‘I’m free as a bird’: Ruffa Gutierrez embraces single life

Actress and former beauty queen Ruffa Gutierrez has confirmed that she is currently single, revealing that although her romantic relationship with former Quezon City Mayor Herbert Bautista ended last year, the two have maintained their friendship and continue to communicate regularly.

During her appearance on GMA Network’s Fast Talk with Boy Abunda, Ruffa spoke candidly about her love life, the circumstances surrounding her breakup, and how she has learned to embrace a new chapter without bitterness or regrets.

When host Boy Abunda asked about the current state of her heart, Ruffa immediately clarified her relationship status.

“I’m free as a bird. I’m single,” she declared.

The actress also revealed that she is not dating anyone at the moment, although she continues to receive attention from potential admirers.

“No. I’m ot dating. I have so many people texting me. A lot of people are showing interest in me,” she shared.

Ruffa acknowledged that her separation from Herbert has given her more personal space and freedom to focus on herself.

“I think that space just became much bigger with Herbert. We are still friends. We communicate regularly,” she explained.

Despite their breakup, Ruffa said she and Herbert remain comfortable reaching out to each other whenever necessary.

“If I need advice, I still talk to him, and sometimes he also calls me. But I have not seen him face-to-face since we broke up last year,” she revealed

For Ruffa, maintaining a friendship with someone who once played an important role in her life is more meaningful than holding on to resentment. She emphasized that although their romantic relationship has ended, their mutual respect remains.

When Boy pressed her about why the relationship did not work out, Ruffa admitted that certain circumstances were beyond their control.

“It didn’t work because there were things beyond our control. I guess that made him go through a different phase, and I went through one as well,” she explained.

Rather than dwell on the disappointment, Ruffa offered a thoughtful perspective on relationships that do not end as expected.

“Not all storybooks are made to last forever, you know. Sometimes, you just enjoy that chapter, then you close the book and you move on.”

Her statement reflected her acceptance that even meaningful relationships sometimes reach their natural conclusion.

While Ruffa appears to be enjoying her independence, the interview also revisited memorable moments from her decades-long career in entertainment.

One amusing revelation involved actress Faith Da Silva, daughter of actor Dennis Da Silva, with whom Ruffa was once paired as a young performer.

Ruffa recalled meeting Faith before the pandemic without initially realizing who she was.

“We worked together a long time ago. She came up to me before the pandemic and said, ‘Hi, I’m Faith da Silva.’ I said hello, but the name didn’t immediately ring a bell,” Ruffa recalled.

It was only when Faith mentioned her father's identity that Ruffa recognized the connection.

“She said, ‘My father is Dennis da Silva.’ And I was like, ‘Oh, hello!’”

Ruffa admitted that she was surprised by how much time had passed and how Faith had grown into a beautiful young woman.

“Oh my God, I was so shocked. I was like, ‘Oh my God, wow. She’s pretty,’” she said.

She also remembered how her mother, talent manager Annabelle Rama, closely supervised her early show business career, particularly during the period when she was paired with Dennis.

The conversation eventually shifted to Ruffa’s memorable years as a television host, including her time on the entertainment talk show The Buzz.

Looking back at old episodes, Ruffa said she appreciated how their generation of entertainment hosts delivered strong opinions without intentionally being cruel toward the personalities they discussed.

“During our time, Tito Boy, we were really happy because we were not mean people. We would give the facts. We would give our opinions. We would show what it’s like in show business, but we were never mean,” she explained.

Boy also brought up one of the show's memorable moments involving Ruffa and Kris Aquino, which some viewers had interpreted as Ruffa walking out of the program.

Ruffa clarified that she had never intended to stage a dramatic exit.

“Did I walk out? I had no plans of walking out,” she said.

According to Ruffa, she believed the program had already ended and was preparing to leave when she realized that the cameras were still recording.

She explained that she was emotional at the time because she was leaving The Buzz to pursue an opportunity with another television network.

“I thought it was already over. The camera was still rolling. I was wiping away my tears because I was emotional. I was leaving The Buzz, and another station had taken me in,” she recalled.

Her explanation offered a different perspective on a television moment that had remained part of entertainment discussions for years.

Beyond the nostalgic stories and revelations about her personal life, Ruffa’s appearance showed a woman who has become more comfortable with the changes that come with relationships, motherhood and a long career in show business.

For now, Ruffa is choosing to enjoy her independence while remaining open to whatever opportunities and experiences may come her way.

Although her relationship with Herbert Bautista did not lead to a lasting romance, she appears content knowing that their shared history can remain a meaningful part of her life without preventing her from moving forward.