NEWSFLASH

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RUFFA 'CAVORTING' IN ST. TROPEZ -- ANNABELLE

Manila, Aug. 8, 1998 - Irrepressible actress Annabelle Rama, mother of Ruffa Gutierrez, told Malaya entertainment columnist Ethel Ramos that her beauty queen-actress daughter and her twin brothers are in St. Tropez, the playground of the rich and famous.

In her Malaya column, Manay Ethel gives glittering details of the high-end, super-classy trip to Europe, as narrated to her by proud Mom Annabelle.

"Ruffa left with her mom and her twin brothers, Richard and Raymond, for London a few weeks back. It was in London where they took a commercial plane for Nice, France. From Nice, a chartered plane, courtesy of Ruffa's Del Monte King admirer, brought them to St. Tropez."

Annabelle, Ethel writes, did not stay long at St. Tropez. Here is Annabelle's explanation:

"Tapos na naman kasi ang business ko. I only accompanied Ruffa, so I would get introduced to some rich people there. May nakuha akong buyers for some of the real estate properties na ibinebenta ko sa Batangas. They are coming over to look at the properties next month. Malaking pera ito pag nagkataon."

Ruffa will be coming home in time for the fashion show which she has organized, starring kids of famous movie stars as models. The proceeds will go to her own charitable project: Roof-A-Child Foundation.

It is not clear how Annabelle's story will sit with the Manila Regional Trial Court judge who issued a travel permit for Ruffa's trip. Initial reports from court reporters said Ruffa's reason for travelling to London was "to further her studies."

Ruffa needs a travel clearance from the Manila Court whenever she has to leave the country, because of the Manila Film Festival Awards scam which is still being tried in court.

The Manila City Council, meanwhile still has to lift the city-wide ban on Ruffa's movies, a ban which was imposed by the council during Mayor Lim's administration after the filmfest scam.