The role Dimples plays best

MANILA, Philippines - Neither will there be questions asked nor complaints to be heard from Dimples Romana if and when the Kapamilya network decides to give her a mommy role in every project she is tasked to do  whether in acting or hosting.

“It doesn’t bother me at all because I feel being a mother is my calling as it truly fulfills me,” says Dimples on the kind of role she’s getting these days. “In our career especially to us women, we strive hard for the family. Whether we choose to be a homemaker or a career woman, we still do the one true thing and that is to be a good mother. Kanya-kanya lang ng interpretation ‘yan para maging isang mabuting ina. We work hard for our children’s future.”

At 27, Dimples has already known what motherhood is all about. Her being a mom to her and husband Boyet Ahmee’s eight-year-old daughter Christiana Amanda Lauren, or Cal for short, is like a badge of honor she wears with much gusto. No wonder, it makes it easy for her to visibly reflect on screen the kind of affection only a mother could give in her most recent TV drama outing as Agnes Alvarez in Ikaw ang Pag-Ibig. Her another marked performance was as Alvira del Valle in Mara Clara.

Asked if she gives a different mommy treatment on and off screen, Dimples replies, “It depends. I have done different types of mother role — strict, scheming and funny. But as Dimples the real mom, I am strict because I really want to teach Cal a kind of characteristic that even if she grows older, she will bring it with her. So medyo firm ako when it comes to being a mom (offscreen), especially when it comes to education.”

Her being strict naturally comes out on the set. She believes that acting requires pure discipline to be able to show to televiewers the right emotions of the character. She confesses having a hard time breathing life to Alvira “because she’s soft-spoken which I’m not. She’s also very vulnerable which I’m not. I fight for my child and I will do anything for her. I know Alvira is also like that but the problem is Alvira is so soft.”

Dimples Romana (above, with co-hosts Xian Lim, left, and Matteo Guidicelli and the 12 kiddie finalists) takes a role close to her heart as host of Promil Pre-School i-Shine Talent Camp to premiere today at 9:30 a.m., on ABS-CBN. — Photos by ALLAN SANCON

This time, Dimples need not think long and hard about making her role distinct. No acting will be required as she hosts the Promil Pre-School i-Shine Talent Camp. All she has to do is help encourage moms to nurture and be more acknowledging of their children’s talent. Xian Lim and Matteo Guidicelli are her co-hosts while Luis Manzano, Karylle, John Prats, director Bobot Mortiz and son Frasco comprised the mentor-judges of the 12 talented i-Shiners whose ages range from four to seven. Premiering today at 9:30 a.m., televiewers will witness the journey of the kiddie finalists as they attend the fun and different workshops that will lead them to discover their full potential.

As a nurturing mom to Cal, Dimples aims to let the children feel their parents’ support in honing their talents.

“Cal does figure skating so I watch and cheer for her, I do video or take her pictures not just to show my support but also to take this as our bonding moment. We do activities together like baking and drawing. I’ll be taking up some lessons in horse-back riding soon, I’m sure we will do it together.”

Like most working moms, Dimples admits guilt feeling sometimes creeps in. “It cannot be avoided but the good thing is I have a good partner. Feeling ko nga hulog ng langit si Boyet kasi whenever I’m out of the house, napupunuan n’ya yun. My husband and Cal are very understanding. They don’t give me a hard time at all.”

Asked to share her top three tips to make the parents-children relationship stronger, Dimples enumerates, “First is listen to your children because they may tell a lot of things more than you think they do. Second, be good to your partner as he will be the one to help you out during the times that you will feel weak and last is to stay intact with the family, with your in-laws and your own family because when you surround yourself with very good families, you will be able to nurture your own family as well just the way they’ve done it for many years.”