From Early Love to Enduring Partnership: Zsa Zsa Padilla's Romantic Journey with Dolphy and Conrad Onglao

Zsa Zsa Padilla, often hailed as the "Divine Diva" of Philippine entertainment, has navigated a public and often challenging romantic life alongside her illustrious career. Her journey through love has seen significant partnerships, heartbreaks, and enduring commitments, shaping her personal narrative in the public eye. From an early marriage to a long-term, devoted relationship with a comedy icon, and finding new love later in life, Padilla's romantic history reflects resilience and a deep capacity for affection.

Padilla's first significant public relationship was with Dr. Modesto Tatlonghari, a dentist. They entered into a civil marriage in August 1980, followed by a church wedding in September of the same year. Their union produced her eldest daughter, singer-actress Karylle.

The marriage to Tatlonghari, however, ended in separation around 1987. Zsa Zsa Padilla later sought to annul their union, a process that spanned many years. The church annulment was granted on August 6, 2003, and finalized on December 3, 2004, while the civil annulment was granted on July 13, 2009, and finalized on December 17, 2010.

In 1989, Padilla began a profound and enduring relationship with the Philippines' King of Comedy, the late Dolphy (Rodolfo Vera Quizon Sr.). Their partnership became one of the most celebrated and long-lasting in Philippine showbiz, despite never formally marrying due to the complexities of Zsa Zsa's ongoing annulment. They lived together as partners for over two decades.

Their relationship was marked by deep affection and mutual support, and they had two daughters together, Nicole and Zia Quizon. Dolphy also embraced Karylle as his own, forming a blended family that was often in the public spotlight. The couple frequently expressed their desire to marry once Zsa Zsa’s annulment was finalized, even planning a Las Vegas wedding at one point, which had to be cancelled.

Dolphy passed away on July 10, 2012, after a long illness, leaving Padilla and their family in deep mourning. His death marked the end of a significant chapter in Zsa Zsa's life, as she had been his devoted partner and caregiver for many years. The public witnessed her grief, but also her strength in continuing her career and raising her daughters.

Several years after Dolphy's passing, Zsa Zsa Padilla found love again with architect Conrad Onglao. They were introduced by mutual friend Sharon Cuneta and began dating, with their relationship becoming public in 2014. Their connection quickly deepened, and they announced their engagement in September 2015.

Their path to marriage, however, encountered an unexpected hurdle. In 2016, while trying to secure a Certificate of No Marriage (CENOMAR) for their wedding, Padilla discovered she was allegedly married to a Japanese man named Shigemi Nabehigashi in 1992, a person she had never met. This shocking revelation led to a second annulment case for Padilla.

"Can you believe I had to annul this 'marriage' I didn't even know about? Sadly, all this fake marriage needed were details of my birth certificate!" Padilla shared on social media, expressing her frustration and the emotional toll of the situation. The fake marriage was eventually declared null and void in July 2018, clearing her path to marry Onglao.

Despite a brief separation in 2016, Padilla and Onglao reconciled later that year, reaffirming their commitment to each other. Their relationship has since remained strong and private, with Zsa Zsa occasionally sharing glimpses of their life together on social media. They have not yet publicly announced a new wedding date but continue to be a committed couple.

Zsa Zsa Padilla's romantic history is a testament to her enduring spirit and capacity for love, navigating public scrutiny, personal loss, and unexpected challenges. From her early marriage and motherhood to her profound bond with Dolphy and her current partnership with Conrad Onglao, her journey has been one of growth, resilience, and finding happiness through various life stages.