Annabelle Rama, who, just a few weeks back, was reported to have been against John Lloyd Cruz courting her daughter Ruffa Gutierrez, was seen socializing with the actor at an ABS-CBN party in the U.S. last week.

Both John Lloyd and Ruffa deny having a romantic relationship. Although the two are currently in the U.S., they are there for different reasons and stay at different accommodations.

Before going to the U.S., Ruffa revealed that John Lloyd had dinner with her family.

Later, Annabelle said of John Lloyd: “Wala namang problema. Mabait naman pala siya.”

“He’s a very nice person,” added her husband, Eddie.

In reaction, Ruffa said via a phone patch in “The Buzz” that Annabelle was never mad at John Lloyd. “Akala [lang] ng mga tao,” Ruffa said.

A few weeks back, Annabelle made headlines when she relayed a message to John Lloyd via the media.

“Magpakalalake ka, okay! Kung in love ka sa anak ko, umamin ka in public!

“Kasi I don’t think nakakahiya si Ruffa....Nakakahiya ’yun kung hindi mo siya inaamin, ’di ba? Kung talagang mahal mo ang isang babae, you should be proud. Kung hindi ka proud, ’di huwag ka nang manligaw. ’Yun lang naman ’yun eh!”

Annabelle has mellowed since. After having dinner with the actor, she is singing a different tune.

“Kung talagang nanligaw ka sa anak ko, galingan mo ha, dong! Saka huwag mo siyang lokohin ha, ‘yun lang,” she said.

Ruffa said her mom recognizes that she [Ruffa] is mature enough to know right from wrong. “Mabuti naman naisip ni mommy ‘yon, na malaki na ako; hindi lang sa height, kundi sa edad [na rin].”

She mulled: “I think hindi pa ako ready sa isang malalim na relationship. It’s time for me to start meeting people and to enjoy my life.”

A few weeks back, in “Ruffa and I,” Ruffa’s kids Lorin and Venice candidly chorused that their favorite actor is John Lloyd.

Then, when Eddie Gutierrez guested in “The Buzz”, he said that Ruffa and John Lloyd share a “deep” friendship.

At the time, Annabelle had noticed Ruffa taking extra care of herself.

“Aba, napapansin ko lang na palaging nag-aayos si Ruffa. Pa­nay ang punta sa ‘Flawless’ para magpaganda,” she said. “Nang sitahin ko, sagot lang niya, lagi raw kasi siyang nasa TV.

Pangit naman daw kung mukha siyang losyang.”

She added that even before this, she got wind of rumors that John Lloyd had been sending gifts to Ruffa.

“Nang lumaki na ang tsismis, doon na ako nakialam,” she said.

“Kung hindi ko siya [Ruffa] mahal, hindi ko siya pakikialaman. Bahala siya sa buhay niya. Pero iba ako eh. Hangga’t buhay pa ako, Ruffa, andito lang ako, makikialam sa ’yo. Nadapa ka na dati, at ayaw kong madapa ka muli.”