Eddie Gutierrez marks 84th birthday: ‘This birthday has given me more life’

One of the most celebrated actors in the Philippine movie industry — Eddie Gutierrez, marked his 84th birthday on February 6.

The celebration was attended by family members, close friends, and personalities from the entertainment industry.

Present were Eddie’s children, all top actors themselves — Ruffa, Richard, Raymond, as well as Tonton and Ramon Gutierrez. 

The veteran actor was genuinely happy as he celebrated with his family and friends and was especially touched by the presence of his sibling and brother-in-law, who flew in from Los Angeles. 

Eddie personally thanked everyone who attended and shared in his special day.

The celebration featured heartfelt birthday messages from family members, beginning with his wife, Annabelle Rama, who delivered a touching message assuring Eddie of her love and loyalty.

“Wala akong planong palitan ka. Mahal na mahal kita. At tsaka alam mo naman, ikaw lang talaga ang hinahanap-hanap ko. Kaya huwag kang mag-worry kapag ako umalis, naghahanap-buhay lang ako pambili natin ng gamot,” Annabelle said.

Filipino actor Tonton Gutierrez, Eddie’s son with veteran actress Liza Lorena, also shared a heartfelt message.

“Dad, we are so happy that you’re back and you are well now again. And we wish (kasi 84) we’ll be seeing each other again at 95. But Dad, we love you so much, and sana magtuloy-tuloy ang paggaling mo. We are always here behind you, always praying for you.”

Ramon Gutierrez followed with a short but thoughtful greeting, “Good health palagi at magti-taping pa tayo doon sa bagong show ni Richard. We love you, Dad.”

Eddie’s only daughter, Ruffa Gutierrez, also greeted her father, “Dad, happy, happy birthday. We’re always together in Singapore, and through everything we’ve been through, I know you were always there for us. I know you’re very positive about everything, so I believe you’re going to be with us for 20 more years. We love you, Dad.”

Blood vs. Duty star Richard Gutierrez also shared his birthday greeting, while Raymond Gutierrez served as host, guiding the program to keep the celebration organized. Despite the festivities, Eddie took time to answer questions regarding his health, birthday wish, and possible return to showbiz.

“I feel good, and this birthday has given me more life. I have my friends here and my family. I would like to thank Sampaguita Pictures, where I started my career, and ABS-CBN. I want to thank God for giving me another life, and especially Annabelle, who has been the rock of our family,” he said.

When asked if he and Annabelle have grown closer, “When we were young, we had our quarrels. Ang motto ko kasi ‘make love, make war.’ Kasi kapag puro make love, hindi masaya ang relationship. Pero ngayon, it’s always love. We just enjoy our life with our children,” he shared.

He also expressed gratitude for another year of life.

“I didn’t expect to live this long. My life was full of sports, filming, and puyatan, so sometimes I wasn’t living a healthy lifestyle. But I made it to 84 and hope for more years. Salamat po.”

Eddie revealed that he will return to Singapore in three weeks for his final medical procedure. When asked if he is open to working again after his recovery, he answered, “Well, if someone offers me a nice role, why not? Because this is my life. I started when I was 16 years old, in 1958. Hindi pa kayo ipinapanganak lahat.”

Also present at the celebration were Janine Gutierrez and Jericho Rosales, who performed a duet, and Eddie’s grandson, Singer and actor Diego Gutierrez. Other celebrity guests included Vina Morales, Sunshine Cruz, and Richard Gutierrez’s girlfriend, Barbie Imperial.

-Paraluman News