Yes, that’s Ruffa Gutierrez calling, five days after she had given birth to Venice Loran, her and husband Yilmaz Bektas’ second child. The name, which sounds like that of their first child Gabriella Lorin, means "beautiful" in Kurdish and it speaks well of the baby who came into this world (at the Cedars-Sinai Medical Center) 17.5 inches long and 5.3 lbs. heavy.
"Our plans have changed because I delivered Venice three weeks earlier than my due date (Sept. 30)," continued Ruffa. "Yilmaz is flying in from Istanbul in two weeks time and he’s staying for two weeks. And then, we’ll all fly together to London. By then, Venice will be a month old; Lorin was only three weeks old when we flew from L.A. to Istanbul last year."
In December, Ruffa and her two little ones will come home for the Christmas holiday and to finally launch the Lorin line of cosmetics.
Like her idol, Regine Velasquez, Sarah believed that performing in the US is a mark of stardom, a sign that she has "arrived" (you haven’t really done so until your talent is also recognized by our kababayan abroad, have you?). That’s why Sarah (and the rest of the champions for that matter) was so excited to perform in the States, her first time ever.
However, obtaining entertainer visas for Sarah, Rachelle, Mark and Christian was not an easy task, they being first-time visa applicants. So Vic del Rosario, Jr. of Viva Films/Viva Concerts, Inc. (producer of the Champions US tour) sought the help of immigration expert and STAR columnist Michael Gurfinkel (a.k.a. Attorney to the Stars). Gurfinkel did just that – get their visas without any hitch. (It was also Gurfinkel who helped Regine when she ran into problems with her visa a few years ago.)
Sarah was among the first batch of visa applicants who had to go through the newly-installed fingerprint-scanning machine at the US Embassy, effective Sept. 14. (Remember Sarah’s picture at the US Embassy on the front page of The STAR a few days ago?)
Sarah, who has never had a passport, is a proud holder of an O-1 visa as an "Alien of Extraordinary Ability," and is enjoying her first trip to America with her parents. For sure, in-between shows, they will visit such "must-see" places as Disneyland, the Statue of Liberty, Broadway, Golden Gate bridge, etc.
(Note: The law offices of Michael J. Gurfinkel is a full-service immigration firm with offices in L.A., San Francisco, New York and Makati City.)
Here’s Funfare’s Toronto-based "international correspondent" Ferdinand Lapuz’s report:
Not many people must have been aware of it, but an episode of The Amazing Race was filmed in Cavite and Manila.
From the Ninoy Aquino International Airport, the four teams had to go to the Malaguena Motor in Cavite where Colin and Cristy were yielded by Chip and Kim.
From there, they went to The Golden Duck, still in Cavite, where they had to detour either to plow the field or look for the clue in a poultry where they had to herd 1,000 birds.
From there, they had to rush back to Manila to The Coconut Palace which was the pit stop for the episode. First Daughter Luli Arroyo acted as the host.
It was an exciting episode. Watching it, I felt like I was going home with them.
(Note: Watch for it on your cable channel soon.)
(E-mail reactions at rickylo@philstar.net.ph)