Ruffa Gutierrez with daughters Lorin and Venice

MANILA, Philippines -- Ruffa Gutierrez confirmed that her estranged husband, Yilmaz Bektas offered to give her $2 million provided their two children, Venice and Lorin would go to Turkey for a week.

Ruffa said she refused the offer. “That would not be for a week – it would be a permanent stay of my two daughters in his custody!”

A court decision has given Ruffa the full custody of her two daughters, with visitation rights for Yilmaz. As to where he can visit them, “he can come to the Philippines,” Ruffa stressed, “Or he can visit them in the United States. We can make the necessary arrangement. My daughters are American citizens, and the US, as far as I am concerned, is a neutral country. I do not know the laws in Turkey about children’s custody. I can arrange the US visit with my lawyers,” Ruffa added.

Ruffa is now busy preparing for her “Red Carpet Bazaar” to be held on Aug. 19-20, at the Resorts World. The event will benefit street children.

Ruffa and her brother Richard have been supporting the World Vision Baseco kids. During her latest birthday celebration, she visited the Baseco Compound in Tondo where World Vision has a day care center serving about 80 kids. She brought along her girls.

The World Vision Baseco day care center holds tutorial programs and assists children in their school work. Baseco is a home to about 6,000 poor families whose homes were built with the help of Gawad Kalinga. It used to be a site for ship building and repair, once called the National Shipyard and Steel Bay.

Cosmonaut also a doctor, model

Cosmonaut Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor, who recently visited the Nido Fortified Science Discovery Center at SM Mall of Asia, is the first Malaysian to go into space. That was a long-time dream of his, ever since he was 10 years old.

“Dream big and work hard to pursue your dream,” he told students in the audience.

Chosen from thousands of applicants, he was launched to the International Space Station aboard Soyuz TMA-11 with the Expedition Crew on Oct. 10, 2007 under an agreement with Russia through the Malaysian Angkasawan Program and returned to earth on Oct. 21, 2007.

Sheikh Shukor is also an orthopedic surgeon (he finished his medical degree in India, and was pursuing his Masters of Surgery in Malaysia when he joined the Angkasawan Program). He revealed that he is also a fashion and commercial model in Malaysia.

Songwriting camp in Dumaguete City

Aspiring singers ages 18-25 as well as aspiring songwriters 18-35 may now apply for possible acceptance in the five-day “2nd Elements National Singing-Songwriting Camp” in Dumaguete, Negros Oriental from Nov. 6-10 this year.

Applicants may access www.7101musicnation.com.ph. 

The five-day camp will include workshops, lectures, talks, one-on-one consultations, under the following artists: Ryan Cayabyab, Joey Ayala, Rico Blanco, Gary Valenciano, Jen Pangan, Noel Cabangon, Jim Paredes, Gabby Alipe of Urbanidad, Eve Dancel, Jungee Marcelo, Raimund Marasigan, Gary Granada, Jed Madela, Dulce, Jimmy An, Angeli Valenciano, and Jay Durias.

Applicants for the songwriting track must submit an mp3 of the original composition, lyrics to the uploaded song, and a two-minute video answering the question why they should be accepted to the Camp. For the singing track, a video of themselves singing an original Filipino song plus must be submitted.

The “2nd Elements National Singing and Songwriting Camp” is being spearheaded by 7101 Music Nation, and is a brainchild of Artistic Director Ryan Cayabyab, Chief Executive Officer and businessman Julio D. Sy, Jr., and Chief Operating Officer and music industry maven Twinky Lagdameo.

• • •

Tidbits: Happy b-day greetings for Saturday, July 30, go to rapper Andrew E., Troy Montero, former Rep. Al Ignatius Lopez, Yvette Ocampo, Victoria “Yeyet” Agbayani, FAMAS Pres. Angelo Padua, Rufing Oreta, Cecille de Castro, Elijah Pardeñas, Wally Chua, Redenta S. Castro, Evita L. Tabora, Rein T. Escano, Ann Bermudez Livioco and Katrina Reyes...