The bride who has no gown – yet

Curtain-raisers:

• Could it be true that actress "G" and her manager parted under hostile circumstances, that‘s why the actress is fuming at her manager? "Kapag nakita ko ang bruhang ’yan," the actress was overheard saying, "huhubaran ko ’yan!" The unsuspecting manager should start wearing several layers of clothing.

• A semi-retired sexy actress is now in the States to follow up the divorce papers she has filed against her foreigner (athlete) husband by whom she has two children. A Funfare DPA said that the actress "is tired" of supporting a good-for-nothing (except in bed) jobless husband.

• Now, could it be true that a showbiz mother is looking for a mangkukulam-cum-manghuhula? You see, she believes that her daughter is a victim of gayuma (love potion?) by her foreigner-boyfriend whom she’s oh-so-madly in love, refusing to listen to words of advice from her parents. Will the showbiz mother ask the mangkukulam-cum-manghuhula to concoct a (love?) potion that could bring her daughter back to her (right) senses?

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Don’t look now, but exactly a month before her wedding in Manila (on March 25, at The Fort) to her Turkish boyfriend Yilmaz Bektas, Ruffa Gutierrez has yet to choose the couturier-designer who would make her gown. As it is, Ruffa is the bride who has no gown – yet.

She and Yilmaz have gone to top designers in Europe (Paris, etc.), including Christian Dior and Valentino, but they were told that with the limited time before the wedding, all they could do was pick a gown off-the-rack. Ruffa said, "No way; I’m getting married only once in my life and I want an original gown. I want to look and feel like the most beautiful bride on my wedding day."

If Ruffa picked a ready-made gown, it would be very simple, indeed, each costing as much as – or only – $80,000. But what she wants is a fabulous one, complete with beads and other accessories. A fairy-tale gown fit for Arabian nights.

Yilmaz has advised Ruffa to fly from L.A. (where Ruffa is, ehem, malingering) to Istanbul to have a gown designed by Turkey’s top couturier (maybe the one who made the gown of the Miss Turkey who recently won the Miss World crown?) but Ruffa is again saying, "No way." You could only surmise why Ruffa refuses to go to Turkey (could they be into one of their fights?), unllike in the past when she would rush there from wherever she was the moment Yilmaz asked her to go.

Ruffa has her "measurements" in Istanbul, but she needs some fitting (only the paper design and not the finished gown because, according to superstition, if a bride fitted her gown, chances are the wedding wouldn’t push through). Still and all, she insists, "no way!"

My guess is that it would be Inno Sotto who would design Ruffa’s gown and knowing Inno, I’m sure he‘d come up with something even more beautiful and more fabulous than any gown a Valentino or a Christian Dior can ever hope to do.

Incidentally, invitations to the Manila wedding (a second one is scheduled in Istanbul on May 11) have been sent out. Ruffa’s mom Annabelle Rama is reminding those invited to come in all-black suits (for men) and any color (except black) for women.

"They have to bring their invitations," said Annabelle. "Otherwise, hindi sila papapasukin.

Something worth your while

Because of the way director Dennis Marasigan talked about it, I guess that first thing I’d do tomorrow night (8 o’clock, with another playdate the next night) as soon as I close my pages is rush to the CCP to catch Something Stupid...Called Love.

Since it stars singers (Kyla, The CompanY, Dessa, RJ Rosales and Jon Santos who could pass for any singer), I thought Something Stupid was just any other post-Valentine concert. It’s not. It’s actually a love story portrayed and depic in old, familiar songs that will surely capture the hearts of the audience.

There are surprises along the way, so don’t blink during the two-hour presentation (with Toti Fuentes as musical director and Joel Mercado as scriptwriter). Me? I’m sure I’ll enjoy the night trying to guess what the next old, familiar song will be sung by...Dessa? Kyla? RJ? The CompanY?

Again, to avoid spoiling the suspense, I’m not telling you what the love story is all about. As usual, part of the thrill of enjoying Something Stupid, just like similar musicals currently on Broadway, is uncovering (along with the performers) the layers of the plot. Clue: The musical comedy takes an irreverent look at romance and the pretty follies that lovers commit.

Meanwhile, guess who Jon Santos is adding to his growing roster of "impersonated" characters? Will it be Stupid Cupid looking like, brace yourselves, President GMA? You can never tell what surprises Jon is going to spring on the audience.

Jon has been paid to do other people for ten years now. He thrives on what is hot at the moment but some of the best loved characters are the classics: Ate Vi (Vilma Santos); Basana Roces (Rosanna Roces); FVR (Ex-President Ramos); Sherap Espada (Ex-President Joseph Estrada); Ate Shawie (Sharon Cuneta); Bro. Mike Volare (Mike Velarde); Tita Midz (Armida Siguion-Reyna); Michael (Michael Jackson); Jolibina Walangdangal (Jolina Magdangal); Dayanara; Baby Arenas; Imelda Marcos; and Tita Cory (Cory Aquino).

What’s up?

• I want to say "Hello!" to Romy Galang, former FAMAS president, who has been a New York resident for the past 25 years.

• Reader Roanne of Los Angeles, California wants to know if Tetchie Agbayani ("Yes, the actress who appeared nude in the German edition of Playboy in 1980") has gotten married. (Dear Roanne: Tetchie is still fancy-free, although semi-retired now. She’s back in school and taking care of an adopted child. She recently appeared in an ABS-CBN soap.)

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