Is love sweeter the second time around for Ruffa Gutierrez and Yilmaz Bektas? That's a valid question at the moment given the fact that Ruffa disclosed how Yilmaz proposed again to her.
Yes, propose. As in, to marry—and in this case, once again. ICYDK, the two are a former couple and have been separated for 18 years now. Ruffa and the Turkish businessman Yilmaz once tied the knot in 2003.
In a report by PhilStar.com, the celebrity was asked about Yilmaz calling her "boss" in a previous exchange they had via Instagram. "Kasi ako ang boss niya. Hindi siya makahanap ng isang katulad ko. Hanap siya nang hanap sa buong mundo," Ruffa said in the interview.
Then came her revelation that Yilmaz wants her to be his wife once again. "As a matter of fact, he wanted to propose and get married to me again," she shared. "I thought it was a joke," Ruffa admitted. It's definitely something that would shock not just her, but the public as well.
She continued narrating the incident, "Sabi ko, 'Is this a joke?’ 'Sabi niya, 'No, I want to invite you to be in a train with me' and mag-train daw kami all over Europe. So, sabi ko, ‘Totoo ba 'to or baka he's planning my murder on the plane or train?'," Ruffa reportedly said in the interview with PhilStar.com.
Ruffa noted that although she rejected her ex-husband's proposal, she did not end all connections with Yilmaz. After all, he is the father of Ruffa's daughters, Venice and Lorin.
"I'm just so happy for my daughters because they now have personal relationship with their dad. Kami rin ni Yilmaz okay din kami, minsan nagbibiruan kami. Nagpapadala rin siya ng ano (pera), you know, so happy kaming lahat. Oo, regular ang communication," Ruffa divulged.
Ruffa Gutierrez and Yilmaz Bektas' past romance
Ruffa and Yilmaz got married in 2003. It was a chance encounter in Cannes, France, sometime in May 2000, when Ruffa and Yilmaz met at a restaurant. In a 2003 interview published via YES! magazine (as per PEP), Ruffa recounted the very first time they saw each other, "I saw him at the restaurant. He came into the bathroom and smiled at me."
After one month of dating, Yilmaz came to the Philippines for Ruffa. He met her family and friends, and the rest is history. Fast forward to 2007—after four years of marriage—and they called it quits.
It was one of those celebrity breakups that the nation followed as well. The two announced their separation in a joint statement that read, "Earnest and sincere efforts at saving their marriage have failed. It is to the best interest of Ruffa and Yilmaz, their children, and respective families that such decision to severe marital ties had to be made."
Back then, Ruffa explained in a phone interview with Ricky Lo that it was their "cultural differences" that took a toll on their relationship—never a third party.
At present, the two are maintaining a healthy co-parenting setup for their family. From time to time, Lorin and Venice would visit their dad in Turkey.
