A busy summer for Ruffa

MANILA, Philippines - “I think this is gonna be the best season yet,” reveals Ruffa Gutierrez of the forthcoming (third) season of It Takes GUTz To Be A Gutierrez on E!, whose British director just flew in to Manila recently for some pre-production preparations. “We signed with E! three seasons. So you need to watch and support it (the show). So, there’s going to be a new contract signing.”

Following the reality TV format, the Gutierrezes will again allow the viewers in the Philippines and other places in Asia to peek into their lives and let them see how these lives are interlocked  to one another.

“Alam mo ’pag isang tao lang ang pag-uusapan, boring,” says Ruffa on a suggestion of her being the focus of the new season. “I think we just have to live our lives and let the camera just follow us around. Mahirap kasi namang mag-plano kung anong mangyayari sa season three. I think what we need to do is to be more open. In season one, of course, there was Zion (the son of Richard and Sarah Lahbati), the exposé about that. That was very big. For me, season two was well-done. Pero wala namang pasabog. Siyempre wala namang nanganak, wala namang nabuntis. We have to wait and see. For us, walang script. We just wait for the camera to follow us around.” Ruffa and the rest of the family will spend their Holy Week in Bali, Indonesia and some parts of It Takes GUTz S3 will also be shot there.

Since the camera begins grinding end of March, Ruffa makes sure that she is in her top form, beauty-wise and body-wise. That’s why she keeps the regimen she knows will bring out the best in her.

With Niño Bautista and Red Gatus of Cosmo Skin and New Euphoria Maxx endorser John Spainhour (rightmost)

“I use it every day,” says Ruffa of Cosmo Skin Premium Collagen she endorses. “Alam ninyo naman hindi na ako bumabata, kailangan natin ng tulong para maging fresh tayo, maging very beautiful, especially in the morning. Lagi ko siyang mini-mix with my drinks. Nakita ninyo naman ang kutis ko, makinis na dati, pero lalo akong naging makinis at mas lalong naging fresh. Whenever my friends try it, makikita nila yung difference sa mukha nila. They feel fresh, (they have) rosy cheeks. Their hair even gets stronger.”

Ruffa complements it by working out twice a week. “I’m doing plyometrics,” she shares. Since mag-sa-start na kaming mag-shoot ng It Takes GUTz season three. Kailangan maging payat ako. Our director arrived (last week). We’re doing brainstorming and pre-production.”

The possible guest appearance of Ruffa’s French-Israeli boyfriend, Jordan Mouyal, in It Takes GUTz seems to be far from happening since the beauty queen-actress had to use her convincing power to make him grace the cover of StarStudio. “Medyo 10 hours ko siyang pinilit, pilit para ngumiti,” she recalls. “Si Mommy hindi niya alam yun, kaya two weeks and a half kaming di nag-usap ni Mommy. Nagbati lang kami sa debut ni Julia Barretto.” According to Ruffa, there was a reason why she pushed for the StarStudio cover idea and “you’ll know it by June,” she says. Definitely, there’s no wedding proposal or engagement announcement. Perhaps, there might be a birthday surprise coming from Ruffa herself.

“I’m very happy that I have raised them to be mature and they understand the situation,” says Ruffa of her daughters’ (Lorin and Venice) relationship with Jordan. “Natutuwa ako na alam nila and they are very accepting. He would sometimes teach them French.”

Whether she is giving married life another try or not, Ruffa’s priority is clear. “Hindi ko pa iniisip yun. What I really want to focus on is providing for my kids in the future. Siyempre, hindi na rin tayo bumabata. I have two kids and I’m a single working mom. So, it’s really important to secure their future.”

Part of that plan is the launch of Love Collection Two tomorrow, March 21 at the Events Place of Century City Mall, Makati City. The clothing line, where Ruffa serves the “financier,” is a design collaboration between Rajo Laurel and kids Lorin and Venice. This time around, it offers a spring and summer collection for girls, boys, toddlers and twins. “It’s very fun and very bright-colored,” she says. The Love Collection will be open to public on March 22 at the House of Laurel in Powerplant.

With that, summer is indeed a busy season to Ruffa.