The truth about Ruffa and Yilmaz

Curtain-raisers:

• Former Bb. Pilipinas-Universe Nina Ricci Alagao gave birth to her and boyfriend Michael Flores’ love child last Feb. 21. The boy is named Calvin Emmanuel, nicknamed Kah-el (after the father of Clark Kent in Superman).

• Meanwhile, Candy Pangilinan is finally pregnant (six weeks) with her and husband Gilbert Alvarado’s first child as confirmed by an ultrasound a few days ago at St. Luke’s Medical Center. Candy and Gilbert have been married for more than two years.

• Did you know that Julio Diaz is now into constructing swimming pools? He has just arrived from a business trip to Vietnam and Cambodia. Those interested in enlisting Julio’s services may get in touch with him through his cellphone (0920-2289912).

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The forthcoming wedding of Ruffa Gutierrez and her Turkish boyfriend Yilmaz Bektas is turning out to be as suspenseful as (if not even more than) those Mexican telenovelas, with "disturbing" news coming out everyday.

A few weeks ago, there was a report that Ruffa and Yilmaz had a terrible fight that might have led to the cancellation – or postponement – of the first wedding slated on March 25 at The Fort, never mind if invitations had already been sent out. (The second wedding, Muslim rites this time, is scheduled in Istanbul on May 11, the sweethearts’ third anniversary as lovers.)

Even the name of the designer of Ruffa’s gown has become a national guessing game.

A few issues ago, Funfare hinted that Ruffa was "afraid" to go to Istanbul (from L.A. where she’s currently based) to check out, as per Yilmaz’s wishes, some top designers there. Now, could the couple be into one of their fights again and Ruffa, according to rumors, was avoiding Yilmaz because he might "hurt" her? Ruffa’s mom, Annabelle Rama, was also said to have a similar fear.

Last Saturday afternoon, Ruffa called up Funfare from L.A. to set the record straight.

"Ay naku," she said, "I’m afraid to go to Istanbul not because I’m fighting with Yilmaz or I’m afraid he might ‘hurt’ me but because of the impending war. You know naman that Turkey is just across the border from Iraq. The US might strike Iraq, you’ll never know, and I might get stuck there. Grabe!"

Without denying that she and Yilmaz do fight every now and then, making up just as fast as (or even faster than) they flare up, Ruffa said that neither Yilmaz nor she had ever been violent. The "violence" is merely verbal, never physical.

"How can Yilmaz beat me up when he’s slim?" said Ruffa, adding with a laugh, "baka ako pa ang manggugulpi sa kanya, ’no! Yilmaz might be seloso but he’s never violent, I repeat."

In the next breath, Ruffa disclosed that, in a day or two, she’s flying to Istanbul to be with Yilmaz. They plan to take a brief vacation in Maldives before flying to Manila for the despedida de soltera scheduled on March 22, three days before the wedding the entourage of which is studded with celebrities from showbiz, politics and the business sector. (Reminder: Men are required to wear a black suit and women any color but black; guests must bring their invitations or else they won’t be allowed in.)

"Even though sometimes we have misunderstandings," continued Ruffa, "the most important thing is that love prevails. If you love each other, you’ll do something to work things out."

In L.A., according to Ruffa, her friends have been keeping her forever on her toes with bridal showers here and there, and lunch/dinner with her relatives. But she did check out the boutiques there (from Vera Wang to Saks), but she couldn’t find an off-the-rack gown to her liking.

"As I’ve been saying, I want my gown to be original. Inno Sotto will do my gown. He’s the second choice but he shouldn’t be sad, not even if he’s the third or fourth choice. Inno is the only Filipino designer whom I’ve ever considered."

Asked to describe her dream gown. Ruffa said briefly, "Well, I want it to have a Turkish-Moroccan feel... Something that will make me feel and look like a princess. After all, as I’ve also been saying, I’m getting married only once in my life. Oh, twice pala, including the one in Istanbul," adding, again with a laugh, "but to one and the same man."

Yilmaz’s being a Muslim shouldn’t "scare" people, said Ruffa.

"That’s his religion from birth and he’s proud of it in the same way that I’m Christian (Catholic) from birth and I’m proud of it."

It’s understood that after the wedding, Ruffa and Yilmaz will be each other’s exclusive "property," with Ruffa’s over-protective mother rendered powerless to "meddle" in the couple’s affairs.

"Oh, my God," sighed Ruffa, "I’m not gonna call her anymore if and when Yilmaz and I fight. The last time I did, things were distorted and blown out of proportion. Naging controversial pa! Grabe! They made a mountain out of a molehill. The next time Yilmaz and I fight, only the two of us will know about it; it will be just between us – unless it gets too serious that I need help from my family."

Funfare readers have been asking how really rich Yilmaz is; how much he’s really worth.

"It’s not important how rich he is. What’s important is that he has a rich heart, he has a heart of gold. We know each other inside-out."

They’re still debating where they’ll finally settle down after the wedding. Will it be London (where Yilmaz has a house)? Istanbul? L.A.? New York? Or Manila?

"That ‘issue’ will have to be settled after na the wedding," said Ruffa.

But what they have agreed is to have a baby immediately after the wedding.

"Who knows," said Ruffa, again with a laugh, "by the time we get married again in Istanbul baka pregnant na ako."

In that case, she might need a maternity dress for the event – not another Inno Sotto gown!

Prayer for cancer patients

Here’s a letter from my e-mail, sent by reader Myla Mamitag:

Do you know of any special prayer/novena for cancer-stricken persons? Can you please publish it? My father, Isaac P. Pallorina, was diagnosed to have cancer of the stomach. He is currently recuperating in Cook County Hospital in Illinois, USA, after being rushed there last Friday night. May I then request you and your readers to say a prayer for him? My family and I will appreciate it! Incidentally, my father and mother (Felicidad Fernandez-Pallorina) will be celebrating their 44th wedding anniversary on March 10. Happy Anniversary to them.

Dear Myla,

Luckily, I have this prayer to St. Peregrine, Patron of cancer victims, which Raoul Tidalgo and I bought at St. Patrick’s Cathedral when I went to New York in September last year.

St. Peregrine (rhymes with ter’rapin) was converted by St. Philip, O.S.M. He entered the Order of the Servants of Mary in 1283. Thus began 62 years of unbelievable penance as Peregrine made reparation for the sins of his youth. His feast day is on May 2nd. St. Peregrine is universally invoked as Patron of cancer victims because a cancerous growth on his own leg was miraculously cured.

Here’s the prayer:

O God, who gave to St. Peregrine an angel for his companion, the Mother of God for his Teacher, and Jesus for the Physician of his malady; grant, we beseech Thee, through his merits, that we may on earth intensely love our holy angel, the Blessed Virgin, and our Saviour, and in heaven bless them forever. Grant that we receive the favor for which we now petition. Through the same Christ our Lord. Amen.

(Say one Our Father, Hail Mary and Glory Be to the Father, with the invocation: St. Peregrine, pray for us.)

There. I hope this prayer will help your father and other cancer patients.

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