The 30-year-old mayor toppled a political stranglehold that existed his entire life, but will he be able to break the wheel.
We met at the clubhouse.
The person in the office was clearly not your usual politician, nor was he an actor despite being an actor’s son. Vico Sotto is a contradiction in more ways than one. He’s from an established political clan, yet he rejects the trappings of a traditional politician. He’s from a renowned acting family, yet he shies away from the spotlight. Here is a man, 30 years old, who defies expectation and sets his own.
Denim jacket and chino pants by Bryceland’s, shirt by L.A. Shirt, and necktie by Tie Your Tie, all at Signet, Shangri-La at The Fort
“I just came from City Hall,” Sotto said just four days away from his first day as mayor of the city of Pasig. “We had a Peace and Order Council meeting, and the formal turnover of the council.” He then explained how the turnovers work, and how the Peace and Order Council must be the first one up and running. “Kasi, July 1,
Who is Vico Sotto? This time last year, you would be forgiven for considering him as a fun fact. Did you know, Vic Sotto and Coney Reyes
“I didn’t grow up in politics,” he said. “Showbiz,
“Both of my parents, I think, would have been very happy if I tried showbiz, especially my mom. They would invite me all the time, even in my mom's show. Lagi
“Especially when I was younger—when I say younger, I mean before my teen years,
Celebrity life was just something that he didn’t care for, especially not while growing up. “Ayoko lang
What about now, though? The Sotto who ran a successful mayoral campaign of today is hardly anything like the shy teenager who hated going to the mall with his parents. Still, here is a man who’d rather shy away from
“During the 45-day campaign period, very informal
“Most of the time it was just a pickup truck we hopped on and a portable sound system. Over time
Suit by Ring Jacket and necktie by Tie Your Tie, both at Signet, Shangri-La at The Fort
Probably the most striking thing about Sotto, though, is just how astute he is. It’s easy to dismiss the neophyte mayor as naïve or wide-eyed with idealism. But he’s surprisingly pragmatic, and he didn’t enter politics with any pretensions.
“Of course there are traditional aspects, I can't deny that,” he said, referring to his campaign. “I can't deny the degree of
“Ang
Politics wasn’t like an episode of Eat Bulaga. “When I was entering politics, my number one apprehension was that I didn’t want to put forward a brand of personality-based politics. Hindi ko
Sotto manages to blend youthful optimism and realpolitik in what he says and does. He’s neither overly idealistic nor is he cynical. He looks at politics and realizes that it’s an ossified institution that needs to change, but an institution nonetheless.
“If you look at the big picture, you have to play by the rules,” he said. “The rules of the game are clear, but we need people to push to
And that’s why looking at what the future holds for Pasig is so interesting. For 27 years, the Eusebios have controlled the mayoralty seat in an almost feudal, dynastic fashion. And it’s exactly the kind of ossified system that Sotto is railing against. He’s already got big plans: His platform revolves around five key things—healthcare, education, housing, participatory government, and the drive against corruption. Each of these
These
Unlike the traditional image of a politician, there is no enigma to unpack with Sotto. The most surprising thing about him is that there’s nothing surprising about him. He doesn’t have the extravagance of Chavit Singson or the storied career of Erin Tañada. He’s simply who he is. Ultimately, questions about who Sotto is are patently irrelevant. The real question is what does he represent?
Sotto is new blood. And he’s part of a trend of young leaders holding the reins and taking charge of destiny. He, along with people like Sarah Elago and all the other youth leaders all over the country,
“The second thing is
"In fact, some of the corrupt practices are themselves being institutionalized, so
Only time will tell if the game can truly be changed. But here’s to hoping.
In this story: Produced and styled by Clifford Olanday • Photographs by Artu Nepomuceno • Interview by Justin Umali • Grooming by Joan Teotico using NARS Cosmetics • Hair by G Mande • Production assistants Roland Mae Tanglao and Ednalyn Magnaye Garcia • Clothes by Signet, Shangri-La at The Fort
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