I made plans of seeing my dear friend, Ruffa Gutierrez, when I went to the Philippines last February. She kept inviting me for dinner (part of the reason was for me to meet the person who is making my friend really happy), but because of my tight schedule, our supposed dinner didn’t happen. It would have been one hell of a catching up session and good opportunity to know the love of her life.
I’ve been friends with the Gutierrezes for a while now and I treat them as family. Ruffa is one of my trusted friends – the feeling is mutual. I was there when she was still married to her ex-husband, Yilmaz Bektas and even flew to Turkey to see her. Now that she has found “contentment and love” with her boyfriend of two years, Jordan Mouyal, she can’t wait to share with me her love-conquers-all stories (alluding to the fact that her mom is against the relationship).
Despite Ruffa’s busy schedule juggling everything on her plate — her endorsements, her upcoming Teleserye with TV 5, and commitments with AVON Fashions as their Jewelry and Watches’ Ambassador – her enthusiasm and optimism never changes. I guess I have Jordan to thank for that.
In an interview with Ruffa, she said that she is happy that Jordan is secure with who she is when it comes to their relationship.
Jordan, who is a few years younger than her, is also a double-Masters degree holder, comes from a good family (in Paris), and is said to be a very secure man. In fact, Ruffa stated in the press launch of the 3rd season of “It Takes Gutz to be A Gutierrez,” that unlike other people who would opt to distance themselves if they are in Jordan’s situation (Annabel’s disapproval of him), her boyfriend chose to stay.
“Yeah, I think it’s a two-way thing. Also with Jordan, he has proven to me and to my friends that he’s here for the long run. Hindi naman siya pangit, may trabaho naman ang tao, maganda naman ang kinikita niya. (He’s not ugly, he has work, he’s earning well.) He has a double degree in engineering.”Hindi naman siya yung parang walang pinag-aralan na hampaslupa. Hindi naman siya tambay sa kanto,” Ruffa said. (He’s not like some good for nothing person. He’s not someone who just loiters around the streets), Ruffa said in a recent interview with Rappler.
She also added that Jordan felt bad about what he has heard from Annabelle but this did not cause the businessman to lose respect for Ruffa’s mom.
Since I know their family for a while now, I understand – as much as Ruffa does – that Annabelle just wants the best for her children. I’ve seen how she fought for them and while she admittedly expresses her opinions too blunt (to a fault), she loves them all so much.
Ruffa’s love-hate relationship with her mom may be one of world’s “fascinating mysteries,” but one thing remains true for this mother-daughter tandem: They both care and love so much – they are willing to fight for it.
In one of Annabelle’s tweets, she said that she just wants to surrender all her issues with Ruffa, [since] she already said everything. She also added that it’s no use repeating them if her daughter will resist them anyway. She tweeted, “Surrender na ako. Hindi lang mga kamay ang itataas ko, pati mga paa ko itataas ko na rin sa pagsuko ko… (I surrender. Not just my hands but my feet as well).”
Ruffa, on the other hand acknowledges that at the end of the day, she is still her mother. And since she is a mother too, she understands what a mother’s love can drive people to do. But right now, she just wants to savor the experience of being loved and feeling inspired.
“Jordan serves as an inspiration… (But) it’s more on the side that we complement each other and we make each other happy. Kung may mga arguments man kami, it’s more on the little things lang. Petty. And the fact that we both love to travel, we both are hard working and at the same time, hindi kami parehong seloso na wala sa lugar, ” Ruffa said in an article.
As they say, ”True love conquers all.”
To my friend, Ruffa: I am happy for you and Jordan. I wish I’ve met him that night when we are supposed to have dinner. But there’s always a next time. And from the looks of it, I’d still be seeing him with you in the years to come. Good luck to both of you! Love and cheers!
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The author is a Marikina-born, award-winning celebrity beauty stylist with his own chain of salons across Southern California and Las Vegas, Nevada. Ultimately, Monet is known as an all-around artiste who produces sold-out fashion and awards, shows as well as unforgettable marketing campaigns. Monet is also the founder of the revolutionary all-natural beauty products available at www.skinbymonet.com. He supports many humanitarian efforts to include projects in his native Marikina, Bantay Bata Foundation, and many more. To contact Monet, please visit www.monetsalon.com for more information.
