Ruffa Gutierrez reaffirmed her commitment to supporting her daughters, Lorin and Venice, as she shared how she raised them singlehandedly while encouraging a healthy relationship with their father, Turkish businessman Yilmaz Bektas.
At a recent Kabayan Remit launch event, Gutierrez reflected on raising her daughters after her marriage to Bektas ended in 2012. Despite the separation, Ruffa emphasized the importance of respect and transparency.
“I tell them the truth but always remind them to respect their father,” she said, adding that the distance between them helped maintain peace. “I raised them on my own without any drama.”
Gutierrez said she values the love and presence of a father figure in her daughters’ lives. “I don’t hide anything from them. They appreciate what I’ve done, but they also want to be with their father — and that’s important. I don’t want them to have unresolved issues with men in the future,” she explained.
Now young adults, Lorin and Venice are pursuing their studies abroad. Lorin is set to complete her degree in Integrated Marketing and Advertising at Pepperdine University by March 2026, while Venice is majoring in Political Science in a Texas-based university.
Supporting them from afar, Gutierrez likened her role to that of an OFW. “I feel like I’m an OFW — I’m here in the Philippines while my daughters are abroad. It’s not just financial support; we make sure to connect daily.”
She shared that regular FaceTime calls and daily updates keep their bond strong. “If we don’t hear from each other, you’ll immediately get a ‘Mommy, are you okay?’ message,” Ruffa said. “I’m happy they’re still very clingy even as they grow older.”
Gutierrez often posts about her close relationship with Lorin and Venice, offering fans glimpses of their reunions both in the U.S. and the Philippines.