Born to two of the most influential and celebrated actors in the Philippine entertainment industry, former actress Maritess Gutierrez is presently known to be working as a chef, a very successful one at that. Born sometime during the 1960s, Maritess’ parents, Gloria Romero and Juancho Gutierrez, were extremely popular among the people, and it kept Maritess within the perimeters of the spotlight, too.
Her mother, Gloria Romero, was during her days of activity a Filipino actress and model with an acting career spread over seventy years of hard work. Her father, Juancho Gutierrez, was also a famous actor known best for movies like Rodora, Tres Cantos, Just Before Dawn, and so many more.
With her parents working for one of the leading film studios in the country, being constantly in front of the cameras and under scrutiny was not new to Maritess. Her parents’ wealth and influence kept her surrounded by the top stars, even getting her into some of the most prestigious educational institutions in the Philippines, including the likes of St. Theresa’s College and Assumption College.
Influenced by her parents’ success in the film industry, Maritess also followed their footsteps, debuting in the industry during the 1970s with films like For You, Mama, Fiesta Extravanganza, Ang Alamat Ni Julian Makabayan, and Aguila.
Her big break in the industry came with the film Bulaklak Sa City Jail, a dark film that got her critical acclaim and many awards and accolades. Her horror thriller movie Halimaw took people by surprise due to the sudden change in her image, but it went on to be a hit nonetheless.
This film was the last of what fans saw Maritess on screen and acting. Not wanting to spend every moment of her life in front of the camera, in front of the public, the actress announced her retirement from the industry and took a more private path to success.
She pursued her teenage passion for cooking and went to the Centre for Asian Culinary Studies, where she got her diploma in culinary arts after graduating. Since then, she has worked at the best hotels in the nation, served important people, and even set up her catering service called Gutierrez Catering Services.
She has published cooking books for those interested in learning more about the art form, all the while writing for several established magazines like the Philippine Daily Inquirer, The Manila Bulletin, and The Philippine Star. Gutierrez is also known to impart her culinary knowledge and skills to aspiring chefs, and she does so by taking scheduled classes and workshops.
The chef has always had a supportive environment, with her parents cheering her life choices, be it when she was acting or when she did a one-eighty to switch lanes, going from actress to a professional chef. Maritess has had success in her professional life, and there is no doubt about it.
Let us tell you more about the cook’s personal life, her husband and life partner, to be specific.
Who is Maritess’ Partner?
Maritess was loved by fans when she was acting, and many believed that she showed great potential just like her parents, but she switched careers even before she could properly get settled in the entertainment industry. But fame and success found her in her kitchen, too.
She has managed to make an extremely successful business out of her hobby, and this makes us wonder if she has ever had to face disappointment or failure. We say this because the famous chef has found immense success in her love life too.
Presently married to the love of her life, Raul De Leon, an influential businessman who, just like Maritess, left the acting industry for something else. You must know him from the hit film Halimaw, where he was cast against Maritess herself. So the two first met with each other around 1986 and were utterly in love by 1988. Also, the year the two tied the knot.
Their relationship is still going strong, and they have even had two kids, Chris and Nicole, both of whom have grown up to be independent and successful on their own. Their son Chris currently runs his own business but, just like his parents, has also briefly worked as a model and an actor.
While he continues to manage his restaurants, their daughter, Nicole, is currently working as a fashion designer, though she is known to have tried her hand at singing and dancing, too. The loving family is put up in their luxurious house in Makati City, Philippines, enjoying their lives together.
