Actress Barbie Imperial has spoken candidly about her relationship with the mother of her partner Richard Gutierrez, veteran actress Annabelle Rama, addressing long-standing rumors of tension between them.
Barbie was a guest on Ogie Diaz’ vlog ‘Ogie Diaz Inspires’, where she was immediately asked about her real relationship with Annabelle—often dubbed “Bisaya” by close friends. The question followed online speculation branding the situation as a supposed “Barbie versus Annabelle” rivalry, fueled by netizens noting the coincidence that both their names are also famous dolls.
Laughing off the rumors, Barbie stressed that there is no feud between them, describing Annabelle as warm and caring.
“Honestly po, wala naman. Sobrang sweet po ni Tita Annabelle sa akin saka sobra pong maalaga,” Barbie said. “Every time po na may gatherings, pinagtatabi po niya ako ng mga ulam, tapos inuuwi ko. Ang sasarap pa naman ng mga inoorder ni Tita Annabelle.”
According to Barbie, Annabelle even sends food to her on occasion, a gesture she deeply appreciates.
“Okay po kami, as in okay po kami ni Tita Annabelle,” she added.
The actress also shared details about the surprise birthday celebration she organized for Richard, which was attended by members of the Gutierrez family—an experience she described as positive and reassuring.
Despite their good relationship now, Barbie admitted that she initially felt intimidated by Annabelle, who is known for being outspoken and fiercely protective of her children.
“Actually po, ’yon ’yong pinakaunang concern, sorry po Tita,” Barbie said with a laugh. “Medyo natakot po ako. Pero sa totoo lang po, parang kung sino pa ’yong ‘maldita’ ang impression ng mga tao, parang siya pa po ’yong sobrang pinaka-warm sa lahat ng naging mom ng mga naging boyfriend ko.”
She acknowledged that the fear never fully disappears but said it is balanced by Annabelle’s consistent concern for her well-being.
“Palagi niya akong inaalala—kung kumain na ’ko, mangungumusta, minsan may mga phone call siyang ginagawa. Tinutulungan pa niya ’ko sa career ko,” Barbie shared.
Barbie added that she understands Annabelle’s strong personality stems from a mother’s instinct to protect her children.
“Feeling ko kapag hindi ka niya gusto o may nagawa ka sa mga anak niya, katulad ng ibang magulang, poprotektahan talaga nila ’yong anak. Scary talaga si Tita, pero gano’n din naman lahat ng magulang kapag nasasaktan ’yong anak nila,” she explained.
When asked if she now feels secure about her standing with Annabelle, Barbie answered confidently but playfully.
“Panatag naman po,” she said, laughing.
Barbie also noted that she and Annabelle are still adjusting to each other, acknowledging that both of them have strong personalities. She believes they consciously avoid conflict because of their shared love for Richard, knowing that any clash would put him in a difficult position.
Rumors about Barbie and Richard’s relationship first surfaced in May 2024 after photos of them together went viral. The pair later confirmed they were dating, saying they initially chose to keep their relationship private. They have also denied allegations that Barbie was a third party in Richard’s past marriage to Sarah Lahbati.
Recently, Barbie was seen spending time with the Gutierrez family during joint birthday celebrations for Richard and his twin brother Raymond Gutierrez, further reinforcing her statement that relations within the family remain harmonious.
