Zsa Zsa: Being with Dolphy was worth it

MANILA -- Singer-actress Zsa Zsa Padilla admitted it wasn’t easy to be with Comedy King Dolphy but she said “he was worth it.”

"Hindi naging madali ang lahat ng ‘yun, pero he was worth it. In loving the man, I accept all that came with him -- his legacy, his personality, when he's in front of the camera and his children," Padilla said.

Padilla gave her eulogy for the comedian and partner for more than 20 years during a necrological service at the Dolphy Theater in ABS-CBN compound.

Dolphy (Rodolfo V. Quizon in real life) died Tuesday night of multiple organ failure, arising as a complication of severe pneumonia and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

Padilla said that when they found out that the Comedy King was suffering from COPD six years ago, they immediately talked to the comedian’s children to explain the situation.

"Kinailangan namin kausapin lahat ng anak niya. Mula noon talaga, naramdaman ko na isa kaming tunay na pamilya. Na posible naman pala. Na kahit na ang mga anak ni Dolphy, eh, galing sa iba't-ibang nanay, pwede naman kaming magkaisa," the singer said.

Padilla said Dolphy was very proud of his children, adding she would also constantly remind the comedian of how fortunate he was for having understanding and loving kids.

"In his dying days when we'd crowd his ICU (intensive care unit) room, I would tell him na he was so lucky dahil ang dami-daming nagmamahal sa’yo. Hindi lang ‘yung mga anak mo, mga kapatid mo, mga apo mo," she said.

"Dolphy came to heaven with joy in his heart because you're all (his kids) with him during his last days on earth. Nagpaalam siya na with peace on his heart," she added.

Dolphy shared his life with six different women who gave him 18 kids. His sons Eric, Ronnie and Epi are from his relationship with then-actress Baby Smith, while he had Vandolph with Alma Moreno.

Padilla and Dolphy spent their lives together for 23 years. They had two daughters, Zia and Nicole.

The singer thanked the comedian for teaching her to be strong.

"Thank you very much for being so proud of me, for giving me my two girls, for being so thoughtful and for doing your best to provide for us," she said.

"(You) thought me to be strong. Ours is not a conventional family pero sa iyo ko natutunan paano mahalin at magmahal," she said.

Zsa Zsa closed her eulogy for Dolphy with Kenny Rogers's hit "Through the Years." (Sunnex)