RUFFA GUTIERREZ has been very busy lately, doing one show after another: “Love Thy Woman”, “House Arrest of Us” and “Stay in Love”.
Her next project will be a big series but she is not at liberty to reveal any details yet. Didn’t she have any date on Valentine’s Day?
“Wala, no romantic date”, she says at her zoom presscon. “Naghahakot kami ng mga anak ko kasi lilipat kami sa new house namin in Alabang. Everyday naman can be Valentine’s day if you’re in love, but i’m not in love now.
"Rest muna ang puso ko after coming out of a 7-year relationship. Tutok na lang ako sa family ko and my career and thank God I’m busy with work.”
Why did she end their relationship with Jordan Mouyal?
“I need space. He’s a good person naman. Wala akong masasabi sa kanya. He has two degrees in engineering. Hindi kami tatagal kung bobo siya. But I want to be alone muna.”
But she’s now being linked to former Mayor Herbert Bautista?
“Ewan ko nga kung ba’t kami natsitsismis. Nakakaloka. Siguro they liked our team up in ‘House Arrest’. Andaming nag-message sa’kin. Nakukyutan daw sila. It shows that height doesn’t matter daw.
"Naiiba ang tandem namin. Unexpected, kaya naging comedy. I call him Mayor. We did many movies together since ‘Takbo Bilis Takbo’ and ‘Dunkin’ Donato’. I look at him as a mentor as I learn so much from him.
"I enjoy his company and he’s a versatile actor. Yun lang. No romantic involvement. Platonic lang.”
It’s also been reported that she’s reconciling with ex-husband Yilmaz Bektas.
“Si Yilmaz, siya lang ang lalaking hanggang ngayon iniiyakan ko pa rin. Yung sa amin kasi, malalim. Nagpakasal kami, we had two kids, I left my career for him, tumira ako with him sa ibang bansa. Maraming nangyari.
"It’s the kind of pain na gusto mong kalimutan. I still love him, but I have to love myself first.”
How did they reconnect?
“We last saw each other 13 years ago. Nung lock in taping ko for ‘Stay in Love’, he called up. He realizes daw that time is precious and he wants to spend more time with our kids.
"He says ako raw ang greatest love niya. Siempre, mahirap talaga ako makakalimutan, kasi masarap akong magmhal. He wants to make things right for the kids.
"Pupunta raw siya rito at bibisitahin ang mga anak niya. This summer daw, depende sa pandemic and travel restrictions. Or I can go there. Sabi pa, you can come here and bring your family.
"You can also bring a date, pero one way ticket lang daw ang bilihin, kasi sure na hindi na siya makakabalik.”
Is Yilmaz also her greatest love?
“There are different kinds of love. May puppy love and yes, greatest love ko siya. May kanta nga ako for Yilmaz, Dionne Warwick song, ‘I’ll Never Love This Way Again’.
"Pero may fear pa rin ako sa kanya. Alam nyo naman ang nangyari sa’min. And I’m now more excited sa kung sino ang magiging forever love ko.
"Ang peg ko, mommy and daddy ko, kasi after almost 50 years, they’re still together. Wala akong fear to grow old alone, pero sana ma-meet ko na yung makakasama ko hanggang dulo.”
What about her daughters, are they excited to see their dad again?
“Naku, my kids, bato na. Sabi nila, 13 years, we’ve survived on our own. And it’s true, I showed Yilmaz kaya kong palakihin ang mga anak ko, kahit wala siya.”
Her daughter Lorin is turning 18 and she has given her permission for her to join showbiz. Will she be a stage mom like her mom, Annabelle Rama?
“Naku, nag-iisa lang ang mommy ko. Basta I will impart to my daughter all the lessons my parents taught me. Never be late, maging mabait sa mga katrabaho, matutong makisama.
"I only allowed Lorin kasi ga-graduate na siya ng high school. They want to do some other activity at hindi lang nakatutok lagi sa cellphones nila.
"Ang importante, basta alam ni Lorin ang priorities niya. Bawal siyang magboyfriend. I told her, I don’t want you to feel the pain that I felt then.”
Will she allow them to join beauty pageants?
“It’s up to them. Kaso they’re too young. Napansin ko ngayon, in their mid or late 20s na ang nananalo sa pageants.”
Her contemporaries, Aiko Melendez and Carmina Villaroel are now playing contravidas in teleseryes. Will she be ready to do villain roles?
“I haven’t seen them, but I’m not closing my doors. Basta kailangan, may redeeming factor yung character na gagampanan ko.
"Dapat may valid reason kaya siya naging masama. What happened to her? Did she have a traumatic experience? Nabigo ba siya sa pag-ibig?”
Someone said she’s moving to Alabang so she can be near Derek Ramsay.
“Hahahaha! Si Derek, masarap na kabarkada, mabait na kaibigan, I enjoy his company. Ganun lang. Si Derek totropahin lang, hindi jojowain. Isa pa, I’m happily single right now.
"Rest muna ang puso ko. You don’t need a man naman to be happy. Buo ako sa sarili ko. I’m not lonely and I’m fine the way I am now.”
