Yes, Glenn Ong is dating Jonica Lazo... but don't expect wedding bells
Yes, radio DJ Glenn Ong is dating Filipino actress Jonica Lazo.
But no - they're not in an exclusive relationship. And he hopes he'll never have to marry her.
The 55-year-old Kiss92 presenter told The New Paper on Oct 4 that he's relishing his single life and the freedom to date anyone he pleases.
Since finalising his divorce from fellow radio DJ Jean Danker in July, Glenn says he has found peace - and perspective.
"I'm 55 right now and I've always been with someone, and I've never been single. Now that I'm single, I have the freedom to really socialise and have as many friends as I like," he said.
And while he is no stranger to controversy, he admits his Instagram post with 25-year-old Jonica on Sept 30 sparked far more buzz than expected.
"I don't know why I made that post on Instagram," Glenn said ruefully. He said he has gone on dates with other people but hasn't shared images on social media to avoid speculation of any kind.
"But I thought it was nice to welcome Jonica to Singapore since she is a well-known actress in the Philippines and would be accustomed to the spotlight since she's a public figure," he explained.
Enjoying freedom and rediscovery
Now, Glenn is taking time to rediscover himself.
"I now have the means to just enjoy myself at this stage of my life and do whatever I want, and while people mellow with age, I feel like I'm starting again because of my friends of different ages," he said.
"I'll go golfing with friends who are about my age and millennials and Gen Zs would invite me out for drinks, so I go to Marquee, I go to Avenue.
"I'm just out there... enjoying myself, and I'm enjoying the fact that I see a change in the industry and how people party now as opposed to how we used to party."
So he's dating freely and loving life as a single - and no, he wasn't being evasive about his relationship status with Jonica.
He appears fond of her, but has no plans to make things official.
"I feel like, for me, the moment I get married, it becomes a bit unsexy already," he said.
"But as long as I'm not married, I can be in a relationship for like maybe a decade or more or whatever. I still feel like it's a bit sexier than if I got married, and I'm calling my other half wife.
"Some people love that and think it is so romantic, but I don't."
Such definitions are important to Glenn. She is not his "steady" girlfriend, to borrow a term from days of yore, and they're not dating with marriage in mind - at least, he isn't.
Glenn says he's often misunderstood, but isn't fazed by critics who take aim at their 30-year age gap.
"Why not? If a girl who is 25 years old and me kind of vibe, and we go out, I'm completely fine with that. If you put any guy in my shoes, or if those who criticise me were in my situation, they'd love it, right?" he said.
Still, he added with a chuckle: "I don't date 25-year-old women often, and 25 is the lowest age I would date."
He said there is a more pertinent question than whether he and Jonica were dating.
"When I saw that question, 'Is Glenn Ong dating Jonica Lazo?' I was thinking, maybe someone should ask, 'Is Glenn Ong the greatest radio personality of all time able to freaking continue to get the attention of people after being 35 years on the radio'?" he quipped.
From lover to Agony Uncle
Single life has brought unexpected perks. Glenn now spends more time being a listening ear to his female friends - something he never did when he was married.
"Yes, I'm Agony Uncle now," he joked.
"People like to talk about their lives and their relationships, and we would do this over lunch or dinner, over a drink or coffee. I never did that because I would put myself in a situation that would make my partner uncomfortable. But now I can be there for my friends, and it is quite fun.
And what would three-times married Agony Uncle Glenn Ong say to someone intending to get hitched?
"Don't do it!" he exclaimed.
Then, more seriously: "If you must, go ahead, but consider that the fiery passion in the relationship will eventually diminish, and think about whether you can live with that."
He added: "For me, I couldn't. I need the fire, the passion in the relationship, and so I had to go when it was gone, and I could no longer be happy in it. Some people may have children and their responsibilities and still be happy in a marriage, but for my three marriages, it was always just the two of us. And physical intimacy - the fire in the relationship - is very important to me."
So will there be a fourth wedding for Glenn, then?
Never say never, he replied.
"If I meet, like, a woman whom I'm crazy, crazy in love with and her ultimatum is that, you will lose me if you don't get married to me, then I might get married for a fourth time. You know what I mean? Love is a funny thing, and it makes you do crazy things."
For now, Glenn is content - renovating his home into a bachelor pad and living life entirely on his terms.
He's in a good place, he said. Until he is given an ultimatum by a woman.
