Pauleen Luna Sotto: Respect as Love’s Cornerstone

For Valentine’s month, Pauleen Luna Sotto opens up about how respect anchors her enduring marriage to Vic—and how that love flows into her life as a mother to Tali and Thia, keeping her heart fuller than she ever imagined

Love may take many forms, but where does it truly begin?

For Pauleen, it began on the set of Eat Bulaga. Her love story with host Vic Sotto started professionally. Through local and international trips with the show’s cast, they were given the chance to really know each other. And when asked how she realized their story was headed somewhere meaningful, Pauleen smiles at the simplicity of it.

They simply enjoyed being together.

“Six times a week, and sometimes seeing each other for a seventh,” she recalls. “And somehow, we weren’t sick of each other.”

They married in 2016 and were later blessed with two daughters, Tali and Mochi. Nearly a decade into marriage, Pauleen says their love continues to deepen in their own little ways.

It shows on her social media—through her children’s milestones, intimate family moments, and snapshots of life with Vic, including their recent vow renewal last January 30 to celebrate 15 years together—four years of courtship and a decade of marriage. The photos reflect a relationship that feels joyful, grounded, and lighthearted.

And the secret behind it?

Respect.

“Everything is smooth sailing because our level of respect for each other is very high,” Pauleen shares.

It was this same foundation that led to their vow renewal. Vic had first floated the idea during their eighth year of marriage. But after attending a wedding during their tenth year, they felt inspired to finally mark the milestone.

“For us, the renewal of vows was to honor the respect, compromise, and different dynamics—especially now that we have kids,” she explains.

Where the Respect Comes From

Of course, their relationship did not exist without a commentary. The age gap drew raised eyebrows. Friends and family worried. But Pauleen often calmed them with a simple truth she believes in deeply: Time is the ultimate truth teller.

“You cannot pretend for so long,” she explains. “Time will tell if a relationship is really a good fit. Time will tell what my true intentions are for him and vice versa. Relax lang.”

She credits their steadiness to aligned personalities, Vic’s quiet wisdom, and her openness to learn from him. But more importantly, they made a conscious decision not to let overthinking become a third party in their marriage.

In a world where everything can be dissected and scrutinized, they choose conversation over chaos.

“We don’t think too hard about problems we know there’s no solution to,” Pauleen shares. “We talk about them—just as a small reminder to ourselves.”

In an era when everyone has an opinion about what love and relationships should look like, Pauleen gently reminds us that something that looks different is not necessarily wrong. What matters, she says, is peace, a sense of home, and feeling valued.

“True love doesn’t have to be performative,” she says softly. “It doesn’t need to scream to the world. It just needs to be authentic.”

Respect In Action

That respect extends beyond their marriage. It also shaped how Pauleen approached her relationship with Vic’s older children—Danica, Oyo, Vico, and Paulina.

Rather than stepping immediately into a traditional stepmother role, Pauleen chose something more intentional: space.

“Truth be told, when it comes to Vic’s kids, I really give them space,” she admits. “Up until this day, I don’t meddle. Their relationship with their dad is sacred. That’s theirs.”

She understood the history they shared with Vic and honored it. There was no need to assert authority or overcompensate. Instead, their relationship unfolded naturally through mutual respect.

“I’ve told them this a million times, and I’m sure they feel it: I am a loyal friend who will be there for them, fight for them, and support them in any way they need.”

Learning to Cut the Noise

Just as she learned to rise above commentary about her relationship, Pauleen carries the same calm perspective when it comes to public remarks about Tali and Mochi. She knows she cannot shield them from everything. No parent truly can. The world will eventually make itself known.

“So my way of protecting them is by preparing them,” she says thoughtfully. “By teaching them what matters—and what doesn’t.”

Over time, she learned that not every opinion deserves her energy.

“I’ve learned that people will always have something to say. It’s something I also want my girls to know,” Pauleen shares. “Answering every person and every comment ends up being pointless. I’ve stopped doing that.”

Rather than clarifying every misunderstanding, she has chosen discernment. Instead of engaging every critic, she teaches her daughters something steadier: know who you are, hold on to what is true, and let the rest pass.

Merging Parenting Styles 

The Sotto household is uniquely layered. Vic is not only a father to Tali and Mochi—he is also a grandfather to his older children’s kids.

With Tali and Mochi, Vic embraced being a hands-on dad, navigating first-time parent milestones like diaper changes. Pauleen notes that this chapter looks different from when his older children were growing up, when work demanded much of his time.

“The wisdom he has because of all the experiences he’s been through—that’s something I appreciate,” she says. “He’s a new parent again in some ways, yes. But when it comes to life lessons, we really look up to him because he’s gone through a lot.”

Those lessons, she adds, are ones she learns from as well.

At home, Pauleen manages the day-to-day rhythm of the household, while Vic takes the lead on major decisions.

When it comes to parenting styles, both remain open to growth. Tali attends a school where parents are introduced to approaches such as intentional parenting.

“We appreciate it because in that sense, we are still new parents,” Pauleen explains. “And this is technically a new era that we’re navigating. We just do our best because we have access to so much information now. If we want to be better parents, we can learn, apply, and try. If it doesn’t work, we try again.”

Endless Love for Her Family

If her love for Vic is steady, her love for her daughters feels limitless.

When she was pregnant with Thia—Mochi’s real name—Pauleen admits she struggled with a quiet fear.

“The night before I gave birth to Thia, I was struggling to understand how I could love another human being when I felt like I had already given everything to my first,” she recalls.

She worried about Tali. Wondered if her heart had room for more.

“It’s mind-blowing how love can grow and grow,” she says. “I still can’t believe I have so much love—and there’s still so much in my tank. It never runs out.”

For Pauleen, love has evolved at every stage—marriage, motherhood, and now raising two daughters.

Ultimately, she believes that the cornerstone of any lasting and loving relationship is respect—a lesson she hopes to pass on to Tali and Mochi, alongside the self-confidence to protect their peace.

Words KEVYN GOHU-CATINGUB & ALEXA VILLANO
Photography KIM SANTOS of KLIQ, INC.
Make-up TWINKLE BERNARDO 
Hairstyling ANGELI ALFONSO 
Sitting Editor MARGA TUPAZ
Styling ROSHNI MIRPURI and SIYA DARYANI of THE CLOSET CULTURE
Shoot Coordination TONI MENDOZA

Shot on location at NEWPORT WORLD RESORTS

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