Sarah now a member of the Gutierrez family

Action speaks louder than words, so they say. So even if sweethearts Richard Gutierrez and Sarah Lahbati have been tight-lipped, it’s quite obvious that Sarah is now a certified member of the Gutierrez family.

 At the ninth birthday party of Venice, the younger daughter of Ruffa Gutierrez and ex-husband Yilmaz Bektas, Sarah was among those who entertained kiddie guests and not just a mere guest. Venice turned nine on Sept. 11 while her Ate Lorin turned 10 on Aug. 3.

Held Saturday last week (Sept. 14), Venice’s party was kicked off with games at the Timezone on Bonifacio High Street at The Fort from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. and the party proper at the Cold Stone Creamery in Serendra, also at The Fort, from 1 to 5 p.m. Most of the well-wishers were Venice’s classmates at a British school. Venice’s dad Yilmaz sent a birthday message from Istanbul.

Lola Annabelle Rama saw Ruffa in Venice when Ruffa was that small. She’s Ruffa’s mini-me.

When Venice saw the TV crew coming, she asked for her coat from Mom Ruffa and said, “The cameras are here; I have to look good.” As the cameras rolled, Venice kept on dancing.

“I prayed for Venice not to be born on Sept. 11 because that was the third anniversary of 9/11 (Sept. 11, 2004),” recalled Ruffa. “I asked The Lord, ‘Please, not Sept. 11; okey lang Sept. 12.’ But Venice was in a hurry to come out, so…” Happily, according to Ruffa, “I learned that those born on Sept. 11 are the stuff of heroes and have leadership qualities.”

Like Ruffa, Venice is an expert in “misleading” the media. When asked if a member has been added to the growing Gutierrez family, she kept mum and simply smiled.

Ask Richard the same question and all he would say is, “Time will come when I will answer all questions.”

No need to. Some things are considered confirmed more by pregnant silence than by speaking out loud, right?

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