Actress-TV host Pauleen Luna, whose family moved recently to a new place in Quezon City, said she found it quite ironic that she was rarely home.
Luna, who is a host of the daily noontime show “Eat … Bulaga!” and a talent of GMA 7, said, “My busy schedule keeps me from spending as much time as I want at home. Sadly, I don’t get to enjoy it much. This was why I made sure to build a house that is welcoming and relaxing. I wanted it well-lit, spacious and clutter-free.”
THE ACTRESS plans to put a plant box on this spot at the terrace.
After living in a much smaller house in the same subdivision for 21 years, the Lunas transferred to their new three-story home in June 2012. The planning and construction took nine years, according to Luna’s mom Chat.
“The old house was Victorian. The furniture was bulky. There were vases and chandeliers everywhere. It was very hard to move around, especially for us kids who liked to play rough games when we were growing up,” Luna told Living Stars.
She has two older brothers—Bryan and Miguel.
“This is why we said it would be better to have a minimalist home for a change. I also wanted the place to have a pleasant feel, especially my bedroom. I made sure sunlight gets into the room in the morning,” she added.
The 25-year-old actress has repeatedly denied the rumor that the 500-square meter property was a gift from her boyfriend, comedian Vic Sotto. Prior to this visit, Luna’s mom requested that no questions on her daughter’s relationship with Sotto be asked.
But Chat herself could not help teasing her daughter about the latter’s love life. Luna, who loves to cook pasta and bake pastries, said during the interview that she wanted a plant box where she could grow different herbs.
Her mother commented, “Get married first, build your own house and then have your plant box.” Luna replied, “Plant box lang kailangan mag-asawa na ako?”
THE LUNAS’ new three-story home in Quezon City.
The actress described the furniture pieces, mostly from Metro Source and Concepts Specialists, as “modern, but still homey and not on the edgy side.” She added, “The sala or receiving area is hardly used. Our visitors are usually my friends who really don’t need welcoming. They go straight to my room or to the dining area.”
Aside from the “formal” dining space, “which seldom gets used,” Luna said her family was often in the “casual” dining room that had an adjoining kitchen. “We’re the type who can’t eat without the TV turned on. We like to react to what we see, we discuss issues,” she explained. “I get to hang out with them only at night since I usually have my lunch at the ‘Bulaga’ studio.”
Busiest spot
The lanai is the busiest spot during weekends, according to Pauleen. In this area are two garden dining sets, a heavy-duty grill by Weber Genesis and a six-foot-deep rectangular swimming pool.
THE POOLSIDE is the venue of most activities during weekends.
“It’s not kid-friendly so our young guests just stay on the shallow side of the pool,” she said. All around the lanai are bonsai plants that Chat bought. “Pauleen’s dad didn’t want too many plants so I had to settle for these,” said Chat.
The house has a theater room with a 48-inch wall-mounted LCD TV and six home-theater seats. There is a game room at the basement where Luna’s dad Peter hangs out often. It contains his collection of over a hundred toy cars and motorcycles.
“He orders these items online and when I go abroad for a show, he has them delivered to where I’m staying. I really don’t know how many there are,” she said. “Dad is very quiet. He just likes to tinker and fix things. My brothers, who are also the quiet type, don’t share his interest in collecting miniatures.”
Biggest bedroom
Luna’s bedroom is the biggest of all four sleeping quarters. She asked an architect friend to help her get the look she wanted. “He had a peg, but it was more masculine so I made a few
HER BEDROOM is the biggest of all sleeping quarters.
changes, but the drawers, large mirror and head board were exactly the same,” she said. Her walk-in closet has the same beige-white color scheme.
“I wanted it bright and cheerful. I’m always tired because of work so when I’m home I want my personal space to be relaxing,” she said.
In her patio, Luna has a breathtaking view of an Iglesia ni Cristo edifice “that turns into a beautiful glowing castle at night.” She added with a laugh, “This is also where I plan to put my plant box. Bahala si Mommy kung ayaw niya.”
E-mail mcruz@inquirer.com.ph.