Ruffa Gutierrez
6.3
6 votes
Astrological Zodiac sign: Cancer
Age: 38
Sharmaine Ruffa Rama Gutiérrez, who is more popularly known simply as Ruffa Gutierrez (born in Philippines), is a Filipina actress, model and former beauty queen. She was Binibining Pilipinas-World 1993 and the Miss World 1993 Second Princess. She is the daughter of 1960s matinee idol and Elvis impersonator Eddie Gutierrez and former actress Annabelle Rama and the older sister of identical twin actors Richard and Raymond Gutierrez.
In 2003, she married Turkish businessman Yilmaz Bektaş in a lavish ceremony in Manila. She has two daughters named Lorin (born 2003) and Venice (born 2004) with him and resided with them in Istanbul, Turkey for a few years, though she frequently came back home to the Philippines to do commercials, television guestings and vacations.
Allegedly, her husband had bought for her a cable TV channel (FTV) for her to work on. However, the management of the said cable channel have recently confirmed that she only used to work there.
On May 8, 2007, Gutierrez and Bektaş announced their mutual decision to end their four-year marriage. On June 9 and 10, 2007, Gutierrez claimed on GMA-7's Startalk and ABS-CBN's The Buzz that she claimed she was physically tortured and abused by Bektas while in Turkey. She says it's the reason why she's divorcing him. Gutierrez revealed that she had been electrocuted in a bath tub filled with water, continuously beaten for 15 hours and locked inside a cabinet. Bektas admitted to slapping her once after learning that she was still married to her previous husband, but denies torturing her. Bektas accused Gutierrez of marital infidelity and claimed she was dating another man which she denied. Gutierrez, who converted to Islam upon her marriage to Yilmaz, has since come back home to her native Philippines and became a Pentecostal Born-Again Christian instead of reverting back to her original Roman Catholic faith.
Prior to their separation, Bektas reportedly sought the assistance of his lawyer and was able to determine that, according to marriage records from Clark County, Nevada, she was allegedly married in 1999 in Las Vegas, Nevada to a certain Richard Daloia, an issue that was first reported in 2000 but which Gutierrez has neither denied nor confirmed.
On June 10, 2007, Gutierrez admitted on ABS-CBN's The Buzz, that she married Richard Daloia and belied Bektaş' claim that she had not filed a divorce petition to nullify her first marriage. She clarified that she alone filed the petition in 2000 but did not follow up the status of the petition. Clark County’s civil, family and probate records on their website, however, shows Ruffa filed the divorce petition only on June 1, 2007. No other record of a previous petition appeared.
Gutierrez sought the help of the Philippine National Police for escort protection following reported threats to her and her daughters' life. She reportedly receives threatening messages from Bektas. The PNP granted the request for one month.
On August 19, 2007, Ruffa confirmed that she reconciled with husband Yilmaz Bektas. Yilmaz Bektas set a condition “I plan [to] speak with them but [in] the correct and perfect time. I’m not scared … of course, I am nervous and also shy. It’s not only Ruffa and my two kids I want back, I want all the family back, like Gutierrez family and Bektas family, have to be together.” Ruffa, on the other hand tersely summarized her stance on the reconciliation - “Sino bang babae o nanay na ayaw maging intact o mabuo ang pamilya? Ang pagkakamali namin ni Yilmaz, we shared everything with the public. Sana, may mga bagay na Hindi namin nasabi … para kami na lang ang magharap at mag-ayos.
Although being married to Richard Daloia (making the Bektas-Gutierrez marriage illegitimate), on September 7, Ruffa admits that she realized it was time to file for the annulment of her marriage to Yilmaz.
On August 21, in Saksi of GMA NEWS.TV, Bektas emotionally had it - "My cousin is here bringing her ring. Ruffa's ring for the proposal. I want to propose to her again in to get married with me. I'm really looking for the correct time. I first want to get the blessing from her family," however, Annabelle Rama publicly announced that she doesn't want to meet Bektas.
Yilmaz has currently moved on with his life, with his last visit in April 2008, telling Ruffa, "There is nothing to go back to."
Ruffa was crowned Binibining Pilipinas-World 1993 at the Coronation Night held at the Araneta Coliseum. Other winners include Ana Gonzalez (Elite Model Look), Sheila Mae Santarin (BB. Pilipinas-International), Dindi Gallardo (BB. Pilipinas-Universe), Jeanette Fernando (BB. Pilipinas-Tourism) and a runner up.
In 1993 in Sun City, Africa, Ruffa Gutierrez represented the Philippines in the Miss World Beauty Pageant. She stood out during the National Costume Parade where she wore a Sarimanok-inspired pearl studded gown by Ben Farrales. The choice of Miss Jamaica, Miss South Africa & Miss Philippines in the first three positions in the Miss World Beauty Pageant was considered symbolic of the change and transformation in the world. Ruffa was crowned the second princess.
In 2002, Ruffa Gutierrez was a GMA Network talent. She had three regular shows on GMA Network. She also hosted Philippines' Next Top Model, Cycle 1 on RPN-9.
Starting March 11, 2007, Gutierrez became Kris Aquino's temporary replacement in The Buzz when the original host filed a maternity leave. When the latter decided to permanently leave The Buzz, ABS-CBN offered her a one-year exclusive talent contract with the network. She was assigned to be the permanent replacement of Kris Aquino at The Buzz and is expected to do a TV series with the network. In that same year, Ruffa appeared in ABSCBN's remake of Kokey, where she played 'Trining'.
In 2008, Ruffa Gutierrez played the role of Daniella Valencia (the antagonist) in ABSCBN's remake of Betty La Fea entitled "i ♥ Betty La Fea" headed by Bea Alonzo as the starring role of Beatrice Pengson.
In 2009, Ruffa became the host of a new morning show with Ai Ai de las Alas named Ruffa and Ai, which replaced Boy & Kris.
See also: Model, Actress, Beauty Pageant Contestant, Filipina
