ShareThisBut marriage to Dolphy may have to wait
“I’m free again!”
A beaming Zsa Zsa Padilla uttered these words after receiving a copy of a court order granting with finality her petition for the annulment of her marriage with Dr. Modesto Tatlonghari.
The singer-actress was visibly happy as the annulment came after 10 years of waiting.
Actually, the church annulled her marriage with Tatlonghari as early as in 2005, but their civil marriage was still to be voided.
Zsa Zsa, daughter of actor-turned boxing referee Carlos Padilla, was only 16 years old when she married Tatlonghari, a dentist. Tatlonghari was 35 at that time. They reportedly eloped against the wishes of Zsa Zsa’s parents.
After six years of marriage, Zsa Zsa and her husband separated in 1987. Their union produced a daughter, singer-actress Karylle.
Two years after her separation, the comely actress started living with comedy king Dolphy. They have two children.
Prior to the annulment of her marriage, Zsa Zsa and Dolphy had expressed their desire to be married, but had to wait for the decision on her annulment petition.
Now that the annulment is granted, will Zsa Zsa, now 46, and Dolphy, now 82, finally walk the down the aisles for the altar?
The answer is yes or maybe.
The reason: they now claim that they are not in a hurry to get married.
In case it pushes through, it will be the first marriage for Dolphy. Despite siring 17 children from different women, the comedy king actually never married.
The news about the grant of annulment to Zsa Zsa was reported first by respected editor, columnist and television host Ricky Lo.
Zsa Zsa disclosed that she was still praying as to what steps to take next.
She said: “Pinagdadasal pa kung anong susunod na hakbang… Sa kondisyon niya (Dolphy) ngayon, di ba? Parang ang dami-dami naming dapat ayusin.”
“Sana respetuhin nila kung anuman ang magiging decision namin,” she added.
The singer-actress was referring to the condition of Dolphy who is reportedly sickly due to old age.
But Zsa Zsa assured that Dolphy has her undying support whether or not they will get married or not.
“Kung saan man dumating ang pagsasama natin, alam mo naman na forever akong nandito para sa iyo Nirerespeto ko ang kasal, pero kung sakali man hindi tayo umabot doon, asahan mo nandito ako para sa iyo,” she added, according to ABS-CBN.
In his Funfare column in Philippine Star, Ricky Lo recounted the initial reaction of Zsa Zsa when she saw the annulment decision.
Zsa Zsa said: “I couldn’t believe it! I got the copy of the Decree for Nullity earlier that afternoon and I kept looking at it. I kept on saying, ‘Ito na ba talaga, Lord? Totoo na ba talaga ito, Lord? Thank you, Lord, thank you!’”
Ricky Lo wrote: Seven years ago, anticipating a favorable court decision, Zsa Zsa and Dolphy scheduled their wedding in Las Vegas. It would have been a small wedding attended only by family members and close friends. It wasn’t meant to be.
“It was heart-breaking,” Zsa Zsa told Funfare. “Everything was set. The invitations had been printed.”