ALTHOUGH the names of the legendary show business troika of Tito, Vic and Joey are often said in one breath, thanks largely to the show they host, the long-running noontime show, Eat Bulaga, each has carved a separate name for himself.

Tito Sotto is running for re-election as Senator. Joey de Leon top bills six shows on GMA-7. Vic Sotto has just been named Box Office King. What more?
A lot. Below is an excerpt from an exclusive interview about the loftier pursuits for TVJ…

TITO SOTTO LIVES
ON 4 HOURS OF SLEEP

How’s the campaign coming along?
Very busy. I’ve begun traveling all over the country all over again which means I only get four hours of sleep nowadays. I only have Sundays for day off, no thanks to my campaign manager. (Laughs) Those I spend playing golf or taking my family out especially my grandchildren.

You sound wearied already…
Not at all! Fortunately, I have a family that’s very supportive of my endeavors. That keeps exhaustion at bay. Besides, I know why I’m getting into this again and that is to be of service to our kababayans especially the Filipino youth. If I get re-elected, I shall revive Save The Filipino Youth Movement foundation that I set up sometime ago. Some people say, ‘What? Another?’ but, hey, there could never be enough foundations relative to the number of Filipino kids in need or in trouble.

How is your wife, Helen (Gamboa)?
She’s fine though busy, too, like me. Helen is helping my eldest daughter put up a small coffee shop called Coffee Overdose in one of the malls in Manila. My second daughter is currently on her second term as councilor in the third district of Quezon City. She will be running for reelection. My only son is entering show business while Ciara, my youngest, is contemplating on accepting a sort of a dinner theater show in Las Vegas offered to her recently.

Why should I vote for you?
Because I practice what I preach. I believe a good leader is one whose good reputation precedes him. For that to happen, he must lead by example. Otherwise people lose faith in his integrity.

Do you think hosting a fun show like Eat Bulaga works against your political ambitions?
No. The show is not just about laughter and music or fun as you put it. Many of what we do also touch the heart – including ours! There’s just too many times that we in the show have come across people who have lost all they have from natural calamities. Or have lost hope in the system. As we open people’s eyes to realities, we do the same. The show, in an indirect way, keeps my finger on the pulse of the masses.

As public servant, what would make you say ‘I’ve done enough?’
When improvement in the economy is already being felt by lower level of society. When different sectors have already joined hands to uplift the less privileged. When agricultural modernization has been achieved. These dreams will take a while which is the real comedy in our lives because these changes have been long due.

JOEY DE LEON -
60 SHOWS IN 30 YEARS

You have six shows now on GMA-7. Are you trying to set a record of some sort?
Correction, I think I am already a record holder. (Laughs) I’ve done 60 television shows throughout my 30 year-old career. Sa ngayon nga, ako na ang tumatanggi ‘pag may offer at tanging tao sa showbiz na natutuwa kapag nababawasan ng trabaho.

So how do you balance your being workaholic?
Travel. Though I’m what you may already call well-traveled, madami pa din akong bansa na gustong marating. Ang Europe nga, ‘ni hindi ko pa nabubuo. Pero di naman kasi lahat duon gusto kong puntahan. Ganun ako, may mga bansang ‘di intersadong puntahan even when people tell me, “Uy, punta ka dun, maganda dun.” May mga favorites ka lang, ika nga.

But there must be a secret behind your keeping sane despite your work load?
Sure. I treat work as recreation. Ine-enjoy ko, kumbaga. Especially the writing part. To this day, di ko pinapaubaya ang pagsusulat kaninuman. I also still write novelty songs. My new album Joey To The World 2, in fact, has just been released.

Do you feel age catching up? (Joey turns 61 this year.)
Only when I eat. When I eat pork and beans, I don’t eat the pork anymore. Di na din ako umiinom ng softdrinks. Nami-miss ko na nga, eh, kaso I want to stay away from any carbonated beverage. I also no longer eat chocolate and ice cream, nakakalungkot mang isipin. But there are alternatives so okay na lang din yon. Wala naman akong diperensya pero mabuti na yung inuunahan mo.

What’s another side to you that you think few know?
That I’m a practical guy and believe in valuing money. Like I just won’t treat my kids to business class seats when traveling even when I can afford to. I want them to know the value of money; that it’s something to be earned by sweat.

How is your friendship with Tito and Vic?
We’ve been friends for 35 years so what else is there to say? Sabi na nga ni Vic, ako daw to him, more than a brother. Si Tito, more than a friend. Our friendship has gone through the best and worst. There have been several times when we or each of us had been offered double, triple salary in millions just to break away from the group or to compromise the friendship. Pero never kaming kumagat. Not all the millions in the world could make us do that. Sa amin kasi, ang motto, walang bibitaw. There was even a time we had to work for a year without pay pero meron bang bumitaw sa amin? Wala. And that’s forever and ever, amen.

VIC SOTTO - ‘MADAMI PA
AKONG KAKAINING BIGAS’

Will there be an Enteng Kabisote 4 at the end of 2007?
We’re still looking into it. It’s not that I’m tired of doing another but I want to make sure that it has something new to offer like the last three. What’s sure is reformatting of my five-year old sitcom, Da De Di Do Du, and my movie with Dolphy that, hopefully, will be finished in time for a summer play date.

Do you travel as extensively as Joey?
Not really… Holy Week ang mas siguradong bakasyon for me kesa Pasko. ‘Pag Pasko kasi, I usually have a film fest entry. So busy ako promoting, overseeing post-production of our entry, etc.

Will you go to politics later?
No, and that’s final.

How do you manage to always look youngish?
Outlook in life. Though I may strike others as the serious type, it doesn’t mean I’m a worrier or a brooder. I don’t think much about my problems. Lahat naman ng tao may problema. But as long as you have faith in God, as long as you cast everything on Him, gigising ka na lang isang umaga na wala na pala lahat ang mga problema mo. God has plans for all of us. And even if we don’t understand these always, we have to trust that He knows best. Just pray for wisdom and guidance.

Do you stick to a special diet?
No, I eat everything. Kahit nga lechon or steak, binabanatan ko. Only, I eat to live instead of live to eat. I only eat when I’m hungry and during designated times in a day. I also make sure I get enough sleep. I don’t drink softdrinks nor take alcoholic beverages. Nakakalaki kasi ng tyan at saka bawal na because of my uric acid. Of course, I eat lots of vegetables and drink plenty of water.

Why do people call you ‘Bossing’?
It began in 1987 when I ventured into production via M-Zet. Our first project then was Okay Ka, Fairy Ko. Naturally, my staff would call me boss. But I found that too formal, too high-flying. So they started softening it with a ‘sing’ so ‘bossing.’ Then my co-stars in Okay started calling me that way, too, so…

Where is Vic Sotto now in his life?
I’ve been in showbiz for almost two decades yet I feel as if I’ve not accomplished anything yet. I know I still have a lot to improve on; many things to learn. I love my work and enjoy it to the fullest. Sometimes I feel burned out but it’s nothing a game of golf can’t cure. I know the best is yet to come and look forward to it. But long before that, madami pa akong kakaining bigas. Okay lang, duhlin’.