The "Bad Boy" is now a family man

CEBU, Philippines - Coming from a broken family, Oyo Sotto had for a time crossed out marriage from among his life goals. Although his famous parents, comic royalty Vic Sotto and seasoned thespian Dina Bonnevie, are known to have raised him and his sister Danica well despite them going separate ways, he was afraid history would repeat itself if he tied the knot.

"I used to think I won’t get married because I felt that maybe what happened to my parents would also happen to me. Sabi ko dati, hanggang girlfriend na lang siguro ako," the actor tells The FREEMAN during a promo show for his TV5 series Bangis at SM City Cebu.

What changed this young man’s mind was when he witnessed the happy union of elder sibling Danica (who’s now pregnant with her second child) with ball player Marc Pingris.

"When they got married, I was sort of a bad boy that time. I wasn’t serious with my life yet. Ang dami ko pang kalokohan. But I saw through their relationship that it was indeed possible to make a marriage work, that it was possible for husband and wife to stay together. They became my inspiration and role models. My perspective on life changed, more so when it was my turn to get married," says Oyo, who seems to have inherited his father’s ladies’-man appeal, what with his known string of girlfriends such as beautiful actresses Anne Curtis, Angel Loscsin and Nadine Samonte. He finally settled down with Kristine Hermosa in a beach wedding last January.

Oyo, 27, admits he has never been in such bliss. Six months since their intimate nuptials, the two are still in the honeymoon phase.

"It’s been super happy! We discover a lot of things about each other. It’s really different having a better half, because you have someone to go home to and take care of you. Unlike before, I return to an empty house when I go home. I was just all alone in my room in my dad’s house."

Asked how he feels being many a man’s envy for having one of the country’s most flawless beauties for a wife, Oyo states being "very blessed" but adds that beyond the physical, it is Kristine’s authenticity that really made him fall for Diether Ocampo’s ex-wife. "Kristine is a really nice person if you really get to know her. Sobrang maalaga at totoo siya talaga. She has no pretensions. With her, what you see is what you get. The way she is when you talk to her, is what she really is even you’re back is turned," Oyo shares.

With Kristine now four months pregnant, the couple could not ask for anything more. They almost gave up hope of having a baby this year because Kristine was diagnosed with severe polycystic ovary, a condition that makes it difficult for her to conceive.

One morning in May, Oyo wondered why Kristine was still locked in their bathroom after more than an hour. When she finally emerged, she tossed the pregnancy test device to a still-sleepy Oyo in bed. He asked, "Ano ba ‘to? Anong basa dito?"

Revealing to him that two lines meant it was positive, Oyo was suddenly awake and screamed about in joy. Kristine would later tell him that she broke down in tears inside the bathroom after seeing the result.

Before getting married, Kristine had already adopted a three-year-old boy named Kiel, so they’re hoping for a girl this time. Oyo adds though that the gender will not matter as long as the baby will be born normal and healthy.

Of making sure their adopted kid does not feel left out after their biological child is born (due late December or early January), the pair had gotten good counsel from their church pastor on how to deal with the sensitive matter.

"We were advised to just make him feel secure and really fill him with love. When the right age comes, we have to tell him that he’s adopted and certainly by that time, he will be secured enough by our love not to feel bad," Oyo says.

He is thankful Kristine doesn’t have outrageous requests or exhibit mood swings like other expecting women do. All she asks for is anything sour like green mangoes and sinigang…and Oyo’s constant presence.

"There are times that I would go to the gym, and she’ll say, ‘Alis ka na naman. Alis ka ng alis.’ Parang nagtatampo siya kung aalis ako. Parang gusto niya na lagi akong nasa tabi niya," he laughingly recounts.

The first-time dad believes he is ready for the daunting responsibility of fatherhood. As long as he teaches to his kid the same values his parents imparted, he deems everything will turn out fine. He will also not prevent Kristine from acting again after giving birth, provided that she will still have ample time for their family.

Meantime, Oyo is currently seen weeknights on TV5’s primetime adventure series Bangis, aired after Wil Time Bigtime. This is his next big project with the network, after headlining for three years their successful horror series Midnight DJ.

The freelance actor is cast as Leon, a famed wild animal hunter who is on a mission to capture a giant crocodile feared in a town experiencing an upsurge of crocodile-caused deaths. His relentless pursuit to wipe out the reptile’s species is his way of avenging his parents’ brutal killing by a crocodile.

A TV adaptation of the komiks novel by Carlo J. Caparas titled Matatalim na Pangil sa Gubat, Bangis also stars Felix Roco, Rodjun Cruz, Danny Javier, Tessie Tomas, Yul Servo, Wendy Valdez, Miriam Quiambao, Katherine Luna, Bayani Agbayani, Marissa Sanchez, CJ Caparas, Jazz Ocampo, Mavi Lozano, Gerald Pesigan, Junyka Santarin and BJ Go. Playing Oyo’s leading lady is Danita Paner.

Acting work aside, Oyo is setting his sights on completing the one-year film course he took in the Marilou Diaz-Abaya Film Institute. This is the reason he can’t accept any other project aside from his ongoing show. Since the time he got married and Kristine got pregnant, he has missed a lot of classes, so he’s hoping to finish all requirements by next year.

In school, they are asked to write scripts and shoot scenes, but he has yet to work on a full-length film. Working behind the camera is one of Oyo’s plans for the future. "Some point in my showbiz life, I also want to try other things. Ayoko naman na habambuhay artista lang ako. Gusto ko sa likod naman ako ng camera para maiba naman. Producing or directing would be the next ventures I want to be involved in." (FREEMAN)