Zsa Zsa Padilla


Esperanza "Zsa Zsa" Perez Padilla is a Filipino singer, actress, television host, music producer and businesswoman.
Referred to as the "Divine Diva", Padilla is recognized as one of the top female recording artists in the Philippines. Before going solo in 1982, Padilla began her career in the mid 70s with the Filipino band Hotdog. She has won a Gawad Urian Award, 2 FAP Awards, 3 Golden Screen Awards including the prestigious 'Decade Award' and received multiple nominations at the FAMAS Award. Padilla is also among the biggest-selling female music artists in the Philippines. According to Philippine Association of the Record Industry, some of her best-selling albums include: Ikaw Lamang, Zsa Zsa, Sentiments and Unchanging Love. As an acclaimed actress, Padilla has played various genres ranging from drama, comedy and fantasy. She's best known for ZsaZsa Zaturnnah Ze Moveeh, Batang PX, Ako Legal Wife: Mano Po 4 and Minsan Lang Kitang Iibigin.

Career

Padilla started in 1982 as the vocalist of the band Hotdog before going solo less than a year later in 1983. In 1987, she had her first TV acting role in the series, Lovingly Yours, Helen. In the same year, she had her first film role in Mga Anak ni Facifica Falayfay, with the Filipino comedian Dolphy, who became her partner of more than 20 years.

Personal life

Family

Padilla was born as Esperanza Perez Padilla in 1964, the daughter of parents Esperanza "Kating" Felipa Perez and actor-sportsman Carlos "Sonny" Padilla, Jr. In 1980, at the age of 16, she wedded her 35-year-old boyfriend Modesto Tatlonghari, a dentist, with whom she had one daughter, Karylle.
Despite her initial marriage, Padilla became a partner to comedian Rodolfo "Dolphy" Quizon in 1988, having two children with him: Nicole and Zia Denise Marie. In 2001, Padilla filed for the annulment of her marriage to Tatlonghari, with Dolphy, having never married before, expressing his dream of finally entering into marriage with Padilla once her annulment is granted. Her church wedding was annulled in 2004, while her civil wedding was annulled in May 2011; Tatlonghari was reported to have remained "civil" and "cordial" in his relationship with Padilla after the annulment. Padilla's marriage to Dolphy, however, would not push through due to negative public reaction toward her relationship, with Dolphy later dying in July 2012.
In 2014, Padilla began a relationship with architect Conrad Onglao after being introduced to each other by singer Sharon Cuneta. Padilla and Onglao thus became live-in partners, with the two eventually deciding not to pursue marriage after Padilla went through another annulment process with a Japanese man she was unknowingly married to in 1992. The couple reside on a $6.8 million U-shaped mansion upon a 1,386 square-meter lot in Barangay San Lorenzo Village, while also owning a green holiday cottage called the Casa Esperanza in Lucban, Quezon.

Health concerns

Padilla suffers from a birth defect, megaureter since her left ureter caused her chronic urinary tract infection. In 2007, her first surgery was a minimally invasive procedure to remedy the ureter. In 2012, Padilla underwent partial left kidney nephrectomy. In 2024, she had a (pee) reflux which caused her third surgery, a laparoscopy at the Mount Elizabeth Hospital.

Concerts

TitleDateVenueNotes
All For Love: Zsa Zsa Padilla and Side AFebruary 13, 1999Araneta Coliseum
Divas 4 DivasDecember 6, 2008Araneta Coliseum• Co-headliners: Regine Velasquez, Pops Fernandez and Kuh Ledesma.
Zsa Zsa: BeginningsJuly 31, 2015Newport World Resorts• Guest stars include Martin Nievera and Karylle.
Zsa Zsa Padilla: The Best Day of My LifeMay 11, 2018Newport World Resorts• Guest stars include Karylle and Zia Quizon.
Totally ZsaZsaMay 16, 2019Newport World Resorts• Guest stars include Ian Veneration, Karylle and Zeus Collins.
40 Na ZsaNovember 11, 2023Newport World Resorts• A celebration of Zsa Zsa Padilla's 40th anniversary in the showbusiness.

Filmography

Film

YearTitleRole
1987Mga Anak ni Facifica FalayfayCristina Mendoza
1987Black MagicValerie
1988Hiwaga sa Balete DriveMargarita
1988Magkano ang Iyong Dangal?Era
1989Starzan: Shouting Star of the JungleJane
1989Pahiram ng Isang UmagaLydia
1989Bakit Iisa Lamang ang Puso?
1989Bote, Diyaryo, Garapa
1989Starzan 2: The Coming of Star SonJane
1989My Darling Domestic: Greyt Eskeyp
1990Starzan III: The Jungle TriangleJane
1990Og Must Be CrazyKathy
1993Kung Ako'y Iiwan Mo
1994Minsan Lang Kita IibiginMonique
1994Ang Ika-Labing Isang Utos: Mahalin Mo, Asawa MoSusan
1995Father & SonLennie
1996MadrastaSandra
1997Batang PXTessie
1998TataynicRose Winshield
2000Ika-13 KapituloSarah
2000Mahal KoShaina de Jesus
2002Home Alone da RiberSandra
2003Mano Po 2: My HomeLu Shui
2005Ako Legal Wife: Mano Po 4?Chona Chong
2006Zsazsa Zaturnnah Ze MoveehZsa Zsa Zaturnnah
2008Dobol Trobol: Lets Get Redi 2 Rambol!cameo appearance with Pia Guanio
2009Mano Po 6: A Mother's LoveOlivia Uy
2010Paano Na KayaCarmina Marasigan
2010SigwaSita
2012I Do Bidoo Bidoo: Heto nAPO Sila!Elaine Fuentebella
2013A Moment in TimeMiriam Javier
2015You're Still the OneCecilia
2017Bes and the BeshiesMabel
2017Ang LarawanElsa Montes

Television

YearTitleRole
1983–1987GMA SupershowCo-host
1993GMA Telesine Presents: CamillaCamilla
1994GMA Telesine Presents: Mukha
1994–95Star Drama Presents: Zsa Zsa
1995–96Familia ZaragozaDivina Zaragoza-Lagrimas
1997Zsa Zsa Limited EngagementHerself
1997Maalaala Mo Kaya: Gitara
1998–presentASAPHerself
1998Hiwalay Kung Hiwalay, Daw!
1999–2000Labs Ko Si BabeMayor Diwata Royales
2001–02Sa Puso Ko Iingatan KaNieves Quevedo-Pacheco
2002–04Morning GirlsHerself
2003–04Star in a MillionHerself
2004Born DivaHerself
2006Bituing Walang NingningRosa Mia Suarez
2007-08Mars Ravelo's LastikmanDra. Cynthia "Cindy" Evilone
2010Maalaala Mo Kaya: ShellFlor
20101DOLEleanor Serrano
2011–12BudoyLuisa Maniego
2013Juan dela CruzLaura Alejandro
2014DyesebelElena "Ena" Villamayor-Montilla
2016The Story of UsMyra Simbulan
2017–18WildflowerHelena Montoya / Red Dragon
2019–presentIt's ShowtimeHurado in Tawag ng Tanghalan
2020Almost ParadiseGovernor Nina Rosales
2020Love Thy WomanHelen Chao
2023Cattleya KillerAuri Melendez
2025The AlibiJaqueline Cabrera