Unmasked: Ruffa's 'special someone'

Curtain-raisers:

• For the nth time, I am putting out this disclaimer: The rickylo_xclusve Twitter account is a fake. It was opened by an evil mind and I don’t have anything to do with it. As I’ve been warning stars in previous disclaimers, don’t believe in whatever entries you read there; I’m not responsible for them. I have already called the attention of authorities to trace the cowardice author of that Twitter and to have the impersonation profile removed. Don’t say that I haven’t been warning you.

• The whole episode of tonight’s Walang Tulugan, the GMA very-late-night show of Mr. Showman himself, German “Kuya Germs” Moreno, will be devoted to a birthday tribute to Jake Vargas. “When Jake and the other Tweens stars guested on Party Pilipinas recently,” Kuya Germs happily told Funfare, “the show’s rating went up.” Tomorrow after Party Pilipinas, Jake will have his Fans Day at SM North EDSA starting at 3 p.m. Everybody is welcome.

• Regal Films and GMA Films hosted a thank-you lunch for the press yesterday to celebrate the box-office success of Temptation Island, its controversial joint venture, which grossed more than P10M when it opened last Wednesday. Now that the movie (a remake of Joey Gosiengfiao’s campy classic) is making money, Heart Evangelista (one of the stars) should stop sending nasty Twitter messages against co-star Marian Rivera from Brazil where Heart is vacationing with Daniel Matsunaga and his family. In her latest entry, Heart even insinuated that Marian (unnamed) is bobita. Unfair to Marian. Heart said that her Twitter has been hacked and denied having posted such negative comments.

* * *

On the opposite page for the first time in a broadsheet is a photo of Ruffa Gutierrez and Eduardo Puertas, her, hmmmm, “special someone.” Look at the photo closely. If a picture paints a thousand words, it’s plain to see that there’s “something” going on between the two. Observe the two’s body language (and how Eduardo is wrapping his arm around Ruffa’s waist) and you will agree that action does speak louder than words. So far, there’s no “admission” from Ruffa…yet…even if she’s fancy-free, being divorced from Yilmaz Bektas (they only had a religious Muslim ceremony in Turkey).

Ruffa with (from left) Garlic, West End actor Steven Rachman-Hughes, Christian Bautista and Hong Kong supermodel actress Rosemary Vandendbroucke...

Eduardo was among the 30-plus special guests from all over the world at Ruffa’s recent birthday (June 24) celebrated in style in Singapore, made possible by the Island State’s Tourism Board and Ruffa’s Singapore-based longtime-friend Antonio Collins.

“Ruffa packed into three amazing days a three-week itinerary,” said ABS-CBN head writer Garlic Garcia who was with the chosen 30.

According to Garlic’s report to Funfare, the celebration started at Changi Airport where well-wishers Girlie Rodis, Roselle Monteverde-Teo, Xander Angeles and Margarita Fores toasted Ruffa with bottles of champagne, followed by dinner at a fine-dining resto. That was on the eve of her birthday. At One Fullerton Bay Hotel, Ruffa’s accommodation was upgraded to a special suite which commands a panoramic view of the Marina Bay and the Singapore skyline.

...with Dr. Vicki Belo and Vicki’s daughter Cristalle Henares...

“On the day itself,” continued Garlic, “Ruffa and her guests had lunch at the world-famous No Signboard Restaurant.”

They feasted on Chili Crab & White Pepper Crab, among other dishes. Then, the entourage jumped into a special bus that went around the city, including a stop at the posh penthouse of Ruffa’s good friend Max von Romatowski and some drinks at the Lantern Bar of One Fullerton.

To cap the night, the celebrators danced the night away at the 57th floor Bar Kudeta of the Marina Bay Sands.

More high moments: Lounging at the exclusive Tanjong Beach Club, shopping at Orchard Road and “a memorable gastronomic experience” at the Tippling Club where Dr. Vicki Belo and son, director Quark Henares, and Jackie Forster and her Singapore-based Dutch businessman fiancé Michele Franken joined the group.

...with (from left) Christian, Globe VP for marketing Leah de Guzman, JM Rodriguez, Divine, Karylle and Jackie...

Guess what Vicki’s birthday gift to Ruffa was — the latest Chanel bag.

Among Ruffa’s other well-wishers were Singapore-based model-turned-brand-executive Apples Aberin, Sen. Migz Zubiri, Victor Basa, Divine Lee, Rajo Laurel, Rep. Sonny Angara, Ria Romero, Aurelia Chenat (of Amazing Race Asia fame), Stephanie Zubiri, Jonathan Crespi, Tricia Panlilio, Ricardo Po, JM Rodriguez, Mikaela Lagdameo-Martinez, Rico Blanco, and Karylle and Christian Bautista who are in Singapore shooting for The Kitchen Musical, who came with their co-stars Steven Rachman-Hughes (a West End veteran) and Hong Kong supermodel-actress Rosemary Vandendbroucke.

Tim Yap flew in late from Manila but enlivened the party all the more.

(E-mail reactions at [email protected]or at [email protected]. You may also send your questions to [email protected]. For more updates, photos and videos visit http://www.philstar.com/funfare.)

...and with (from left) Ponds and Greenwich endorser Mikaela Lagdameo-Martinez, Cristalle and Stephanie Zubiri