Ruffa Gutierrez explains why she's against the concept of living together before marriage

"Kung hindi naman ako asawa, why will I act like a wife?"

That's what Ruffa Gutierrez said as she explained why she's against the idea of unmarried couples living together.

The 51-year-old actress detailed her views on the matter in a vlog by businesswoman Anna Magkawas, stressing that she needs her personal space.

“Well, I need my space. Pwede naman sleepovers. Live-in kasi is you’re living with someone like you’re a married couple. I personally need my space, so I don’t wanna see my jowa [partner] every day, all day—morning, tanghali, gabi. After six months, baka inaaway ko na siya,” she said.

Anna raised the point that other pairs follow the live-in setup to try and get to know each other deeper before marriage.

To which, Gutierrez replied, "Wala nang excitement. Baka in 10 years, magsawa na kayo sa isa’t isa."

"The guy needs to put the work, and I always tell my kids, dapat sila ang bumisita sayo nang maayos sa bahay," she added. "So that’s my own personal opinion."

The Beauty Empire actress said that instead of living under one roof, a couple can get to know each other by traveling together.

"I think you’ll see that when you travel together kasi makikita mo how he treats people, swak ba kayo or hindi," she said. "Tapos ‘pag uwi niyo sa Maynila, ‘Okay bye, see you in a few days.’ Para at least my excitement. Every time you see the person ay excited ka, naghahanda ka, nagpapaganda ka."

The 51-year-old added that she will only live with someone she is married to, noting how she previously dedicated her life to her family when she tied the knot with her ex-husband, businessman Yilmaz Bektas.

"Kaya ako, ayaw ko makipag-live in, kasi kung hindi naman ako asawa, why will I act like a wife? If we’re married, then we can live together," she said.

“Diba I moved nga to Istanbul for Yilmaz? I was at the height of my career then, I had three shows. And then nung nag-propose na siya, I decided to focus 200% on my family and then I left my career behind in the Philippines," she recalled.

Ruffa was married to Yilmaz from 2003 until their separation in 2007. They share two children, Venice and Lorin.

She went public with her romance with Herbert Bautista in June 2024, saying that their relationship is "serious." However, she said in a June 2025 interview that they are "going through a bump" and are not on speaking terms.