito Sotto and Helen Gamboa's kiss on E.A.T.
In an interview on Cristy Ferminute, Sotto addressed things saying, "Nakarating din po sa amin na meron pong konting mga reklamo na nagsasabi na ako raw po ay unfair, hindi patas, dahil hindi ko raw pinapatawag ang E.A.T. Wala pong dahilan para ipatawag ang E.A.T. dahil hindi po sila deserving of a ‘notice to appear.’ Ang binigyan namin ng ‘notice to appear’ ay ang programang Showtime that is Rated PG [Parental Guidance]. It is a live noontime, variety show, that is automatically Rated PG."
Sotto defended her parents from the allegations by It's Showtime fans by saying, "Ginagawa po talaga nila iyan." She added: "Lumaki po kasi akong ganon na halos araw-araw ng buhay naming magkakapatid, ganoon po talaga ang aming mga magulang—mapa-telebisyon, maski saan, mula pa noong bata kami. They have been married for 45 years now."
She continued, "Yung mga lambingan nilang ganyan, simula pa nung may show sila kapag naggi-guest ang mommy sa Iskul Bukol, at yung dating Eat Bulaga!, all through the years, ginagawa po talaga nila yan."
Sotto stated that there's no basis for the complaints against her parents. But that she was being fair with both It's Showtime and E.A.T as MTRCB chair.
