Ruffa: I am taking a stand against being disrespected

Ruffa Gutierrez vented on Saturday on the “disrespectful” incident that occurred on her TV5 show Paparazzi. Ruffa expressed her feelings to her closest friends during a private spa party for her 38th birthday at an intimate restaurant in Makati.

 

As one of Ruffa’s friends, I personally witnessed how what was planned to be a light afternoon took a different turn, as Ruffa arrived distraught straight from her Saturday showbiz talk show, Paparazzi, on TV5. Ruffa, being one of the hosts of the show, told us she felt “disrespected and maligned” with the Bulong Ng Palad portion which aired live.

 

Most of us gathered there did not see Paparazzi, so we were all ears as Ruffa relayed what transpired. The Bulong Ng Palad portion is where all of the show’s hosts can ask Ruffa any question under the sun. Questions were not passed to the producers or to Ruffa’s camp for editing, since the objective was for the interview to be candid.

 

Hosts Cristy Fermin, Zoren Legaspi, Mr. Fu and Mariel Rodriguez whispered questions to Ruffa with a set of answers she can choose from; either Aga Muhlach, Zoren Legaspi or Robin Padilla, men with whom she had romantic links with in the past. 

 

Ruffa told us during the spa party that “the questions were very inappropriate and even very lewd”.

 

“Girl, first of all, these men were linked to me years ago and we have all moved on with our lives. Another thing is that I am good friends with their families and wives. And Mariel was there, she’s Robin’s wife. How uncomfortable is that,” said Ruffa.

 

Ruffa’s daughters, Lorin and Venice, were present in the audience along with some of her commercial sponsors, which added to her concern.

 

“I have my daughters there with me, they are of age and they are smart enough to get an idea of what’s happening. The executives from the milk we’re endorsing, who entrusted me with the responsibility of carrying their brand were there. These people see the good mother I’ve become and I don’t want irresponsible questioning like that to ruin what I have managed to build. I am taking a stand against being disrespected,” she added.

 

Though uncomfortable, Ruffa managed to pull herself together and finish the segment. Afterwards, she let off steam by tweeting her heart out. She was still in tears when she met with us but after unloading her emotions, the birthday girl was quick to get back to her jovial self and went on with the afternoon’s group pampering.

 

I asked her what the immediate step would be after yesterday’s incident, and she said, “Well, I’ve been getting calls from TV5 and of course I will sit down with them and discuss what happened within the week. But I am very much set on not returning to that show.”

 

Ruffa is hopeful that it will serve as an example for those who might be confronted with similar instances in the future, “We teach people how we want to be treated, we should never compromise that. Not for a show, not for others.”

 

[An official statement made by TV5 management soon after Ruffa walked out of the show on Saturday and tweeted about it, said that it is “seriously concerned about the turn of events today at Paparazzi and is now looking into the incident. We promise everyone that we shall take appropriate action.”] — DVM/HS, GMA News