Ruffa & Yilmaz nostalgia: ‘Never thought they’d last’ – mom

JEALOUSY. "I never expected them to stay together this long," said Ruffa's mother, Annabele Rama, about their marriage in an interview with the Philippine Daily Inquirer on July 2004. She explained, "Ruffa would be jealous about what she imagines to be another woman in Yilmaz's life. The same thing with Yilmaz... Yilmaz would often come running to me and show bruises or scratches that Ruffa had inflicted on him. I would tell him to be patient with Ruffa, to love her the best way he can." Annabelle stressed that Yilmaz did not get violent or physical with Ruffa. The couple is extremely jealous by nature, but they've mellowed down since Lorin's birth, explained Annabelle. In an interview with YES! in 2004, Ruffa admitted, "I think now there's no reason to get jealous. He knows that he can trust me and I will not do anything that will hurt our relationship, or do anything without his permission. Everything that I do, he knows. Pero nagseselos pa rin siya, ha. Pareho lang kami. I mean kung walang selos, ibig sabihin wala ng pagmamahal." Ruffa said that they've matured enough, enough to be able to laugh about their jealous streaks. "I think it's just more of like trying to test each other, if you still get jealous. He'll be like, ‘Oh you know, I like this model.' And then I'll be like, ‘Oh', I like Tom Cruise.' Naglolokohan lang kami. But you never really get jealous seriously to the extent na talagang galit na galit ka? No. It's all just like playful fun," she explained. She added, "All his crushes naman are harmless, like Nicole Kidman, Catherine Zeta-Jones... Diyos ko, Britney Spears. Di, okay lang. Di, magka-crush siya. But I think, like, regarding a third party? I think we're too much in love to ever think about that. And definitely, I will not allow that to happen. I will do anything to keep our family whole. And I'll fight for our family. And I want us to be solid like a rock. And I think he'll do the same. He's more protective, he will not also allow it to happen." In an interview with Jackie Regala, Ruffa expressed her thoughts on commitment a year after her wedding to Yilmaz. She noted: "In fact, our relationship has developed into something far richer than my early romantic view. We have lived through all the intrigues, birth of our lovely first born Lorin, disappointments and sorrows, as well as the all the pleasures of an enduring relationship. We have worked hard to arrive at a place of ease with one another and our circumstances. "So what exactly is commitment? For us I believe it is dedication to common purposes, a willingness to grow and learn, faith and courage in difficult situations and adaptability. It implies focused attention and hard work. I must admit that the past year has molded and matured me. All enduring relationships go through many phases. Ironically, it is often the most difficult situations that serve to strengthen relationships. In our case, my being in show business and all the quirks that go with it has moved us from a hardworking couple to a deeper, fuller commitment to each other and our relationship." She ended, "Happy 1st year my handsome, sweet Prince. Looking forward to more years ahead with you if not forever!" VENICE. "Proud parents, Yilmaz and Ruffa r proud 2 announce the birth of their 2nd little angel... 12:17 pm @ Cedars-Sinai Medical Center. She was 5.3 lbs. and 17 inches w/ a normal delivery. We have 8 days to think of a name so we'll keep you posted," said Ruffa in a text message to everyone who is listed in her cell phone on September 11, 2004. The baby was named Venizia "Venice" Loran Bektas—the couple's second daughter born in America, incidentally on the same day as the anniversary of the attack on the Twin Towers in New York. Venice was born three weeks ahead of schedule. Yilmaz was not on Ruffa's side during delivery. Yilmaz's absence sparked rumors that the couple is separated. In an e-mail to Oliver Carnay published in Carousel Pinoy, Ruffa defended her husband: "First of all, Yilmaz is not a showbiz personality. It's not in his nature para magpakuha ng pictures sa press, magpa-interview sa mga TV shows, and magpa-cute sa camera katulad ng ibang non-showbiz na nag-asawa ng artista. "He is a serious businessman from one of Turkey's most conservative and powerful families. He married me and accepted me for who I am because he loves me at tinanggap din niya ang mundong ginagalawan ko...ang mundo ng showbiz. He only agreed to be interviewed at our wedding simply because I told him to. Yilmaz values his privacy and that of his family like a tiger protecting his cubs. Don't you remember Lorin was not allowed to be photographed until she was 3 months old? Pumayag lang siyang kunan kami sa mga glossy magazines because we wanted to make my fans happy. "If it were up to him, he would have me locked down by his side 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and just be a wife to him and the perfect mother to his kids. But because he wants me to be happy, pinagbibigyan niya ang mga hilig ko at ang mga luho ko. "I chose to give birth in LA for 2 straight years because I want my children to have the best of both worlds. If Yilmaz had his way, he would have me give birth in Istanbul pero ako ang makulit. Who cares if I'm separated from him for 3 months when I'll be with him for the rest of my life? He's coming in a week though and we can't wait to see each other! "Thank God I'm breastfeeding cuz if not, baka mabuntis na naman ako! For those of you who are wondering where he is, don't wonder. I know exactly where he is 24 hours a day and that's all that matters. Allow us to live our lives and be happy. We don't live for you...we live for our family. If it's okay with us then why shouldn't it be okay for you? "As for the parties...those are not considered ‘BIG OCCASIONS' for us... wala lang akong magawa so why not throw a party here and there? Oh, and Lorin had a huge party in Istanbul as well...bigger than the one in Manila. The only difference was...it was not publicized." THE WITCH. In most fairytales, a witch comes along to wreak havoc. In this fairytale, a bullet and a frog made the year 2005 a controversial one for the couple. March 15, news from halfway around the world that Yilmaz has been injured—a gunshot to the stomach, to be exact. Turkish newspaper, the Hurriyet, reported that Yilmaz accompanied a friend to a car shop. Yilmaz's friend was supposed to meet and make peace with a man he had a fight with the day before. The meeting ended with shots being fired, leaving one dead and two wounded—Yilmaz and his friend. "He was shot and for one week at the ICU and during his recovery period, I never left his side... We became much closer after that incident. Noong mag-boyfriend pa lang kami, we fought a lot, but now, we've mellowed and our relationship is more peaceful. Yilmaz has also learned a lesson, not to be too trusting, as the guy who shot him was supposed to be his friend. Pero ayun, he fled and can't be found," said Ruffa in an interview with The Filipino Express months after the incident. November 25, PEP contributor Nitz Miralles wrote in her tabloid column that Ruffa's guesting in defunct reality show Extra Challenge caused trouble in the Bektas household. Apparently, Ruffa did not mention to Yilmaz that she was going to be on the show. It was said that Yilmaz also got into an argument with Annabelle. In an interview with Walden Sadiri, Ruffa explained the incident, "Pinagalitan ako ni Puppy [Yilmaz] because of Extra Challenge. Sabi niya I didn't buy Fashion TV for you just so you'd jump from coconut trees and catch frogs!" It has been reported that Yilmaz bought the Turkish franchise of the cable channel for Ruffa to manage. By the end of 2005, reporters would automatically ask Ruffa the status of her relationship with Yilmaz every time she would arrive in the country. Part 3 of Ruffa and Yilmaz: The End of a Fairytale?—Tell-tale signs of the end of the fairytale - Philippine Entertainment Portal