What the Gutierrezes discovered about one another

Will Richard Gutierrez finally show the whole world the child he has long been suspected of having with his girlfriend Sarah Lahbati?

Will Ruffa Gutierrez tell the whole story about her rumored new boyfriend, French-Arab Jordan Mouyal?

Will Annabelle Rama admit that she has mellowed and stopped “monitoring” the movements of her husband, Eddie Gutierrez?

These are some of the questions begging for answers as the six-episode reality-TV show It Takes Gutz to Be a Gutierrez begins airing on Sunday, June 1, 9 p.m. on the E! Channel (SkyCable and Destiny on Channel 57, and Cignal 25 and Cablelink Channel 33), also featuring twins Richard and Raymond and other members of the family including Sarah who is virtually a member of the family.

“We are delighted that the family members are opening up their lives,” said Christine Fellowes, managing director of Asia Pacific Universal Networks, “and that we are able to bring this locally relevant content to our E! audience in the Philippines.”

“First, it’s what I call a dream project. We’re making history. It’s the first of its kind in the Philippines and in Asia,” commented Michael Carandang, Business Unit head of One Group’s TV100, producer of the show. “Second, I’ve been a fan of both E! since I worked in Hollywood, and the Gutierrez Family since I’m a fan of Philippine Showbiz. For One Mega Group and TV100 to be part of this exciting new show is definitely a dream come true. This is a match made in red-carpet heaven!”

Before the red-carpet premiere of the show last Monday night, Funfare sat with the Gutierrezes and asked what, if any, little things they have discovered about one another during the shoot aboard a luxury cruise liner (where they had Richard and Raymond as co-passengers, named after the Gutierrez twins), first time they were closely together 24/7. Last week, they were in Singapore for the show’s press junket covered by journalists from all over Asia.

• Annabelle

• On Ruffa: Sobrang mag-alaga sa dalawang anak niya, sina Lorin at Venice. Nakita ko ang pagiging nanay niya. She’s a hands-on mom even if the kids have yayas.

• On Richard: He’s not ma-kuwento. He’s cool and relaxed, parang ayaw niyang gawing problema ang buhay niya.

• On Raymond: I noticed how professional he is. Very punctual, palaging nauuna sa meeting place, always on time. Richard is organized pero mas organized pa si Raymond.

• On Eddie: Ma-alaga siya, not only with me but also with the children and the grandchildren. Maasikaso siya, seeing to it that the kids eat on time. Tsini-check niya palagi kung okey sila, kung nasaan sila. Before, when Ruffa and I would fight, Eddie always sided with Ruffa. Ngayon, kinakampihan na niya ako, hahahaha! Ngayon, parang siya ang na-i-in love sa akin, dati ako lang.

• Eddie

• On Ruffa: She inherited Annabelle’s mannerisms in taking care of the children, although mas maraming dialogue si Annabelle siempre. Namana ni Ruffa ’yung pagiging ma-alaga ni Annabelle, ‘yung thoughtfulness. She makes sure that her children grow up na may respeto sa magulang, sa mga nakatatanda. I could see the proof in Lorin and Venice. They have good grades in school, they are respectful and they are enjoying their lives to the fullest because Ruffa has even enrolled them in Yoga classes, in ballet when they were young and, in summer, let them join all kinds of activities just like what Annabelle and I did when our children were growing up.

• On Raymond: Even when he was a kid, I realized na mahilig siya sa art, sa paintings. Up to now, he’s the same. He’s the style editor of Esquire magazine.  

• On Richard: He’s still the same, hindi pa rin nagbago. He’s sports-minded talaga. Now, he’s into motorbikes. When he was young, he was into martial arts. We were then living in the States and while walking on Santa Monica Boulevard, he saw a gym that taught martial arts and he asked me to enroll him. After six months, we stopped paying his tuition   because his instructor, who was also the owner, made Richard a teacher to the kids.

• On Annabelle: Well, hindi na siya kasing-selosa like before. Before, wala pang nangyayari sa akin at ng leading lady ko, sa isip ni Annabelle mayroon na. (Once, Annabelle scared a beauty-queen by threatening to throw acid at her face. — RFL) She’s now my one and only, hahahaha! Kita mo naman ang beauty niya, di ba?

•  Raymond

• On Ruffa: After all the things she has gone through in life, na maraming dramatic moments, what’s nice about my sister is that she has remained positive; she is like a ray of sunshine every time she walks into the room, fun to be with. Masayahin. Having a better understanding of the world, she’s living her life to the hilt, something that someday I will do, too.

• On Richard: He’s not as rebellious, not as reckless; he’s more responsible now. Ngayon, at 10 p.m., tulog na siya; at 6 a.m. he’s awake and working out. Dati, trabaho lang ‘yan; after work, gimik, ma-barkada and all that. I think Sarah has brought him to another place in his life; she was able to bring out the best in him.

• On Dad Eddie: On the show, you will see my dad not as the public perceives him to be as quiet and cool, but as what he really is. He doesn’t shout but in some moments we see in him things that we didn’t usually see.

• On Mom Annabelle: She’s on a different high right now, she’s more chill, walang masyadong inaaway. She’s more relaxed, which I like. Before kasi, she got easily affected by what the people said about or against her. Now, chill lang siya, taking everything with a grain of salt.

•  Ruffa

• On Richard: He has matured a lot, he has found himself. Now he knows what to do with his life. I think Sarah has a lot to do with it. He can leave showbiz anytime he wants to.  

• On Raymond: He has also found his niche, very creative behind the scenes and he excels likewise in front of the camera as a host.

• On Dad Eddie: He just wants everyone to be at peace, to be happy. He hates it when there’s fight or strife in the family. My dad is very quiet but when he gets irritated or annoyed and then he screams, everybody shuts up. But he’s never physical, never violent.

• On Mom Annabelle: She’s as noisy and as fierce and as strong as her personality is. She’s not scared of anybody or anything, except God. But on the show, you will see that she also has a very soft spot, something which she seldom shows. I’ve never seen her cry, except when I was eight or 12 years old. On the show, you will see her cry.

• Richard

• On Raymond: When he wants something, he really works hard to get it. Masipag.

• On Ruffa: I thought na lagi siyang kailangang glamorous, naka-ayos. During the shoot, I discovered that even if she’s not naka-ayos, confident siya. Very independent siya.

• On Dad Eddie: She’s very protective of my mom. In instances na nasasagot namin si Mommy, si Dad always defends her.

• On Mom Annabelle: Magaling pala siya mag-English! At saka, tahimik pala siya…kapag may mga kausap na international producers, hahahaha!   

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