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The loves of Oyo Boy

HIS FATHER, Vic Sotto, has quite a reputation with the ladies. But through it all, Vic has only one piece of advice for his son Oyo Boy: that no matter how many girlfriends he ends up having, there is one thing he should never do, and that is hurt any of them physically.

“He told me that even if I shout at them or quarrel with them, I should never, ever hit a woman — that’s unforgivable,” says Oyo Boy, who is Vic’s son by ex-wife Dina Bonnevie.

Vic has one other son, Vico, by former Eat Bulaga co-host Coney Reyes; and two daughters, Oyo’s sister Danica (now married to basketball star Marc Pingris) and Paulina, whose mom is another ex-Eat Bulaga co-host, commercial model Angela Luz. In the past, Vic has also been linked to Christine Jacob and Pia Cabreira, daughter of director Danny Cabreira. His current girlfriend is TV personality and commercial model Pia Guanio.

The 23-year-old Oyo — whose real name is Vittorio Mari Sotto — says that by contrast, what he can call ‘serious’ girlfriends, he can count using the fingers of one hand. He had his first girlfriend when he was 13. The girl was a schoolmate of his cousin and was four years older than Oyo. After her followed Anne Curtis, then Angel Locsin.

Since breaking off with Angel, Oyo has remained happily single — and he has no problem with that. He’s not the type who would rush out and find a new girlfriend to replace the old.

“It’s never been my style to have a lot of girlfriends. I don’t go looking for love; I’d rather let it find me. If it comes, it comes. Where love is concerned, I’d rather take things slow. I’m the type of man who, when I fall for a woman, I fall really hard. When I was with Anne, it took me two years to recover. She was my first love.”

In the aftermath of his breakup with Angel, Oyo realised something very important. “I realised that I could be happy even without a woman in my life,” he says. “I used to think that I needed to be in a relationship to be happy. But now, I know I don’t. I can be happy on my own.”

Asked how he feels about being part of the same network as Angel, Oyo says he doesn’t mind. Showbiz is a very small industry, and even if Angel had stayed with GMA-7, they were likely to bump into each other at one showbiz function or another. Thus, the necessity of maintaining the friendship even after the relationship ended. “We’re friends,” he says of his ex-girlfriend, who recently arrived back in the country after flying to London to take up a short course fashion design, prior to launching a sportswear line of her own. “We still talk to each other, and we still text.”

Oyo adds that he’s open to the idea of working with Angel again. As to whether they can resume their relationship, that’s something he would rather not comment on. Besides, Oyo is not thinking of romance right now. He would rather focus on his career, which is going quite well. ABS-CBN is certainly keeping him busy; after his reunion project opposite Anne in Sineserye Presents: May Minamahal, Oyo was given the role of Josef in Pedro Penduko At Ang Mga Engkantao, which recently launched its second season.

Returning along with Oyo Boy are lead stars Matt Evans and Melissa Ricks, Arron Villaflor, Denise Laurel, Maja Salvador and Makisig Morales. A new addition is child star Sharlene San Pedro, who stars as Monique, the best friend of Moy (Makisig), who emits a blue flame that can ward off evil spirits.

If they combine their powers, the youngsters can easily defeat the villain Kalagua — but can they set aside their differences and rivalries to save the world? Or will they be consumed by their weaknesses and ultimately be defeated by the powerful Kalagua? Oyo smiles enigmatically and asks people to tune in to the show to find out the answers.

As for his father, whatever makes him happy is fine by Oyo. And right now, Vic seems to be very happy with Pia. “I hope this will be his last relationship,” says Oyo. “And the truth is, I think it will. She seems to be good for him. I can see that my dad is really happy. He seems more relaxed and more approachable these days.”