Ruffa Gutierrez reveals former husband Turkish businessman Yilmaz Bektas proposed to her again

Could love be even more beautiful the second time around for former beauty queen-turned-actress Ruffa Gutierrez and ex-husband Turkish businessman Yilmaz Bektas?

Eighteen years after they separated, Ruffa revealed that Yilmaz has proposed to her again. She admitted she was shocked at his proposal. “Is this a joke?” Sabi niya, ‘No. I invite you to be on a train with me, and mag-train daw kami all over Europe. Sabi ko, ‘Totoo ba ‘to or baka he’s planning my murder on the plane or train? (Is this a joke?” He said, ‘No. I invite you to be on a train with me, and we will train all over Europe. I said, ‘Is this true, or maybe he’s planning my murder on the plane or train?)

Ruffa said she did not accept the proposal, but she told him he could visit their children in the Philippines. She said that she regularly communicates with Yilmaz now.

“I’m very happy na they (children) are more at ease. Parang ‘yung pain na nakita ko sa heart ng mga kids ko for many years nawala. I’m just so happy for my daughters because they now have personal relationship with their dad. Kami rin ni Yilmaz ok din kami. Minsan nagbibiruan kami. Nagpapadala rin siya ng ano (pera), you know, so happy kaming lahat. Oo, regular ang communication. (I’m very happy that they (children) are more at ease. It’s like the pain I saw in my kids’ hearts for many years has disappeared. I’m just so happy for my daughters because they now have a personal relationship with their dad. Yilmaz and I are also okay. Sometimes we joke around. He also sends us something (money), you know, so we are all happy. Yes, communication is regular),” said Ruffa during the contract signing of her latest endorsement for Luxe Slim with Anna Magkawas at Incanta in Morato, Quezon City on March 11.

“We are beyond thrilled to announce the stunning, confident, and ever-radiant Ruffa Gutierrez as the newest ambassador for Luxe Slim and Luxe Skin,” Anna said in the same media conference.

On her sweet message to Yilmaz, Ruffa said: “I wish him to be more successful because his success is also the success of my kids. We’re best friends now. Minsan kapag naiinis ako sa kanya sinusumbong ko rin sa mga bata. Pero natatawa lang sila. Sabi ko, ‘I think your dad still likes me. Why is he sending messages?’ Siya yung flirt hindi ako yung flirt at 50. Siya ang flirt sa akin. (I wish him to be more successful because his success is also the success of my kids. We’re best friends now. Sometimes when I’m annoyed with him, I tell the kids too. But they just laugh. I said, ‘I think your dad still likes me. Why is he sending messages?’ He’s the flirt, not me.)”

“Sabi niya, ‘I miss my daughter so much. So sabi ko, ‘Well buy a ticket and come here.’ Sabi ko don’t come here na wala sila,” she added.

Happy life

In her reflections on life today, Ruffa expressed a profound happiness and tranquility. She described experiencing a deep sense of peace that comes from embracing her journey.

Ruffa feels content as she thinks about the experiences that have shaped her life. She recognizes the lessons she has learned and the personal growth she has achieved. With a calm smile, she expresses thanks for the relationships she has built and the dreams she has accomplished.

“Wala akong iniintindi na mga ibang tao kundi ang mga anak ko at yung dalawa kong cute na aso dahil kailangan fresh din sila. I just spend more time taking care of myself. I am used to be a single mom. I don’t think being married is a priority in my life. I just want to love and be happy and be free.

“Happy ako sa life ko ngayon. Thank you, Lord, steady na ang lahat. Wala ng problema. I just wished everyone good health, happiness, and peace,” Ruffa said. “I’d rather have a small circle of friends I trust and help each other grow. Importante na sa atin yung hindi tayo stressed. Minsan nagkakaroon tayo ng anxiety or depressed tayo.

“Tatanggapin mo ba yun sa isang tao or masamang relasyon? Hindi na. Natutulog na tayo ng maaga. Hindi na rin tayo masyadong umiinom. Nagwo-workout na lang tayo. Nanonood ng Netflix at nagtatrabaho. That’s what I’d like to share with everyone to be more healthy physically and mentally. (Would you accept a bad relationship? No. I go to bed early. I don’t drink too much anymore. I work out. I watch Netflix and work.)

Ruffa said she’s grateful for the start of 2025, which she said would give her two new TV projects and renewal of endorsements.

Advise for her two daughters

At 50, Ruffa expressed pride in her daughters, Lorin, 21, and Venice, 20, who are both studying abroad. She stated that she has a close relationship with them and does not keep anything from them.

“I’m very close and open to my daughters. Wala akong tinatago sa kanila. Lahat alam nila kahit mga tsismis sa bahay. I don’t want them hiding anything from me because I don’t hide anything from them. Gusto kong magtrabaho sila and don’t rely on anyone to succeed. My parents taught me to start working at an early age. (I’m very close and open to my daughters. I don’t hide anything from them. They know everything, even gossip at home. I don’t want them hiding anything from me because I don’t hide anything from them. I want them to work and don’t rely on anyone to succeed. My parents taught me to start working at an early age.)

“Importante talaga sa akin ang education. Pinag-aral ko sila sa Amerika kahit mahirap. Dalawa silang nag-aaral sa international schools but I know that my sacrifice will pay off one day kasi sila rin naman ang magpo-flourish. They are the wind beneath my wings. I want them to flourish in life. Continue to work hard and never settle for anything less than what they deserve. (Education is really important to me. I sent them to America even though it was difficult. They are studying in international schools, but I know that my sacrifice will pay off one day because they will also flourish),” she said.

Ruffa said her daughters do not give her headaches and they are eager to start their own businesses after graduating from college.

“Based on my knowledge, they are career-oriented. Hindi katulad noong panahon natin na madali tayong ma-in-love. So I’m very thankful na hindi ako binibigyan ng sakit ng ulo ng mga anak ko. Masipag silang mag-aral, they are career-oriented at gusto na nilang mag-start ng kanilang business. So for sure, hindi ako magiging lola anytime soon. (Based on my knowledge, they are career-oriented. It’s not like in our time when we could easily fall in love. So I’m very thankful that my children don’t give me headaches. They study hard, they are career-oriented and they want to start their own businesses. So for sure, I won’t be a grandmother anytime soon),” she said.

Ruffa always reminds her daughters to be wise about relationships.

“Choose wisely. Hindi importante yung anak mayaman. Importante is how he treats his family, his parents. He should be God-loving and hindi self-centered. Importante rin masipag and knows the ups and downs in life. Importante na may kasama ka in life. Mahirap makahanap ng ganun so I tell them to choose wisely. (It’s not important that the guy is rich. What’s important is how he treats his family, his parents. He should be God-loving and not self-centered. It’s also important to be hardworking and know the ups and downs in life. It’s important to have someone in life. It’s hard to find that kind of guy so I tell them to choose wisely.)

On the best advice she got from her mother, Annabelle Rama, Ruffa shared: “Sabi ni mommy, ‘Always look back at the people who helped you when you were starting the business because they’re going to be the same people who will be with you in your journey in life when you are not famous anymore.

“Pangalawa, never be late kasi mommy sobrang aga. Kung ang flight namin is 10 a.m., mga 5 a.m. andun na siya. Ganun siya ka excited. Gusto niya laging maaga kasi in case something happens, may time pa para maayos yun,” she recalled.

“Hindi naman ako naging bad girl noon since I started working at 13. Mas matalino na yung mga anak ko kesa sa akin. Matalino na rin ang bagong generation kesa sa atin. (I haven’t been a bad girl since I started working at 13. My children are smarter than me. The new generation is also smarter than us),” Ruffa also said. — Robert Requintina