Ruffa’s mysterious ailment softens Annabelle’s heart

That “breaking news” in last Tuesday’s Funfare about Ruffa Gutierrez having “died for five minutes” sent shock waves around the world (thanks to social media). It was Ruffa’s mom Annabelle Rama herself who, her body rocked by giant sobs, broke the sad news during the presscon for the return of the family show It Takes Gutz To Be A Gutierrez (ITGTBAG) for its fourth season (still on E! Channel).

Annabelle was promptly stopped by husband Eddie Gutierrez from talking further about Ruffa’s “death,” saying it was a mere slip of the tongue as he tried to console Annabelle, since their E! Channel contract forbids them from revealing about the family activities which are exclusively chronicled on the show. Good thing Ruffa’s brother Richard was around so he rushed Ruffa to the hospital.

“I was swamped with frantic calls from here and abroad,” said Jun Lalin, the Gutierrezes’ publicist. “They were all asking if it was true that Ruffa had died.”

According to the latest word (take note: not from the Gutierrezes), all tests turned out negative. Is Ruffa a victim of kulam (witchcraft, that’s why the family is reportedly thinking of consulting an espiritista)? Since it has happened to Ruffa thrice, there must be something wrong with her. Is the family seriously planning to seek a second opinion from doctors in Singapore?

But at the other day’s presscon in Marco Polo Hotel (Ortigas Avenue, Pasig City), Ruffa looked none the worse, all smiles as usual, reacting good-naturedly to her mom’s rare public display of breaking down, especially when Annabelle said “Mahirap ang mawalan ng anak,” by saying, “I’m so happy that you really care for me naman pala.” You see, mother and daughter are in a love-hate relationship caused by Annabelle’s disapproval of Ruffa’s foreigner-boyfriend.

“I will have to be softer on her,” Annabelle told Funfare. “Ayaw ko na siyang lalong ma-stress pa.”

Still directed by Steven Gilfeather (of Scottish descent who works for NBC Universal in London), ITGTBAG (which returns on Monday, July 25 at 8:30 p.m., anchoring E! Asia’s I Heart Pinoy Monday Block) shows how the Gutierrezes have been since three years ago when the show started (with more than 70 episodes to date).

Here’s how:

• Richard and girlfriend Sarah Lahbati’s son Zion, introduced on the show when he was barely a year old, has grown up. “He’s very talkative now,” said Sarah, “and he’s showing signs of being an action star like his dad. Mahilig tumalon-talon sa bed. He’s also fond of singing and sports.”

• Ruffa’s daughters Lorin, 12, and Venice, 11, are like any typical tweens who are techie and fashion-conscious. Both plan to take up Business and Entrepreneurship but don’t discount going into showbiz ­— “But only after they are done with their studies,” said Ruffa.

• Eddie on Ruffa and his granddaughters: “When Ruffa was a kid, she was always in front of the mirror mimicking her favorite comedienne. Sina Lorin at Venice naman, they are always in front of the camera acting and singing.”

• Because Annabelle and director Steven Gilfeather are meeting all the time, according to Richard, “Nag-improve ang English ni Mommy at nag-improve ang Tagalog ni Steven.”

The resumption of ITGTBAG was delayed because the members of their family were busy with their respective activities. It was only now that they were able to arrange their schedules.

Incidentally, Funfare asked Ruffa how she felt about the airport bombing in Turkey that killed 36 and the coup attempt that left more than 160 casualties.

“I was concerned with what’s happening in Turkey,” admitted Ruffa who lived in Istanbul for a few years with her ex-husband Yilmaz Bektas. “Part of my daughters Lorin and Venice are Turkish. I reached out to the Bektas family and I was relieved that they were okay and nothing happened to them.

“You know, with what’s happening not only in Turkey but other parts of the world, we should really love one another, we should realize that life is short, so we must live life the best way we can.”

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