Richard got the good news in Paris

The truth has set them free.

When Richard Gutierrez learned that his girlfriend Sarah Lahbati was pregnant, they couldn’t have been in a more fitting location; they were vacationing in Paris, the City of Light. That was middle of 2012. When Sarah gave birth April of last year in Switzerland where her parents are based and where she was born and raised, Richard was so proud to tell the whole world about it and bring home the baby whom they named Zion.

But not yet, Sarah’s lawyer advised them, not when Sarah was involved in a court case filed against her by GMA Network (which has been settled through a mediation early this year).

“The baby might be dragged into the issue,” Richard’s mom Annabelle Rama (the family’s “Speaker of the House”) quoted the lawyer as saying. “Headline ‘yung kaso ni Sarah at GMA; kung lumabas ‘yung balita na nanganak siya, kawawa naman ‘yung baby, baka madamay, baka maging circus lang sa media.”

Of course, that kind of news couldn’t be kept under wraps for long. It became subject of speculation in social media, all of which turned out to be true, if unconfirmed, especially since Sarah was fond of posting her and Richard’s photos on her Instagram taken wherever in the world they were. Even if the Gutierrezes (Annabelle and husband Eddie, Ruffa and Richard’s twin brother Raymond) were being pressed by the media for comment, they kept mum, neither denying nor confirming anything.

Until last Sunday night during the premiere telecast of the family’s reality-TV show It Takes Gutz To Be A Gutierrez on E! Channel (available on SkyCable/Destiny Channel 57 and Cignal/Cablelink Channel 33, Sunday at 9 o’clock with daily replays) when Richard finally admitted that, yes, “I am a proud father.”

“That was also the reason why Richard and Sarah were forbidden by the show producers (One Mega Group and TV100, with the Gutierrez Family as co-producers) to talk about the baby,” said Annabelle. “Dapat daw sa show nila sabihin. It was the right time, kasi tapos na rin ‘yung kaso ni Sarah with GMA. The producers wanted something ‘explosive’ on the first telecast,” which garnered the highest-rating premiere on E! Channel in the 2012-2014 period, packed full with commercials (some of which were bumped off for lack of time).

Early last Sunday, Annabelle prepared a dinner of Cebu Pancit and Baked Chicken which the family, along with some close friends, partook before watching the show.

After Richard’s admission was aired, Sarah broke down into the arms of Richard who hugged her tighter and also cried.

“Maya-maya,” recalled Annabelle, “all of us were crying na. The show came out well kasi, malinis.”

Contacted by Funfare for comment a few minutes after the telecast, Sarah said, “I feel relieved. Now everybody knows why we waited for the right time to tell everything, that there was a reason why we never talked about the baby.”

A few weeks after giving birth, Sarah, like Richard, wanted to bring home Zion with them, until her lawyer advised them against it, even if proud Papa Richard was saying, “Bahala na; itago natin pagdating sa airport.” I told him, “Richard, huwag kang makipagsapalaran.” Sabi niya, ‘Mommy, gusto ko alagaan ‘yung baby.’ Sabi ko, basta huwag. He was even ready to talk about it.”

And then the E! Channel came, signed last February after several months of negotiations done in Manila and in Singapore, even in E! Channel main office in L.A.

“We were told to keep everything a secret,” said Annabelle, “that’s why when movie reporters asked me why Richard didn’t renew his contract with GMA or sign up with another network, hindi kami makapag-salita…until the E! Channel contract was signed and announced at a presscon.”

From Switzerland, Baby Zion (nicknamed Zee) was brought to L.A. and stayed there for seven months, with Lolo Eddie and son Elvis (with girlfriend Alexa) taking care of him, along with Sarah’s mom. The baby was finally brought to the Philippines early this year and, as per the family’s E! Channel contract, will be introduced to the public on this Sunday’s (June 8) episode of ITGTBAG.

Sarah, turning 21 in October (Richard is 30), has beautifully blended into the Gutierrez family. She has been a positive partner to Richard.

“Chard is not rebellious anymore,” said twin brother Raymond. “He’s not as restless as he used to be. He’s more responsible now. At 10 p.m., he’s past asleep; at 6 a.m. he’s up and about, working out. Before, after work he would stick around with his barkada. Sarah brought him to a better place in his life. She has brought out the best in Chard.”

“Richard has matured a lot,” said his Ate Ruffa. “He has found himself. Now, he knows what to do with himself, what to do with his life. I think Sarah has a lot to do with it.”

Since Richard is not as busy (yet) as he used to be, Richard passes time driving his motorbike around, sometimes with Dingdong Dantes and his girlfriend Marian Rivera, along with Sarah, during a road trip around the country.

“Naging close sina Dingdong at Richard because of Ducati (a brand of motorbike),” Annabelle was pleasantly glad to discover. “Akala ko magka-away sila; hindi pala. In fact, Dingdong attended the red carpet premiere of our show.”

Annabelle and Eddie now have four grandchildren  (two from Ruffa, one from Elvis and one from Richard), with Eddie having six more (from son Tonton Gutierrez, two; and son Ramon Christopher, four).

Asked when Richard and Sarah are getting married, Annabelle said, “’Yon ang susunod na pag-uusapan.”

Baby Zion will be baptized some time this month.