Ruffa hindi makalimutan ang utang na loob kay Melanie

Malaki na ang pinagkaiba sa pagsali ngayon sa mga beauty pageant ayon kay Ruffa Gu­tierrez. Matatandaang sumali sa Binibining Pilipinas ang aktres noong 1993 at nanalo naman bilang Binibining Pilipinas World. Nanalo rin si Ruffa bilang Miss World 2nd Runner Up ng parehong taon.

“Times have changed. I think the Binibinis are much older now. Back in the day, we joined, 17, 18 (years old). 15 pa lang, kinukulit na ako ni Mrs. Araneta (Stella). I think now, they want them more matured. They already want to eradicate the swimsuit competition. They consider beauty in all shapes, forms and sizes. It doesn’t mean na mataba ka, pangit ka. You can be beautiful in all ways. It’s not about beauty and brains anymore. When I joined in 1993, I was the only actress. But now, everyone who joins are actresses, models. I think you have to showcase something different. You have to speak a lot of languages, have your own advocacy and really standout and be unique. It’s also about being a leader and how you can change the way of others,” nakangiting pahayag ni Ruffa.

Malaki umano ang pasasalamat at utang na loob ng aktres kay Melanie Marquez na siyang nag-train sa kanya noong sumali sa Miss World. Nakoronahan si Melanie bilang Miss International noong 1979. “It was her who trained me for Miss World. During my time wala pa tayong mga camp. It was Miriam Quiambao who was first sent to Venezuela to do all these camps. My time, sariling sikap lang. Ako mismo tumawag kay Ms. Melanie and said please help me. I don’t know how to walk. So she taught me how to walk. She made me put ten books on top of my head, at doon lang kami sa bahay niya palakad-lakad. Kaya napakalaki ng utang na loob ko kay Melanie,” pagbabahagi ng aktres.

Melai at Jason pinapa-English ang mga anak

Bilang mga magulang sa dalawang anak na sina Mela at Stella ay talagang nakatutok daw sa pag-aalaga sina Melai Cantiveros at Jason Francisco. Mahigit anim na taon nang mag-asawa ang dalawa ngayon at maayos ang samahan nila bilang isang pamilya. “Doon kami naka-focus sa disiplina at ugali nila. Alam nilang dalhin ang buhay nila with positivity and with God,” paglalahad ni Melai.

Madalas na nakikita sa Instagram sina Mela at Stella na nagsasalita ng Ingles. Mahilig daw na manood ang dalawang bata ng iba’t ibang pelikula at programang Ingles kaya natuto ang mga ito. Ayon naman kay Jason ay nakakaintindi at nakapagsasalita rin ng Tagalog sina Mela at Stella. “Gusto lang namin minsan ‘yung mga pangarap ng mga magulang sa mga anak na lang nila ‘di ba? So ‘yon parang iniisip namin ‘yung panganay si Mela na English pero marunong din siya mag-Bisaya at mag-Tagalog,” paliwanag ni Jason. (Reports from JCC)