*Dr. Rodolfo John Ortiz Teope, PhD, EdD
The first time I met Senator Vicente “Tito” Sotto III was at Kapihan sa Manila Bay with Ms. Marichu Villanueva last year 2024. He was then a candidate for senator and Chairman of the Nationalist People’s Coalition, while I was invited as the then Deputy Secretary-General of Partido Federal ng Pilipinas to discuss the prospects of the Alyansa para sa Bagong Pilipinas, now I am not affliated anymore with any political party, I am just here writing a personal political philosophy. That day remains vivid in my memory—not because I was meeting a public figure known both in entertainment and politics, but because of how genuinely human he was. Despite his long list of achievements, he was humble, approachable, and warm. He carried no air of arrogance, no sense of superiority. He treated everyone, whether journalists or staff, as if we were his own Dabarkads. That encounter revealed to me something essential: true leadership is not measured by how much one demands respect, but by how one gives it.
It is this humility that has marked his career. In the Senate, where egos often collide, Sotto’s style has always been to build bridges rather than create walls. He listens more than he lectures, and in doing so, he creates consensus in a chamber where consensus is often elusive. His ability to unite senators across party lines demonstrates that leadership is not about domination but about collaboration. This has spared the Senate from paralyzing gridlock and allowed it to function as a real working institution.
His leadership also brings with it a sense of stability. I have observed how he presides over heated debates without allowing them to descend into theatrics. His calm hand ensures that passion does not turn into chaos. This stability is crucial because when the Senate is orderly, legislation moves forward with clarity, and the people gain confidence that governance is not consumed by spectacle. A Senate guided by stability is a Senate that serves.
What makes him exceptional is his balance between cooperation and independence. He knows when to work with Malacañang for the good of the nation, but he also knows when to draw the line. Under his watch, the Senate has always maintained its independence as a co-equal branch of government. This balance ensures that the legislative branch is not reduced to a mere extension of the executive. It strengthens democracy itself, because policies are refined through scrutiny rather than rubber-stamped for convenience.
He has also shown a consistent focus on public welfare. His legislative efforts touch on matters close to the lives of ordinary Filipinos—health, education, crime prevention, and social development. He has been steadfast in his advocacy against illegal drugs and crime, while at the same time understanding that communities need social opportunities and support. This balance between firmness and compassion shows that governance is not only about discipline but also about care.
Another trait that strengthens his leadership is his respect for institutions. He values the rules, the traditions, and the decorum of the Senate. In a time when political discourse often teeters on the edge of disrespect and disorder, his seriousness in protecting the Senate’s dignity has preserved it as a respected deliberative body. Institutions thrive when leaders defend their integrity, and Sotto has been one of those guardians.
I cannot forget a time, however, when his dignity was tested. I remember being so angry when, as minority floor leader, he was disrespected by a newbie senator who assumed too much knowledge about Senate procedures. In that session, Sotto offered his own words of wisdom—a reminder rooted in his long experience. Yet instead of respecting it, the committee chairman at that time made fun of his statement, even in the gallery, reducing a moment of guidance into mockery. It was painful to watch because the one being mocked was a man who had spent decades mastering the craft of legislation. That incident, to me, highlighted not Sotto’s weakness but his strength. He did not retaliate with arrogance. He bore the insult with grace, proving that true leadership is not about striking back but about rising above.
What has kept him close to the people is his relatability. Many leaders live behind walls of protocol and distance, but Sotto remains accessible. His years in entertainment gave him familiarity, but it is his authenticity that has kept him trusted. People feel they know him, and in truth, he has never abandoned that personal touch. In his hands, the Senate does not feel like an ivory tower detached from the people; it feels connected to everyday lives.
His pragmatic approach is another asset. He does not waste energy on battles that serve no one. He looks for solutions that can actually work, weighing what is possible against what is ideal. In an arena often paralyzed by partisanship, this pragmatism allows the Senate to move forward, addressing the nation’s needs rather than indulging in endless fights.
When all these qualities—humility, consensus-building, stability, independence, public service, respect for institutions, grace under disrespect, relatability, and pragmatism—are combined, the Senate emerges not as a circus of egos but as a serious institution of nation-building. And when the Senate functions well, the nation develops. For a country that needs both strong governance and human leadership, Sotto’s example shows that these two can exist side by side.
Looking back at my first encounter with him at Kapihan sa
Manila Bay, I realize that what struck me most—his humility—was not just a
personal trait. It was the foundation of his leadership. In a time when
politics is too often defined by pride, entitlement, and self-interest, he
shows that true power is exercised with kindness, respect, and responsibility.
That is why SP Tito Sotto’s leadership is not only beneficial to the Senate but to
the nation itself.
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