Ali Sotto (; born Maria Aloha Leilani Sancianco Carag) 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 NET25 programs like are: Ano Sa Palagay N'yo? With Pat P-Daza and Mata Ng Agila Primetime with Alex Santos.
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. She is the youngest in the family and has three brothers (Allan, Alvin & AJ).
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.
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, died 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".
Filmography Film Year Title Role(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 1996 Istokwa Mrs. Camacho 2014 Where I Am King Olivia
Television Year Title Role(s)
Radio Year Title 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? 2021–2024 Ano sa Palagay N'yo?
Awards and nominations + Year Award giving body Award Result1991Gawad UrianBest Supporting Actress (My Other Woman)2014Volunteers Against Crime and CorruptionOutstanding Radio Anchor (w/ Arnold Clavio)2017Volunteers Against Crime and CorruptionBest Teleradio Anchor (w/ Arnold Clavio)2018Trinity University of AsiaBest Female AM Broadcast Journalist2019Gawad Filipino AwardNatatanging Filipina sa Larangan ng Pagbababalita at Pagtulong sa Karapatan ng Kababaihan2019FAMASDr Jose R Perez Memorial Award for Journalism2019Rotary Club of ManilaJournalism Award for Radio Female Broadcaster of the Year2019ALTA Media Icon AwardsBest AM Radio Female Personality2019Gawad Filipino AwardBest Radio and TV Program Host2019Animo Media Choice Awards by De La Salle Dasmariñas Alumni Association, IncorporatedAM Female Anchor2020Gawad Lasallianeta Award by De La Salle Araneta UniversityMost Outstanding Radio Broadcaster2020Gawad Filipino AwardBayaning Pilipino Frontliners Award (w/ Joel Reyes Zobel)2022Gawad Filipino AwardOutstanding Radio Female Broadcaster of the Year2022Gawad Pilipino Icon of the Year 2022Outstanding Public Affairs Host of the Year2022Mrs. Universe Philippines FoundationPhilippines' Most Exceptional Men & Women 20222022Asia Pacific Luminare AwardsAsia's Outstanding Achievement in the Field of Journalism2023Gawad Filipino AwardMost Empowered Women
References
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