Ruffa: The storm has passed, life goes on

“The storm has passed,” said Ruffa Gutierrez (soon-to-be ex-Bektas), “and life goes on.”

While she and soon-to-be ex-husband Yilmaz Bektas are sorting out ways to annul their seven-year marriage, Ruffa said that she isn’t thinking at all about love, not even dating.

“That’s why I kept on changing my cellphone number,” she said. “I don’t want any calls from guys (prospective suitors). Only very few people know my number and it’s only

them I give my new number to. I don’t even want to talk about love. Yes, I am loveless but I am happy.”

Ruffa is thankful that despite the recent ugly controversy, advertisers haven’t lost faith in her.

“In fact,” Ruffa smiled, “I just shot a new one in Malaysia. I can’t reveal yet what the product is.”

Because she said that “I have two daughters to feed,” Ruffa is working double time. She’s as busy as ever.

Desperadas, the Regal sex-romance-comedy that was almost shelved, has finally started shooting, with Joel Lamangan at the helm, and with only Ruffa remaining from the original cast. Ruffa has taken the role intended for Gretchen Barretto who has begged off because not only does she want to take a respite from intrigue and controversy, she’s also taking care of her ailing beloved Tonyboy Cojuangco. Ruffa’s original role landed on the lap of Marian Rivera, predicted to be GMA 7’s new hot property especially with the airing of the new soap Marimar starting next Monday, Aug. 13.

Dawn Zulueta has been replaced by Iza Calzado who is going to Canada next week to start shooting The Echo, the Hollywood remake of the Regal suspense-thriller Sigaw, still with Yam Laranas as director. Rufa Mae Quinto takes over from Pops Fernandez who is now on a US concert tour and will start preparation for her birthday concert in December at the Big Dome as soon as she comes back.

Playing the four girls’ mother (with different fathers) is Melanie Marquez, taking the place of Annabelle Rama who will team up with Ruffa in My Monster Mom, directed by Jose Javier Reyes also for Regal.

Also starring Wendell Ramos, Jay-R, TJ Trinidad and Christian Vasquez, Desperadas is one of the nine entries in this December’s Metro Manila Filmfest. It will be shown starting on Jan. 1, 2008.

ABS-CBN started airing last night Ruffa’s new show, Kokey (with Redford White, Ryan Eigenmann, Mylene Dizon, Zanjoe Marudo and Julia Barretto). Her other ABS-CBN show is The Buzz.

On Sept. 15, she and brothers Richard and Raymond, together with showbiz friends, will hold a fashion show called Rampa for a Cause for their favorite charities.
FUNFARE By Ricardo F. Lo
Philippine Star