synopsis of a fairytale circus

I did mention earlier that I have this very strong suspicion that there is something off about this Ruffa-Yilmaz affair.

As the drama continues, it gets even more bizarre. People are left in awe and amusement as we get ourselves “invited” into the lives of the Gutierrez-Bektas family as they give statements at one interview and the other. They say it is not our business and that they do not need “unsolicited advice” – well then, as many others have said, they might as well shut up and stop giving interviews and make a circus of their so called private and precious lives. The public speculation was sparked by the interviews they have been giving left and right. They enjoy the limelight, the attention they get from the media and the Filipino public – it would be a lie and hypocrisy in the highest level if they would claim otherwise. They are playing with the public’s sympathy and emotions by issuing conflicting and confusing statements – overlooking the fact that there are intelligent people at bay watching (and laughing) in silence, analyzing and investigating the truth beyond each and every claim they get the local print and TV media to print and publish on their behalf. Those who once had taken their side suddenly took notice … got confused themselves and started questioning the real score behind all this drama.

The weaving of the "happy-ever-after-fairytale"
Ruffa has claimed in public a lot of things which are far from the truth. If you are to go over the past interviews, she has projected a very happy married life. Everything is rosy and perfect. She told of the fabulous life she lived in Istanbul, her integration into a totally different lifestyle, her new family and new religion (only to revert back to christianity later on). To brag about the wealth and stature of her husband is one thing, to flaunt her material possessions is another thing. To exaggerate the truth about her involvement in the FTV Turkey-business only showed how she craved for public attention and recognition in the Philippines – she was convinced that everyone just got to know! Lo and behold, no one questioned the authenticity of the so-called ownership of the TV station – a realization came to her, an apparition – aha, I can say anything I want without any problem at all … I can stage a comeback and revive my “career” in the Philippines. You see, after the so many publicities she got after her marriage, her PR machinery concluded that they have to inject fluidity to feed the curiosity of many in the Philippines about her new lifestyle. Even to the extent of faking her resumé as a sought after celebrity in the Hello! Magazine (Turkey version) – what a fluke! Yes, we indeed got ourselves fed with all the “fairytale ingredients” in everything we read about her.

How does one keep the interest alive in a person? You make them admire you. And so came the different “humanitarian” projects – and she has to name drop her admiration for Angelina Jolie in all this, saying how much she admired Angelina’s humanitarian works. Why the reference? She doesn’t have any originality at all that she has to copy such act to get her in the loop and be proclaimed as “humanitarian” – the nerve! While Angelina’s causes are genuine, I can’t say the same for Ruffa – for me, it’s too shady, too hollow.

The acclaimed marital bliss later turned into a farce. An announcement was made that Ruffa and Yilmaz are to file for a divorce. In Ruffa’s official statement, which she claimed as a joint statement from her and Yilmaz, she cited their cultural differences as the cause of their separation and later indirectly claimed on national TV that she’s a battered wife. She said she realized only now, after 7 years together and in marriage, that such was a heavy burden to bear. But when Yilmaz issued his own statement, it turned out to be a rather different story. Tongues started wagging – people made their own interpretations, a lot of finger-pointing ensued, bashing here and there and it didn’t stop there … more drama …

True or false
Ruffa has embarrassed herself in public … she was caught in a lie. But instead of submitting herself to silence, she weaved more lies and deception to save face. More interviews surfaced … along with it came more secrets out in the open. Yes, Ruffa did finally get the attention of the Filipino public, but beyond the way she had hoped it to be. People made it their business to seek truth in all the claims she made in public.

- A happy married life (busted, fake, make-believe)

- A wealthy and of good standing of a husband (busted – she forgot to mention where the wealth is from and his family background)

- FTV Turkey Ownership (busted – they had “rights to manage” never owned it)

- Marriage to a Richard Daloia (many claimed this is true and there are records showing it)

All these were neither confirmed nor denied by Ruffa herself. Very few press would even touch on the subject? Why? These were already known in blog threads for as early as 2003 and intensified during 2004. These points were deemed outright as "sensitive" and "questionable" - the philippines press left it that way. There was no interest whatsoever to investigate the authencity of these claims. Your guess is probably as good as mine.

An aftermath
I don’t know if Ruffa and Yilmaz discussed the latter’s first statement to the press, but there are signs that they did. Bear with me on this one, why would Yilmaz retract some of his claims in the first statement? Why was Annabelle suddenly soft after the release of the second statement? Why the matter-of-factly attitude from the Ruffa camp? Suddenly, Ruffa is open for a possible reconciliation with her estranged husband? Is it really for the sake of their children?

Suddenly, Ruffa packed and left Manila with her children in tow, and of course, Annabelle is very much like a shadow behind. Destination: Los Angeles, USA. Why? Could it be that the unexpected interest of the general public to a certain Richard Daloia is one of the main reasons to this change of plan? Remember Ruffa claimed that she was to leave for Thailand and even hinted that Yilmaz will likely show up there? Then they began yet another circus – Yilmaz is suddenly here, there and everywhere! Again, your guess is probably as good as mine.

The drama of the latest development with Annabelle saying to Yilmaz to “leave Ruffa alone”, to “give her freedom” is just too much for a spectator as myself. In my opinion, Yilmaz do not have to leave Ruffa alone since Ruffa have already left a long time ago – without his permission as he has claimed in one of his statements. If Yilmaz is trying to get hold of Ruffa, it’s probably because he simply wants to put an end to this entire circus. And I guess the Gutierrez family is trying to give him a hard time, as to why, I can’t really tell – but suspicions, boy I got plenty!

A reflection
Having read everything there is to read about Ruffa, I find it very amusing that regardless of being caught red-handed in public, there is not an ounce of remorse or shame in her at all – and that’s too sad, to the point of having that queasy awful feeling that this saga full of lies and deceit is nothing new to her. Had she lived a life full of lies all this time? Had this been on from childhood, unto her teen and adult life? Was she brought up in a make-believe world all of her own, and that of her family? Is there any truth in her life at all, or had every little thing been about her, or her family had been a lie? One thing I can guarantee though – it’s so obvious that there’s a strong love, faith and devotion within their family … that is love, faith and devotion among themselves and nobody else.