Dimples Romana: No ‘mom guilt’

One lifeline quote in Tonight With Boy Abunda (TWBA) that is worth remembering came from Andi Eigenmann. She said, “Your own happiness plays a crucial part in raising a child.” That is true and, therefore, it is exactly synonymous to saying that a happy parent raises a happy child.

In show business, one good example of a happy parent is Dimples Romana who does not only raise happy children — Callie, 14, and Alonzo, 3 — but also one of the most talented actors in the industry. In every role, every scene and every project, Dimples never fails to leave her own mark as an actress. It is no longer a surprise to hear that every time her name is mentioned, Dimples is often being described as a brilliant actress. But given her crazy showbiz schedule, does she get “mom guilt” feeling at times?

“Yes and no,” Dimples said. “At home, I am really just a mom and a wife, so I rarely use my phone and I really make sure to always make activities at home. Nasa kanila ang oras ko because I believe that even if it’s just five minutes yet very meaningful to them, they would cling on to that moment when I was there.”

Dimples shared to televiewers of TWBA that Callie wants to be a beauty queen and a pilot. She also dreams of putting up her own business. “She’s a strong young lady; very smart and very creative.” Still, her daughter had once become a victim of bullying which hurt Dimples so much. The distressing experience of her daughter felt like a sharp dagger struck directly to her heart that she wanted Callie to transfer school.

“She looks like a vampire daw because she has brown eyes and I said if that’s so then you are a beautiful vampire but deep inside I wanted to cry, which I did inside my room. Iba pala ang pain sa mother pag ganun and you can’t do (something) about it…Boyet (her husband) said, ‘If you take her out of school, you are just condoning it; (she’ll think) that it’s okay to run from bullies. She’s gonna figure out on her own and we trust her that she’s a strong lady.’ And she went through it.

What Callie seems never to understand is the fact that her mom doesn’t get to play lead roles considering that she’s one of the most talented actresses today. Her acting performance in My Perfect You was commendable. On TV, she is equally appealing as Babaylan Gloria in the fantasy series Bagani.

“She asked, ‘Mom, why are you not bida?’ Sabi ko, I don’t know anak. But frankly, I am okay where I am because I got awards for The Greatest Love and the recent was from GEMS Hiyas. She was like, ‘Mama, why are you not bida? They should’ve given you Best Actress not Best Supporting Actress.’ But I am okay and very happy with it. 

“Then, I told her, ‘Alam mo anak for the 21 years that I’ve been an actor, I have reached the point where I do not mind where I am, where I’ll be, where I came from. What’s important to me is my dream of being an actor is still very active because I’m still working.’”

Asked does she pray or wish to be given a chance to be a bida, Dimples responded, “No. I have never found myself praying to be a lead for any of my work. My prayer every day is just that I will have work. If it will happen then, I will be grateful and I will embrace the challenge. But if it doesn’t happen, it is still okay in my heart.”

Dimples whole-heartedly submitted herself to Fast Talk’s Sinong Guilty o Innocent?, revealing a side of her not many know about. Read on.

Sino Guilty o Innocent? Nangopya sa kaklase during quiz sa school noon?

“Innocent. Hindi ako nangongopya.”

Minsang hindi nagbalik ng sukli sa tindahan, sinong guilty?

“Innocent. But the loose change goes directly to the tip box.”

Sinong Guilty o Innocent? Cannot leave the house without a kikay kit?

“Innocent. I can go out without make-up or without a kit.”

Sinong Guilty o Innocent? Stalking her daughter on her social media.

“Guilty, guilty, guilty (laughs).”

Checking her husband’s cell phone, sinong guilty?

“Innocent na ako dyan. I admit, I was checking his phone before and so many phones had been broken not by me but my husband. It wasn’t me who’s throwing the phone but Boyet who asked me ‘You don’t trust me? Wag ganun.’ But you get over it when you are together for a long time already, parang pag tumagal kayong mag-asawa tapos wala namang ginagawa ang asawa mo nakakahiya na lang (laughs). And my husband was asking me if I was ashamed of what I was doing because I haven’t found anything. So I asked him, does it mean meron pero hindi ko lang nahuhuli? Hahaha sabi n’ya oh my God, walang mananalo sa yo, hahaha.”

Minsan nanugod para ipagtanggol ang mahal sa buhay, sinong guilty?

“Guilty because it’s not right to get close to a married guy. I didn’t confront (the woman), I just looked for her phone number and called her. I told her, ‘You know I have a daughter and never underestimate the power of a wife and a mother, bye.’ But nothing fishy really happened, I was just imagining things.” 

Minsan na-imbyerna sa katrabaho dahil di marunong umarte, sinong guilty?

“It wasn’t really imbyerna but more likely disappointed.”