Beauty and brains

Author: Ethel Ramos
Column: Studio Whispers

Its always an exhilarating experience attending a presscon of Ruffa Gutierrez. Not only because she is articulate but also because she has an interesting and kilometric reply for even simple questions. This is most welcome to movie columnists like me.

At the recent presscon of Kisses & Co., a clothing line which Ruffa endorses, she again fascinated members of the entertainment press with her sometimes cute but always relevant answers to simple questions, such as why she agreed to be identified with a local clothing brand. After all, she is known for wearing imported fashion collection.

Ruffa is known for her fashion sense and once hosted the first local fashion show on local TV, "The Philippines Next Top Model." She is also a Miss World second runner-up.

"When I was first presented a sample of the product, I was impressed," Ruffa revealed. "I immediately saw the potential in the brand. Their designs are all thought out. At may style and size for every woman."

Only two years in the business, Josie Gana, Kisses & Co. proprietor, said that her fashion house is fast becoming a haven for fashionistas. This is not only because they offer the freshest trends, especially for young professionals, but also because the brand is affordable.

"Do you know that even my fellow celebrities quite a number of them, wear Kisses & Co. although some of them are endorsers of other brands?" Ruffa intimated. "What I think makes the Kisses & Co. brand different from other clothing line is the rich fabric and distinct styling employed by the 2007 Philippine Fashion Awards Silver Awardee."

"We also put premium on the quality of our products," stressed Josie, "All our raw materials are imported. However, we all do the designing and manufacturing here, for close monitoring."

***

If only for her two daughters, Lorin and Venice, Ruffa doubts if she will be experiencing a lonely Christmas. She considers her girls as her pride and joy.

"I cannot imagine life without them," she said. "Sila ang dahilan why I work so hard. Why I want to be a better person and a better actress."

Ruffa happily announced that the TV series "I Love Betty La Fea" has been extended up to April.

"Magkakaroon din daw ako ng kapareha. I have no idea who. Iyon nga lang daw, magiging higit akong masama. And in time, I will meet my comeuppance.

"I told people behind Betty la Fea na baka lalong magalit sa akin ang tao.

"Sabi nila, palagay naman daw nila, hindi. As it is, as Daniella Valencia in the series, I have my own set of followers," she said.

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Diana Zubiri became the instant star among the female cast of "One Night Only," the Metro Manila Film Festival entry of OctoArts Films, when she honestly revealed that her greatest fantasy even for one night only is Wendell Ramos.

Wendell, like her, is in the gag show, "Bubble Gang," which is now in its tenth year.

At the presscon, Diana admitted that she and Wendell almost became sweethearts. "Pero mabuti na lang na di natuloy," she said. "Mahirap na mag-sweethearts na nga kayo, magka trabaho pa kayo."

Diana did not deny that shes currently taken. But since the guy is not in showbiz, she asked the members of the press not to ask her about him.

***

Diana, like her female co-stars in "One Night Only," Katrina Halili, Valerie Concepcion, Alessandra de Rossi and Jennylyn Mercado, plays a very revealing role in the movie, which has Joey Javier Reyes at the helm.

The five of them get involved in wacky shenanigans. They end up in the same seedy motel, called Lovers Hideaway, on the same night.

In "One Night Only," Diana is Vivian, a simple girl who tries hard to be like her sophisticated best friend, played by Katrina. Katrina is a playgirl who doesnt hide from her friend Vivian her numerous escapades.

One time, Vivian decided to go out with Pons (Jon Avila), a stud puppy who also works in an advertising agency. But before anything could happen between them, she backed out.

The other stars of "One Night Only" are Ricky Davao, Paolo Contis, Joross Gamboa, Ogie Diaz, Chocoleit, Empoy and Manilyn Reynes.

Source: Malaya