Ruffa Gutierrez Opens Up About Barbie Imperial After Barbie Hosts Richard Gutierrez's Birthday Lunch

Barbie Imperial seems to be striking the right balance of being a supportive partner and a thoughtful guest in the Gutierrez household. The actress recently organized a surprise, intimate birthday lunch for her boyfriend Richard Gutierrez and his twin brother Raymond Gutierrez, and sister Ruffa Gutierrez was quick to share sweet snippets of the celebration on her Facebook page.

The lunch took place on January 21 at Spices restaurant in The Peninsula Manila, Makati, which included a close circle of family: parents Eddie Gutierrez and Annabelle Rama, as well as Zion and Kai, Richard's sons with Sarah Lahbati.

In her post, Ruffa wrote, "A surprise, intimate birthday dinner at The Peninsula Manila, lovingly organized by Barbie for Chard & Mond ❤️ Blurry photos, but some moments are meant to be lived, not photographed. 🥰" She also sent birthday wishes to her twin brothers: "Happy birthday to my handsome twin brothers!! 🎂 Wishing you success, love, and good health this year and always. We love you! 🥂✨"

The gathering came just days after Richard and Barbie confirmed their relationship, which they had previously kept private. The pair are also set to star together in the upcoming action-drama series Blood vs Duty alongside Baron Geisler, Bela Padilla, and Gerald Anderson.

Ruffa didn't hold back when asked about Barbie either, giving the actress major props for both her personality and cooking skills. "Okay naman po. Mabait siya sa akin. I'm very excited na siya yung bagong leading lady ni Chard," she said in an interview with PEP.ph.

She added with a laugh, "Masarap siya magluto. Dapat turuan niya akong magluto ng mga maanghang na mga pagkain. Sana walang gayuma." Fun fact: Barbie is originally from Bicol, so that knack for spicy dishes makes total sense.

Despite the family's warm reception, online critics weren't shy about voicing their opinions about Barbie hosting the birthday celebration. Ruffa, however, made it clear that she has zero tolerance for negativity. "For those of you making rude comments, I will block and delete them," she wrote on Facebook. "You don't know what happens in private. What's clear is that all parties have moved on, so should you. Maraming salamat for your kind understanding."

More than anything, Ruffa's words made it clear that Barbie has her respect and support—both as Richard's partner and as someone warmly welcomed by the family.