Celebrity L.A. Scene by Oliver Carnay

Ruffa Gutierrez gave birth to her second daughter, named "Venicia Loran-Bektas" on Saturday, September 11 at 12:17 p.m. at the Cedars-Sinai Hospital. "Venice" (her nickname), who weighs 5.3 lbs and is 17.5 inches long, was delivered (by the same doctor at the same hospital who treated her first-born child "Gabriella Lorin") three weeks earlier than her scheduled delivery. "Loran" ("beautiful" in Kurdish) was supposed to be named "Narine" (which means "delicate" in Kurdish) but Ruffa had already registered her name as "Loran" before her father Yilmaz Bektas suggested the name. Yilmaz will be arriving September 28th in Los Angeles to accompany his family and spend a few days in London before going back to Istanbul, Turkey, where they are based. In February 2005, Ruffa and her family will fly to Manila to launch Baby Lorin's Le Petite line of baby products and attend the inauguration of Baby Lorin's store, soon to open in Greenhills. Baby Lorin's new complete line of baby products will consist of baby fragrances, oils and other aromatherapies.

A Fan Questioning Yilmaz! - An exclusive By Oliver Carnay

I received numerous e-mails questioning Ruffa about her husband Yilmaz, who was in Istanbul, Turkey, attending to his business at the time Ruffa was in delivery at the Cedars Sinai when she gave birth to Venicia Loran, her second daughter. I'm sure it was also an issue to some people so I decided to put out a "guide" letter from one of the e-mails I got - and Ruffa's first response to some allegations she is currently receiving.

The following is an e-mail from a certain Aubrey Mendoza (menaubrey@yahoo.com):

Date: Sun, 19 Sep 2004 14:53:49 -0700 (PDT)
I saw photos of Ruffa G. and her baby @picturetrail, but hey, where is her beloved husband???? Baby Lorin had lots of big parties in her 1st bday including one in the Phil. but where is the muslim daddy? Kulang na nga lang yata lahat ng lugar na puntahan nila magpapaparty sila, pero kahit isa dun wala si Ylmaz. Normal ba yun, mas importante pa ang business (kuno) kesa sa mag-ina nya? oh come on, anong klaseng rason yan. They are just fooling the people around them, including Ruffa's fans. Mas daddy pa yata si jun lalin kasi lagi syang present kahit sa panganganak ni Ruffa. hahaha. Just wondering lang po. PEACE.

And my response to her: Oliver Carnay <carnay@pacbell.net>

Hi Aubrey,

Ruffa gave birth to Venicia Loran three weeks ahead of her scheduled delivery. Yilmaz was and is scheduled to arrive September 28, the original date one week before Ruffa's original scheduled delivery.

Yilmaz has a big responsibility in Istanbul, attending to their numerous family businesses. Ruffa chose to deliver her baby in Los Angeles while keeping in contact with Yilmaz on an hour to hour basis.

Thanks for prying. God Bless you

Oliver

Mon, 20 Sep 2004 12:38:08 -0700 (PDT)

Thanks Oliver for replying. But my question naman is hindi lang sa panganganak ngayon ni Ruffa. How about nung birth ni Lorin at sa mga magagarbong birthday parties nya. Bakit wala din si Yilmaz dun? Business din di ba, as usual na mga sagot nila. Just wondering lang kasi sa mga nababasa ko tungkol sa mga artista hindi lang sa Pilipinas pati na din artista sa ibang bansa, o kahit na sa ordinaryong tao, proud sila na nasa tabi nila yung mga mahal nila sa buhay sa mga mahahalagang okasyon. Family comes first, ika nga. Kaya just wondering lang na sa mga ganung bagay laging wala sa tabi ni Ruffa ang asawa nya. Thanks again.

And here is what Ruffa had to say:

Hi Oliver! Hello hello there! Thanks for forwarding Aubrey's letter to me. I'm sure Aubrey isn't the only one who's curious about my husband and why he is never around during "big occasions" like all of Lorin's parties and most importantly, Venezia Loran's birth. Yilmaz was by my side during the birth of Lorin contrary to what Aubrey wrote.

First of all, Yilmaz is not a showbiz personality. It's not in his nature para magpakuha ng pictures sa press, mag pa interview sa mga TV shows and mag pa-cute sa camera katulad ng ibang non showbiz na nag asawa ng artista. He is a serious businessman from one of Turkey's most conservative and powerful families. He married me and accepted me for who I am because he loves me at tinanggap din niya ang mundong ginagalawan ko...ang mundo ng showbiz. He only agreed to be interviewed at our wedding simply because I told him to. Yilmaz values his privacy and that of his family like a tiger protecting his cubs. Don't you remember Lorin was not allowed to be photographed until she was 3 months old? Pumayag lang siya kunan kami sa mga glossy magazines because we wanted to make my fans happy. If it were up to him, he would have me locked down by his side 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and just be a wife to him and the perfect mother to his kids. But because he wants me to be happy, pinagbibigyan niya ang mga hilig ko at ang mga luho ko.

I chose to give birth in LA for 2 straight years because I want my children to have the best of both worlds. If Yilmaz had his way, he would have me give birth in Istanbul pero ako ang makulit. Who cares if I'm separated from him for 3 months when I'll be with him for the rest of my life? He's coming in a week though and we can't wait to see each other!

Thank God I'm breastfeeding cuz if not, baka mabuntis nanaman ako! For those of you who are wondering where he is, don't wonder. I know exactly where he is 24 hours a day and that's all that matters. Allow us to live our lives and be happy. We don't live for you...we live for our family. If it's okay with us then why shouldn't it be okay for you?

As for the parties...those are not considered "BIG OCCASIONS" for us... wala lang akong magawa so why not throw a party here and there? Oh and Lorin had a huge party in Istanbul as well...bigger than the one in Manila. The only difference was...it was not publicized.>

Thanks for your concern Aubrey and thanks for your time my dear friend, Oliver. Call me when you have time! Take care...

Ruffa x

At the Jubilee Theater: Sometimes 'Originals' Are Not The Best

Audiences and critics who have seen the show of Hawaii's long-time hit-group The Society of Seven with Asia's Singing Sensation - Lani Misalucha, showcased as "Every Show at the Strip, On One Stage" at the Jubilee Theater in Bally's Casino (which started last month, August 7, 2004, every day at 3 PM - except Fridays) were unanimous to say that -- "It's the best show currently playing in Vegas!" When music is rarely heard live, the group has treatment of rare production acts, which sets away from any ordinary vocal impersonations of characters.

On a Saturday Labor Day weekend, I tossed the idea of battling the traffic just to catch and witness the much-talked about "genuine artistic combination of Filipino talents," tagged as the First Filipino Entertainers who had been headlined for a six-month stint at the famous strip in Vegas, a fete slowly packing every afternoon to prove the group's popularity not only in the Asian but in the international market.

Without giving away the surprises, it is best to see them perform "in person" at their most unbelievable momentum. The show concept illuminates with a tribute to all Vegas (and) well-known performers. From oldies like Dean Martin, Sammy Davis, Jr., Chubby Checker, Sonny & Cher, Julie Andrews, Jose Feliciano, Gladys Knight, Luciano Pavarotti, among the few, to the current crop of younger headliners such as Shania Twain, Britney Spears, Beyonce Knowles, and many more. No act, solo or production number was ever dull. Among them was the group's version of the colorful stage-production of the "Lion King" and "Phantom of the Opera," with a finale sending my entire flaws with big goose bumps.

Lani Misalucha's superb vocal interpretation of each featured artist is donned with intentional visual exaggeration of mannerisms, inducing a comic flair. Nevertheless, the Asia's Singing Sensation brilliantly injects a prowess of vocal bravura dimension sound only her own, a luminescent of a thespian rather than to impress as a total tailored impressionist. This could be seen with her opening number, a heart-stopping version of the Whitney Houston anthem "I Will Always Love You," bypassing the usual avenue of impersonation. Most well-applauded (and generated a standing ovation on three occasions I had attended) was when she sang "Nessum Dorma," a powerful aria. Lorrie, a cocktail server I met after the show boasted --- "Lani is even better than all the people she is impersonating! Her voice has so much vocal prowess - I love how she raises her pitch when it's already at the highest note. She is an amazing performer," Lorrie said, comparing her with her favorite performer, Celine Dion.

The Society of Seven who has been traveling around for a decade have tons of talents, playing different instruments and can perfectly mimic almost every performer you can imagine, including the sounds of great instrumentalist Kenny G. Gary Bautista's version of Danny Gans' "Twelfth Day of Christmas", imitating Jose Feliciano, Willie Nelson, Elvis Presley, Herve Villechaize (as "Tattoo" in the hit tv series "Fantasy Island"), and even Popeye, The Sailorman, was such a hit with the audience.

The fabulous Society of Seven with Lani Misalucha do the job of preserving the songs' essence while passing them on to the show's characters. This debuting show in Vegas is not to be missed! The gig ends in February 2005.

(More pics at www.picturetrail.com/olivercarnayphotos. E-mail at carnay25@yahoo.com)

OLIVER CARNAY regularly writes for BALITA MEDIA, INC. ("Balita USA", "Weekend Balita" and "Go4Women Magazine", available online at http://www.balita.com/ and www.Go4Women.com), ASIAN-AMERICAN PEOPLE'S JOURNAL (circulated in northern and southern part of California), Philippine and other Asian Headline newspaper – circulated in Sacramento, San Francisco and its vicinities) also published in northern and southern parts of California. In San Diego, he writes for FAME Magazine and PHILIPPINES TODAY. In New York, he writes for PLANET PHILIPPINES, with an online version at http://www.carouselpinoy.com/. He is a also contributor for BUZZINE Magazine (www.buzzine.com), AUDREY Magazine (www.audreymagazine.com), an occasional correspondent for www.siklab.com, PARA TODOS Magazine, and other L.A. based publications. He is the Los Angeles correspondent of Global Pinoy Entertainment Corporation (GPEC) which publishes S Magazine (circulated in Manila, all over the United States and other parts of the world) and PINOY GAZETTE (published in Hong Kong, Japan, and its vicinities). He is an active member of the National Press Photography Association (N.P.P.A.), Press Photography Association of Greater Los Angeles (P.P.A.G.L.A.-see www.ppagla.org for member listings), and is under the directory list of the Motion Picture Association of America (M.P.A.A.) covering movie Premieres and other Hollywood events. More recent news and Photo Galleries of Hollywood and local Fil-Am events recently covered can be seen at his new web site http://www.hollywoodflip.com/. Besides being busy maintaining his web site and writing for domestic and international publications, Oliver Carnay manages Talents, is also a Publicist and an event organizer. Email him at carnay25@yahoo.com or at webmaster@HOLLYWOODFLIP.com

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