Ruffa is pregnant!

Like the first time, Ruffa Gutierrez (Mrs. Yilmaz Bektas) found out she is pregnant by accident.

It will be the couple’s second child. Their first, Lorin Gabriella, is only seven months old.

The other day, Ruffa had herself confined at the St. Luke’s Medical Center pretending she was sick so her husband, Yilmaz, wouldn’t get mad at her for extending her vacation here.

You see, when Ruffa and daughter Lorin came home two weeks ago from the Maldives where the Bektases spent a week-long holiday, Yilmaz gave her his blessings but only until after, as Ruffa told him, the Gandang Ricky Reyes show at the CCP last March 2 in which Ruffa was one of the models.

Yilmaz expected Ruffa and Lorin back in Istanbul on March 3, not knowing that Ruffa was staying a few more days to host (with Richard Gomez) the 41st Bb. Pilipinas Pageant which will be held tomorrow night (March 6) at the Araneta Coliseum (covered live by GMA 7 starting at 9 p.m.).

(Last year, Ruffa begged off from hosting the same beauty pageant because she was also bleeding.)

As an alibi, Ruffa rushed to St. Luke’s and asked Yilmaz to call her there to "verify."

And then it happened – the "spotting," that is. After a check-up, Ruffa was found to be nine weeks pregnant. That was also how she discovered she was pregnant early last year (three months before their wedding on March 25 at The Fort) – when she had a "spotting" during a stopover in Frankfurt on her way to the Philippines from Istanbul.

Ruffa broke the news to Yilmaz who must have been so elated (could he have jumped with joy?) that he completely forgot to nag Ruffa about going back to Istanbul quick!

So there Ruffa is in her room at St. Luke’s, ordered by her doctor to take a full-day rest in preparation for her Bb. Pilipinas hosting job tomorrow. (Will Ruffa do it sitting down? Find out for yourselves.)

The round-trip tickets from Maldives to Manila and from Manila to Istanbul were paid for by Ricky Reyes who invited Ruffa home for the Gandang Ricky Reyes CCP affair. Ruffa and Lorin, along with the yaya, are flying back to Istanbul Sunday (March 7).

Richard a Binibini judge

Ruffa won’t be the only Gutierrez figuring prominently in tomorrow’s Bb. Pilipinas Pageant. Her younger brother, Richard, will also be there as one of the judges.

"I’m thrilled," said Richard who, like his father, Eddie Gutierrez, is a lover of beauty.

"Thrilled" also aptly describes the way Richard feels about his career which took a turn for the best last year. His luck continues unhampered.

After an attention-getting role (as Lorna Tolentino and Christopher de Leon’s son) in Mano Po 2, Regal’s 2003 Metro Filmfest entry, Richard starred in the Regal youth-oriented flick Kuya (rated B by the Cinema Evaluation Board) which is on its third-week run in some Metro Manila theaters.

"I have one more good reason to be thrilled," added Richard, referring to his new movie, I Will Survive (also from Regal), where he plays the son of Maricel Soriano and directed by Joel Lamangan, "It has been my dream to be directed by Tito Joel. I never thought na matutupad ang dream ko so soon."

Martin home for 2 weeks

FLASH: As I typed this, I received the good news that Martin Nievera is arriving today from Las Vegas where he just completed a successful two-month stint as headliner at the Golden Nugget Hotel. Martin will be home for a much-needed two-week vacation.

The Funfare DPA added that negotiations are now underway for Martin to take his Golden Nugget show on a year-long US tour (covering a dozen cities), starting late this year, continuing through 2005 until early 2006.

When Martin returns to Las Vegas, he’ll star in a special show for Philippine Airlines to mark PAL’s inaugural Manila-Las Vegas flight on March 17.

Welcome back, Martin! Keep up the good work!

Pinay on American Idol

The other day, Funfare featured Camile Velasco, one of the two Filipinas who made it to the top 12 of the popular US talent show American Idol. The other Pinay is none other than Jasmine Trias, 17, who is also from Hawaii like Camile.

According to Funfare’s Toronto-based "international correspondent" Ferdinand Lapuz, Jasmine got into the finals during the episode aired the other night. The top 12 will be competing for the grand prize starting on the March 16 edition, every week eliminating the contestant with the lowest vote until the best man/woman remains standing.

Asked on the show "what album would your friends be surprised you own," Jasmine answered, "A Filipino soap-opera soundtrack."

More on Jasmine (info furnished Funfare by Ferdinand):

• She started singing at 8, stopped at 10 and resumed at 14. She attended the Performing Artist Academy in Hawaii.

• Her other talents include playing the piano, ukelele and the guitar; dancing the hula and hip-hop

• Her favorite male pop artist is Justin Timberlake

• Her favorite female pop artist is Christina Aguilera

Asked what she’d do if she didn’t make it as American Idol, Jasmine said, "I will continue to pursue a career in singing, or I will finish my education and become a nurse."

There. Let’s hope and pray that either Camille or Jasmine – or why not a "tie"? – bag the American Idol grand prize.

Meanwhile, another Filipino is making waves on another US talent show, Star Search. He’s none other than Mark Mejia who has already won $100,000 for being champion, according to Funfare reader Rizaldy Ibañez. Mark is only 10. One time, he wore a Barong Tagalog to the show. The finals will be held next Saturday, March 13. Let’s also hope and pray that Mark will emerge No. 1.

Bong and Jinggoy reconcile

Senatoriables Jinggoy Estrada and Bong Revilla, running with opposing parties, have finally buried the hatchet – no, not on each other’s backs, but – during Rudy Fernandez’s birthday bash the other night (March 3) at Jinggoy’s office on Lt. Artiaga St. in San Juan, Metro Manila.

A rift developed between the two politicos in 2001 when Bong openly hit former President Estrada during the EDSA Dos which ousted Erap. Last year, a reconciliation between Jinggoy and Bong was aborted at the Veterans Memorial Hospital where a salu-salo was held to mark Jinggoy’s birthday.

Before Bong showed up at the other night’s party, Birthday Boy Rudy informed Jinggoy that Bong was coming "to greet me." Bong came at around 9 p.m. and the kantiyawan started.

Before long, the two let bygones be bygones and hugged each other like long-lost friends. And then, along with Rudy, Jinggoy and Bong sang Saan Ka Man Naroroon.

The reconciled friends had a heart-to-heart talk until around 4 o’clock the next morning.

In showbiz as in politics, there are no permanent friends or permanent enemies, only permanent...

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