When ZsaZsa Zizzles

If life does begin at 40, then Zsa Zsa Padilla is only two years old.

Looking at her, you wonder...has she found the fountain of youth?

"No," smiles Zsa Zsa, "I just found Dr. Vicki Belo."

You see the "wonders of 42" on huge, attention-grabbing billboards all over the metropolis and in the ads for ZsaZsa Zaturnnah Ze Moveeh (rated A by the Cinema Evaluation Board), Regal Films’ entry to the 2006 Metro Filmfest, officially starting tomorrow, Dec. 25, and ending on Jan. 7, 2007. (Incidentally, the Zaturnnah premiere Wednesday night was delayed not by the MTRCB approval as reported in some tabs but by the late arrival of prints from Bangkok where they were processed.)

For a while, because she was looking alarmingly thin (made more obvious by her tight Zartunnah outfit), Zsa Zsa was suspected to be anorexic. It turned out that she was suffering from a congenital kidney ailment, surgery for which she had to put on hold while she was busy shooting for Zaturnnah, directed by Joel Lamangan based on the award-winning comic books by Carlo Vergara and turned into a musical before it was transported to the big screen.

"I can never forget this movie because I was in pain during the shooting," confesses Zsa Zsa. "But I wouldn’t say that I put my life at stake for it."

A little idea what the musical-fantasy-adventure-comedy is all about: Rustom Padilla as a gay beauty-parlor stylist transforms into a sexy, no-nonsense female superhero (yes, Zsa Zsa as ZsaZsa Zaturnnah) whenever he swallows an alien rock, and then fights with giant frogs, man-hating planet women and zombies creating trouble in a quiet little town.

"I heaved a deep sigh of relief when we finished the shoot," adds Zsa Zsa who shelved a plan to spend Christmas away from the country with her beloved Dolphy. "A week after that, I went under the knife. Now I realize more than ever that health is really wealth."

You are home this Christmas.

"If I didn’t have a Metro Filmfest entry, Dolphy wanted us to spend Christmas abroad. Last year, I also had an entry (Mano Po 4: Ako Legal Wife), so we didn’t have a choice but also to stay. But as soon as we have the time, we’ll take a much-needed vacation."

How do you usually spend Christmas?

"Simple lang; at home lang. All members of my family are in Las Vegas. But Dolphy’s family, which is a big one, usually drops by. It has been a long family tradition. Since I’m too busy to do it myself, our noche buena is prepared by a caterer. I’m such a pro at that. I make a phone call and everything is set."

Who chooses the menu?

"Dolphy takes care of that. Siya ang punong-abala dyan. We’re a bit superstitious and we believe that filling up the buffet table with round-shaped goodies brings us good luck. Dolphy orders them from Hizon’s, his favorite restaurant/bakery – empanada, cakes, ensaymada, fruits (apples, oranges, grapes, chicos, etc.). Of course, hindi nawawala ang queso de bola. And pansit...for long life."

And who takes care of the home Christmas decoration?

"Both of us. We don’t remove the decor until the Chinese New Year because in our village many of our neighbors are Chinese. The color is predominantly red, also for good luck. At kailangan may polka dots ang damit namin. I have my own ‘tradition’ – scattering coins at our attic. Again, for prosperity."

In giving gifts, are you practical – you know, giving cash rather than in kind?

"It depends. But Dolphy is. Mas gusto niyang iregalo pera. Times are hard and people prefer money. But we shouldn’t let ourselves be carried away or we end up empty-handed. Like us singers, we get several bookings during this season because of corporate events and Christmas parties. By January, it’s lean times again so we have to be careful with money."

You look none the worse after your recent surgery (last Oct. 18).

"I was born with a narrow ureter which got swollen through the years because the urine back-flowed. Instead of coming out, it would go back to my kidney. My kidney got swollen. Last year, I was treated in the States, I was opened up. Then, I started feeling pain again, so the surgery. To make sure that everything is working, I have to be tested every six months. I don’t know if I have to bear with this condition for the rest of my life."

Didn’t you have a hard time shooting your fight scenes in ZsaZsa Zaturnnah, especially since you were in your tights?

"We shot the movie before my surgery. I was in pain but not all the time. But my costume was really uncomfortable, what with the stockings. My doctor advised me to keep on drinking water, so I had to go to the bathroom all the time and I had to take off my costume."

You were losing weight then and people thought you were suffering from anorexia.

"I have regained weight. Now, I can’t stop eating! I can’t work out yet, so I keep on putting on weight. My cut hasn’t completely healed yet. I removed my binder only recently. For a week after the surgery, I wore a bag attached to a tube connected to my tummy. I have to take as much liquid as I can. But I can’t eat certain foods."

How did the surgery affect your outlook in life?

"You know, when you go through a life-threatening experience, you begin to look at life from a different point of view. I told myself, ‘Teka muna, I have to live life a bit more; I have to enjoy life!’ So as soon as I was well enough, I traveled to Australia with my two girls (Nicole and Zia). Then, I read my recent interviews again and I said, ‘Oh, my God!’ I realized that I was mad during those interviews; I shouldn’t have been. There was so much intrigue then – the issue about my being anorexic daw – and I was sick, so I was under extreme pressure. I didn’t handle the situation properly. I was having self-pity. I thought then, ‘My God, may sakit ako. Bakit nila ako ginaganito?’"

Have you become more spiritual?

"That kind of experience can really bring you closer to God. I now read the Bible every morning. That’s a new thing for me. That’s totally not me. Pati needs ko nagbago. Ang luho (whim) ko na lang ngayon, mga damit which I really need in my work. I have stopped craving for signature stuff like bags and accessories. My main concern now is the education of my children. I’m thinking of traveling with my family more often. For working guys like us who are seldom home, traveling is the best time to bond with your family. When I look at our photos so happy bonding together, I say that no amount of money could buy all those beautiful memories."

Do you have any Christmas wish?

"None, really. But coming back from Australia, which is so clean and unpolluted and so environment-friendly, how I wish that our country were the same...kasi mahal na mahal ko ang Maynila, eh. Sana ganoon din tayo kalinis. That’s my wish."

Is it true that you are sending Nicole to Australia to study? (Nicole is currently enrolled in Poveda.)

"She’s doing foundation studies first for one year because she lacks the residency requirement kaya wala pa siyang ID. After that, she wants to enroll at the University of Melbourne. She wants to take up International Studies, major in French and Management, at the Trinity College which is inside the University of Melbourne. She plans to work at the United Nations."

Talking about your and Dolphy’s long-pending wedding...

"Oh, the wedding. If it happens, when it happens, it will happen."

Is there anything else you want to be thankful for this Christmas?

"Well, I just thank God that I’m still alive. It’s true what they say – life is short and you just have to enjoy it. It’s okay to work hard but you should give yourself a break every now and then."

At 42, have you experienced mid-life crisis?

"Yes, like everybody else. After I turned 40, I got depressed. I gained weight and I couldn’t explain it. I experienced hot flashes. Suddenly, I became acutely aware of my looks and I dreaded the thought of people saying, ‘Diyos ko, has-been na ito!’ You know, if people call you laos, it’s painful! Ang sakit-sakit n’un." (Adding with a laugh) "Thank God, there’s Vicki Belo!"

Are you afraid of growing old?

"No. I have accepted that reality of life. Everybody grows old, anyway. Who doesn’t?"

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