After having defied all odds, they finally tied the knot!
Destiny concluded Pauleen Luna and Vic Sotto’s 5-year relationship and certainty capped their poignant reverie with a “forever” that commenced after they exchanged vows in a solemn matrimonial service officiated by Rev. Fr. Jeffrey Quintela last Saturday, January 30, 2016 at St. James the Great Parish Church in Alabang, Muntinlupa City.
Now popularly tagged “Bosleng” (coined Vic’s alter moniker “Bossing” and Pauleen’s nickname “Poleng”), the couple’s peculiar and rough sailing relationship was seemingly displayed in a glass case viewed by the scrutinizing public. Their May-December affair (he is 61 and she is 26) was even predicted to end prematurely even before the malicious conjecture gradually died down but the strong emotional connection between the couple proved soothsayers wrong. They faced every challenge, survived all trials, and stood victorious against every single odd.
While the dashing groom waited before the altar donned in a deep blue tuxedo of the same hue he coordinately shared with his groomsmen, the elegantly garbed bride beamingly treaded down the aisle in a daintily corded French lace embellished with crystal beads and sparsely embossed with Swarovski stones that ostensibly emitted suppressed coruscation in ethereal subtlety.
Ciara Sotto soulfully rendered the wedding’s theme song, “When I Fall In Love,” during the processional while JoWaPao (Jose, Wally, and Paolo) vocally provided the background music, “Ikaw Lang Ang Mamahalin,” during the ceremony.
“Pauleen has a very fine, simple taste…never flamboyant or ostentatious,” said the amiable couple’s designer, Francis Libiran. “From the start she made it clear that all she wanted was a simple gown of timeless elegance: no petticoat, nothing fuzzy, something light and comfortable.”
The couple picked baby pink and taupe (brownish gray) for motif colors.
Meticulous and hands on, the bride personally attended to every detail during the preparatory stages before endorsing it to their wedding planner, Rita Neri.
Among the members of the entourage were Pauleen’s closest Eat Bulaga chum Ruby Rodriguez as her Matron-of-Honor, the bride’s longtime friends Miss Universe 2015 Pia Alonzo Wurtzbach and Franchesca Que as Bride’s Maids, while bubbly child host Ryzza Mae Dizon with Vic’s granddaughters as Flower Girls.
Vic’s four children from previous marriage and relationships were assigned notable roles: Vicco (son from Coney Reyes) was Best Man, Oyo Boy (son from former wife Dina Bonnevie) and wife Kristine Hermosa were Cord Sponsors, daughter Danica (also from Dina) and basketballer husband Mark Pingris were Veil Sponsors, while daughter Paulina (courtesy of Angela Luz) and Pauleen’s brother Miguel were Candle Sponsors.
Incidentally, Vic’s brothers Val and Maru stood as Groom’s men simultaneously with wacky Eat Bulaga trio Wally Bayola, Jose Manalo, and Paolo Ballesteros while Tito was one of the Principal Sponsors together with longtime buddy Joey De Leon and Mr. Antonio Tuviera.
EB’s hot property Alden Richards and Maine Mendoza of AlDub tandem were designated as flower sponsors.
The intimate ceremony, the first for Pauleen and second for Vic, was witnessed by, aside from the couple’s immediate families, only close friends and relatives and free from the presence of the entertainment press with only Pauleen’s road manager, Gorgy Rula, around.
Guests were treated to a sumptuously prepared dinner at the Filinvest Tent that was grandiosely festooned and bedecked with imported floral accents highlighted with a grand crystal chandelier as overhead centerpiece.
According to Bizu Patisserie Chef Alexander Tanco, the event’s culinary executive, the couple ordered more of interactive recipes with bold ingredients and flavorful taste with preferences to Pauleen’s favorite Caesar’s salad with Pecorino Romano cheese and linguini carbonara while Vic opted for his personal choice, tempura.
Well-attended beef-carving, tempura, and dessert stations were strategically set-up in the dining pavilion for the guests to fully savor and enjoy the wide variety of gastronomical creations aside, of course, from the main entrees of smoked salmon, roast beef belly with mushroom sauce, and other meticulously prepared recipes.
The newlyweds entertained their guests with their first dance to Hotline Bling followed by another joint performance to the tune of Dessert that almost brought the tent down due to Vic’s comical moves. The Megastar, Sharon Cuneta, dedicated one of her top-selling ditties, “Ikaw.”
The pompously conceptualized interior that created an unsullied, high-spirited ambience was duly credited to the collaborative efforts of the newlyweds’ ever dependable bridal team: Florist Rose Aguilar and Mabel Sotto, souvenir specialist Tony Elipano, souvenir supplier Carol Lim, cake maker-decorator Penk Ching, videographer Jason Magbanua, and lensman Oly Ruiz.
Flashbacks, quotes, and anecdotes:
Looking back: Pauleen, who was then barely 6 years old and sans front teeth, joined Eat Bulaga’s young beauty search segment Little Miss Philippines 1995 aptly armed with a kasabihan: “Ang batang mabait, pupunta sa langit” and smartly capped her brief exposure with an energetically rehearsed dance number.
Bonding moments: Road trips, out-of-town adventures, watching movies, and dining out.
Proposal: “It was actually something out-of-the-ordinary and very informal,” was Pauleen’s comment when queried about Vic’s wedding proposal. “He gifted me with a signature bag from one of his trips abroad with a tag that bear my initials as a “Sotto… then showed me a solitaire diamond ring which I excitedly slipped into my finger…hindi siya and nagsuot… at saka pa lamang niya akong tinanong ng ‘Will you marry me?’! Imagine, of all places… inside the bathroom!” then punctuated her statement with a hearty laugh.
Vic’s personal message: “Thank you for loving me kung ano man ako…kung ano man ang pinagdaanan ko…tinanggap mo pa rin ako…!”
Pauleen: “Since Vic is a golf enthusiast and I usually tag along with him, I might as well learn how to golf and join him. We are very blessed to have each other!”
Danica Sotto-Pingris (Vic’s eldest daughter): “They can say what they want to say about my family but I will forever be grateful that I have them in my life.” (Caption of a family picture she posted in her Instagram account.)
Dina Bonnevie (Vic’s first wife): “In a situation like theirs you can eventually outgrow your mate na dapat sana ang mindset is for companionship. How could she be falling in love with a sixty-year-old? But the mere fact that Pauleen has proven herself to be sincere well, it may be really something, It’s Vic’s choice and we cannot judge Pauleen’s decision.” (On the circulating bashes and malicious comments about Vic and Pauleen’s relationship.)
Pauleen: “I truly appreciate the fact that she sees my efforts. I’m grateful for her kind words and most especially for respecting my relationship with Vic…and I’m truly humbled.”
Vic: “Her physical aspect…her face…!” (When asked what he likes most about Pauleen).
Pauleen (on Vic): “He’s actually very down-to-earth… simple, gentle, and sensitive.”
Vic: “Before Pauleen didn’t like crabs which happened to be my favorite but now she devours on them since I persuaded her to favor my cravings…” (On how they adjust to each other’s preferences.)
The road to Forever: Now that their almost tumultuous relationship was finally sealed with a lifetime commitment, Mr. and Mrs. Marvic Sotto are all set to move into their newly built lovenest (that was initially blessed on New Year’s Day) after coming back from their European honeymoon.
The couple, after having defied all the odds, has proven that, in love or in any relationship, age doesn’t really matter. In my personal opinion, for a relationship like theirs to survive and last, Vic, who’s got more years of experience, should adjust while Pauleen, although younger but indubitably smart, must exert effort to level up so that they could meet halfway.
Here’s wishing Vic and Pauleen a lasting blissful connubial life!
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