Mommy Bingbing was born on 9 May 1941 at Zamboanga City to Jacinta Alvarez Yap and Severo Galope Yap. Lola Jacin was from Cabalian, Leyte and a former personal nurse of the late President Manuel L. Quezon. Mommy Bingbing has a a half sister from Lola Jacin, Dinday Alvarez, the wife of former House Speaker Nicanor Yniguez. Lolo Vedo was from Jagna, Bohol and a retired Police Colonel of the Bilibid Prisons. He has served for quite sometime as a presidential guard of the deposed President Marcos.

She was christened as Magdalena Victoria Alvarez Yap. She grew up and was educated in Manila. She finished a degree in Mass Communications at the Philippine Women's University.

She married Jose Bautista when she was 16 years old and has given birth to three daughters and a son. In 1973 she met my daddy and got married in Baras, Rizal.