MANILA, Philippines — Ruffa Gutierrez shared how her mom, Annabelle Rama, would scold her because of her choices in men when it came to her past relationships.
Asked in a media conference for the series Can’t Buy Me Love, starring Donny Pangilinan and Belle Mariano (also known as DonBelle), if it’s okay to date even if you’re broke, the actress offered, “It’s okay to go on dates even if you don’t have money. (You can hold) hands, sit in the park, look at the sky and dream together that one day you will have the money.”
When queried if she also did that kind of date, she admitted doing it then. “Kaya lagi akong pinapagalitan ni mommy. Hindi raw ako marunong pumili,” she shared.
Nevertheless, the former beauty queen said that they’ve come a long way from her younger years when Annabelle used to meddle in her love life.
“We are so much better now because when I was younger, my mom was so pakialamera when it came to my love life,” she told the press in a separate interview.
“I think ngayon lang yata siya hindi masyadong pakialamera. Pero may mga pasundot-sundot pa rin. But I think it’s very true that (even) if you don’t have money, ‘di mag-date kayo and dream together. Pwede naman… Even if you don’t have the budget.”
Ruffa continued, “I think that’s the feeling of pure love. That’s the question to me earlier. Lahat tayo when we were younger, akala natin first boyfriend natin na ang makakatuluyan natin. But unfortunately, it doesn’t happen that way.
“Nowadays because of social media, the love, it’s calculated already, right? Siyempre parang hindi na ganun ka-authentic katulad nung bata ka, especially when you’re older.”
She reiterated, “But I think my relationship with my mom is much better. And there’s always love that’s gonna be there between us.”
Ruffa also expressed her belief in maintaining a positive outlook on love despite past hurts.
“I think whatever happens to you, how many times you’ve been hurt, the positivity should always be there that one day, you will find your soulmate. Who wants to grow old alone, right?” she said.
“Of course, all of us want to have that someone na kakampi and kasama until death, not only dogs and cats. We all want to have that someone we could hold hands with, be you’re married or not, so I believe it will happen to me.
“I think I’m not gonna grow old alone. Sayang naman ang beauty ko no if I die alone. May ka-holding hands ka dapat so never be jaded. And always love like you’ve never been hurt before,” she asserted.
Meanwhile, Ruffa is thrilled to be part of the Can’t Buy Me Love series. Her last series was with Kathryn Bernardo and Daniel Padilla and now she is back on screen, but this time with another loveteam, DonBelle. “And now I’m back (acting along with) the next coming superstars of this generation. I’m very, very excited. It’s also on Netflix,” she said.
Produced by Star Creatives and directed by Mae Cruz Alviar, Can’t Buy Me Love is the first primetime series of Donny and Belle.
Ruffa is also excited to work with direk Mae, her former schoolmate in San Agustin, for the first time.
“I’m so happy now that she is my director and I’m her actress. It’s my first time to also work with Donny, Belle, Rowell (Santiago). I’m happy that I’m back with ABS-CBN,” she said.
Can’t Buy Me Love follows the story of Bingo (Donny), a hard-working seller who wants to save up to P1 million after his mother left him, and Caroline (Belle), the black sheep of a wealthy Filipino-Chinese family. Their worlds collide after Bingo saves Caroline from the kidnappers who left her almost drowning.
The series is now streaming on Netflix, iWantTFC app (iOs and Android) and iwanttfc.com. The broadcast premiere will be today on the Kapamilya Channel, Kapamilya Online Live, A2Z, Jeepney TV, Cinemo, TFC IPTV, and TV5.
Veteran actors Nova Villa, Celeste Legaspi and Agot Isidro are also part of the series. Completing the cast are Maris Racal, Albie Casiño, Kaila Estrada, Joao Constancia, Karina Bautista, Vivoree, and Darren.