Like with others, Christmas is a family affair for the Gutierrezes, with heads Eddie Gutierrez and Annabelle Rama presiding over six children and seven grandchildren (two from Ruffa: Lorin, 15, and Venice, 14; two from Elvis and wife Alexa Uichico: Aria, 4, and Ezra, one year and eight months; two from Richard and Sarah Lahbati: Zion, 5, and Kai, eight months; and one from Rocky: David, 14).
This is how they celebrate Christmas, according to matriarch Annabelle:
“We celebrate Christmas on the night of Dec. 24. We have a party at home (White Plains, Quezon City) including the kasambahay from three households…Richard’s, Ruffa’s at sa amin nina Eddie with Richie Paul (Raymond has been spending Christmas Eve abroad due to his work). There’s a raffle of gifts consisting of cash and other goodies, pati na rin cash bonuses, and lots of games for everybody.
“At 11:30 p.m., tapos na ang party of the kasambahay, the drivers, off-staff and PA’s (Production Assistants). At 12 midnight, the family members open the gifts with the help of Lorin, Venice, David, Zion and Aria who read the names of the recipients. The gifts are those gathered under the Christmas Tree. The affair lasts until 2:30 a.m. of the next day, Christmas Day. Super saya kasi palaki na nang palaki ang family.”
Said Richard, “I have a lot to thank God for.” And he tells why in the following Conversation.
The Gutierrez family led by Eddie Gutierrez and Annabelle Rama, from left: Raymond, Rocky, Ruffa, Sarah and Richard, Alexa and Elvis, and Richie Paul
How would you assess year 2018 as far as your career is concerned?
“I can say that 2018 was a good year for my career. We wrapped up our successful teleserye La Luna Sangre during the first quarter of the year. Then I signed an exclusive contract with ABS-CBN and my new management Star Magic Philippines. Also, I signed an exclusive contract with Star Cinema for films. I also extended my contract with my Bench family. In the middle of the year, I was able to do my first TFC (The Filipino Channel) shows, going to Canada and the US. In the last quarter of the year, I was offered the movie Fantastica co-starring Vice Ganda and Dingdong Dantes. I can say that it was a blessed year for my career.”
What about your personal life?
“In terms of my personal life, I can’t ask for more. Sarah and I are blessed to have another happy and healthy baby boy in Kai. I was able to spend a lot of quality time with my family this year and was able to travel despite our busy schedules.”
How are you as a father?
“As a father, I can say that I am a loving and hands-on father to my two kids. They are my first priority and I always find time to spend with them. I consider myself blessed to have my two boys.”
Reading time for Richard and Sarah with Zion.
Are you and Sarah raising your children the way you were brought up by your respective parents?
”We try to have our own style of parenting but we also apply everything we learned from our parents. I can say that Sarah and I were raised well and we both had a happy childhood and we want our kids to have the same.”
How soon is your much-delayed wedding going to happen?
“Planning a wedding is not an easy task, but a very exciting one. We are targeting early 2020.”
If and when, what kind of wedding would you have and where (here or abroad)?
“We are still finalizing the location that will match the date that we want. We also have to consider our families. Sarah and I want our families to attend the ceremony and both of us come from big clans, so the location is something that we are currently working on.”
Tell us about your funny experiences filming Fantastica.
“Filming Fantastica was such a great experience for me. There’s a lot of bloopers and funny moments. One scene that is unforgettable for me is seen on the trailer where Vice asked me to call her ‘Mahal,’ and then I put out my tongue. I felt…I don’t know how to describe it, hehehe!!! Basta, I screamed after doing that scene. I was relieved!”
Richard with Vice Ganda and Dingdong Dantes in Fantastica, one of the eight official entries in the 2018 Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF).
Is your rivalry with Dingdong Dantes for real or just for show?
“Dingdong and I are actually good friends, the rivalry was created years ago during our time in GMA, but in reality there has never been any rivalry. We both worked hard to achieve where we are now in terms of our careers.”
What can we expect from you in year 2019?
“2019 is an exciting year for sure. I am currently preparing for a teleserye with Bea Alonzo and Ian Veneracion that will start filming by January. A movie with Star Cinema is also lined up.”
How is Richard today different from Richard when you were 15?
“The Richard today is a grown man…a family man that knows what he wants and what his priorities are, but also knows how to live life to the fullest.”
(E-mail reactions at rickylophilstar@gmail.com. For more updates, photos and videos, visit www.philstar.com/funfare or follow me on Instagram @therealrickylo.)