Why does it take guts to be a Guttierez?
By Ruben Marasigan
Parehong excited ang kambal na sina Richard at Raymond Gutierrez sa kanilang reality show na “It Takes Gutz To Be A Gutierrez.” Nagsimula na itong umere sa TFC (The Filipino Channel) ng ABS-CBN nitong Sabado, June 6.
Marami ang nagtatanong, why does it take guts to be Gutierrez nga ba?
“You know, we’ve been in this industry since we’re children. I think it takes guts to be in this business, to be in this industry. There’s a lot of politics, there’s a lot of haters. And we’ve managed to grow ‘thick skin’ being on the limelight through the years. It take guts to be in the entertainment industry,” paliwanag ni Raymond.
“I’ve gotten used to it. I mean, growing up in front of the camera. You can’t just elude showbiz because dad (Eddie Gutierrez) is an actor and our sister (Ruffa Guttierez) too. All our lives have been an open book. But now we’re taking it a step further. You know, like welcoming the audience into our lives,” dagdag ni Richard.
How far will they go in terms of exposing and in terms of sharing with the audience ang buhay ng mga Gutierrez? Lalo na ngayon na at ‘yung reality show nila is already on its third season na bukod sa TFC ay napapanood din ito sa ‘The Lifestyle Channel.’
“I’m so excited about that,” nangiting sabi ni Raymond. “Growing up in LA, we had TFC growing up. Actually, the original ‘Pangako Sa ‘Yo’,’ I used to watch at home, so this would be very exciting.”
“We’re happy that more Filipinos abroad can now watch ‘It Takes Gutz To Be A Guttierez.’ Kasi it’s shown all over Asia. At ‘yung mga Pinoy sa Amerika, sa Europe, sa Middle East, they were all asking us and requesting n asana mapanood nila yung show. So now, this is their chance.”
“In North America and Canada, Pacific time it’s going to be at 7 AM. For Australia and Guam, it’s at 1:30 PM. In Europe it’ll be aired in Rome at 9:05 AM. In New Zealand, 3:30 PM. In Hongkong and Singapore at 11:30 AM. Middle East, 10:05 AM and in Japan, 12:30 PM. So we’re so excited for Kapamilyas all over the world to get to know our family a little bit better.”
Hanggang saan ang ipapakita o ang kanilang ibabahagi sa viewers patungkol sa pang-araw-araw na takbo ng kanilang personal na buhay?
“I think to be a part of the show like this, siyempre ‘yung privacy went out the moment we signed the contract. So alam na namin kung ano ‘yung mga kailangang gawin. Alam na namin na once we do this, we really have to be open,” paglalahad ni Raymond. “So in the beginning there was awkwardness on our end. Kasi ako sanay ako facing the camera as a host, di ba? But this time, it’s really just the camera that follows you around. So in the beginning there were adjustments. But we’re so comfortable now with the process.”
Si Richard, he’s really been seriously very private even he is very public. Was it also difficult for him?
“To be completely honest, I was the last one on board for this project. Medyo ayaw ko talaga. Kasi in the beginning I didn’t see the point. But you know, when I talked to my family about it… you know it’s actually going to make our audiences more interested on us. They’ll get to know us much even more in a deeper sense. And you know, for a reality show to work… you need to be open. You need your audience to connect to you. If you don’t allow them to connect to you, then it won’t work,” sabi ni Richard.
“Iba na ‘yong audiences ngayon. Alam na nila, e. Kapag scripted, alam na nila. ‘Pag natural, alam na nila. So you can’t really fake anything like this. And we don’t have a script, we don’t have an outline. It’s you know… the magic is still the editing,” pagbibida pa ni Raymond.
‘Yung pamilya nila is credited to be the producers of the show. Are they involved in the content and the creative aspect?
“I try to be,” sabi ni Raymond. “But you know, we have a very good team.
We work with very good people. We put our full trust in them.”
They’ve been in the business for quite a while. Some people like them, some people don’t. How do they handle criticisms?
“We eat haters as breakfast everyday!” natawang sagot ni Raymond.
“Especially on social media nowadays. I mean you really can’t control it.”
Paano ‘yung mga negative comments?
“I just ignore it,” ani Raymond.
“Once you let it sink in, you know… ikaw ang talo.”
Si Richard, paano niya ito hina-handle?
“Me? I don’t bother.”
Tungkol naman sa alitan ngayon ng sister nilang si Ruffa at ina nilang si Anabelle Rama, do they get involved?
“You know it’s hard to comment,” ani Richard. “It’s hard to take sides.
“You can’t really take sides. You know when you’re a family, you try to understand and accept one another. When you look at my mom’s side, you understand her. I get her point. And the when I look at my sister’s point of view, I understand her also.”
Sabi naman ni Raymond… “Now that we’re all adults, we respect each other’s pace. And we understand that… I think what’s nice about this show (It Takes Gutz To Be A Gutierrez) na we’re doing also, I think as a family we become closer.
“Ngayon naiintindihan namin ang isa’t isa. Kapag hindi naman tayo tinatanong, huwag na tayong magbigay ng opinion.”
May kumakalat na tsismis na diumano’y secretly married na sina Richard at Sarah Lahbati. Ano ang katotohanan tungkol dito?
“May kasalan na magaganap sa season 3 ng ‘It Takes Gutz To Be A Gutierrez.’ Pero sa kapatid ko!,” sabay tawang sagot ni Richard.
“Like what I said, you know… ‘yung story namin ni Sarah now that we’re doing the show, wala na kaming secrets, e.
“It’s (the wedding) something that we talk about, we speak about, we see it, and… we plan things. But it will come at the right time.”
