Last year, the showbiz industry turned all eyes and ears on former beauty queen Ruffa Gutierrez's revelation that she and Turkish husband Yilmaz Bektas decided to file for divorce.
Through Ricky Lo's column published on May 8, 2007, Ruffa explained that "cultural differences" led to their breakup. The TV host-actress further said, "Honestly, we tried very hard to make our marriage work, but then..."
Ruffa also clarified during the phone interview with the showbiz columnist, "There's no other woman."
Later on, in a press statement sent to PEP (Philippine Entertainment Portal), a request was addressed to the media and the public. It read: "Ruffa and Yilmaz will remain committed parents and continue to be friends as they live their separate lives. They ask for everyone's understanding and consideration in respecting the family's privacy during this most difficult time. No further statements will be issued." (Click here to read related article)
Ruffa and Yilmaz had their fancy wedding on March 25, 2003. Their relationship as husband and wife produced two lovely young girls named Lorin and Venice.
Despite the short explanation and the request to respect their privacy, the public's desire to know the real reason of their breakup was strong, and so the issue went on and became the hottest in showbiz for more than a month.
RUFFA'S SHOCKING REVELATION. A few days after the couple released their joint statement, Yilmaz had a phone interview with Startalk (May 12, 2007). Ruffa's husband denied that "cultural difference" was the reason their marriage ended. According to Yilmaz, the "professional career" and "extended stay" of Ruffa were the real reasons they split up.
The following day, Ruffa appeared in The Buzz for an interview about Yilmaz's statement in Startalk. At first the TV host-actress only had good words for her estranged husband. (Click here to read related article)
In fact, she even described him, "Si Yilmaz ‘yong tipo ng tatay na concerned siya all the time, you know—physically, emotionally, mentally. Iyon talaga, nandiyan siya para sa mga anak ko. He would change the diapers, he would sing to them, he would call to them all the time. He is a good father."
However, the mood changed when The Buzz host, Boy Abunda, asked Ruffa, "Ididiretso ko na ang tanong. Sinasaktan ka ba? Binubugbog ka ba ni Yilmaz?" The poor actress was not able to answer the question because her tears started to fall.
After a while, Ruffa explained that she tried really hard to save seven years of marriage. "God knows I tried. You know, kung pagmamahal lang, puwede akong bumalik, pero may prinsipyo rin ako."
Ruffa's mother Annabelle Rama was also in tears when she was interviewed in Showbiz Central. The talent manager vaguely explained the to public why she advised her daughter not to go back to Istabul. "Kaming dalawa lang ni Ruffa ang nakakaalam ng reason kung bakit ayaw ko na siyang pabalikin sa Istanbul."
She added, "Sabi ko kay Ruffa, ‘Sa nangyari sa'yo sa Istanbul, na pumunta ka na dito, bakit kailangan ka pang bumalik? Huwag ka nang bumalik."
"IT'S OVER." In spite of their appeal for privacy, what happened next was totally the opposite-the public asked for more of the Ruffa-Yilmaz story.
The couple and even Ruffa's mother became regular guests in weekend talk shows to defend themselves in a word war. Different issues emerged. For one, Yilmaz called his estranged wife "Brutus" while raising the issue of Ruffa's alleged marriage to a certain Richard Daloia.
