To celebrate International Women’s Month, we bring you The Asian Parent’s Marvelous Asian Mums 2021, featuring inspiring mothers who made a meaningful contribution to improving the lives of moms and other women alike. One of this year’s honorees is Dimples Romana.
In this article, you’ll read:
- Dimples Romana biography
- How losing her loved ones made Dimples realize what’s important in life.
- The heartwarming story of Dimples and Ate Vilma
- Dimples’ inspiring message to all moms
She’s a talented actress, host, endorser, author, vlogger, entrepreneur, a supportive wife, and a doting mom to Callie, 17, and Alonzo, 6. She’s successful in her craft and very content in her family life. Sounds like she has it all, right?
That’s the most inspiring thing about our favorite celebrity mom Dimples Romana. She took no shortcuts and continues to work hard to achieve everything she’s enjoying at the moment.
Dimples and her family—husband Papa Boyet, daughter Callie, and son Alonzo. Despite her busy schedule, our TAP MAM honoree makes sure to spend time with her kids.
Dimples Romana biography: There are no small roles
Dimples started showbiz at the early age of 12, just a few months after her sister passed away from leukemia. Her manager Vera Isberto, who also helmed the career of Jao Mapa, took her to ABS-CBN’s Talent Center (now called Star Magic). There she was presented to Mr. M—Johnny Manahan, the head of Star Magic at that time.
She recalls, “He asked me, ‘What are you good at? Do you sing? Do you dance?’ You know, the typical [questions]. And because I had just lost a family member, sobrang babaw ng luha ko. So they thought, she’s actually good in drama!”
It was an early lesson that when you’re an artista, “everything counts.”
She expounds, “Meaning, not just your joys, not just your ability to sing and dance, but your pain as well. For actors, this is the reason why learn how to hang on to our pains and everything that we go through… We tap into that emotion and we’re immediately in that character.”
The pain she felt on losing somebody really close to her translated on-screen and talent producers saw a promising young actress.
But unlike other stars in their teens, Dimples was not catapulted to fame right away.
In fact, it seemed like the odds were not in her favor. She did not come from a showbiz family. She was too tall to be considered “loveteam material,” which was how teen actors became popular then.
That could’ve disheartened other young women her age. But not Dimples.
She continued acting and was offered a lot of supporting and character roles. And Dimples had no qualms about accepting it. “There are no small roles… In every character that I do, I look at it the same. Walang maliit or malaking trabaho. Pare-pareho yung kind of dedication I put into it,” she says.
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How losing her loved ones changed Dimples’ life
In 2001, Dimples was supposed to take a break from showbiz to enter college, but something happened that year that changed her plans and her life forever. Her father, Joel, died of an aneurysm.
“Ang Papa ko was a postmaster sa Philippine Postal natin,” she says. “He was nakadestino noon sa Pampanga. And then we got a call na he was hospitalized.”
She initially didn’t believe what happened.
“I thought it was a prank,” she recalls. “My papa kasi was a prankster. [Sometimes] he would say that he was in the hospital, pero when we get there, he’s really not in the hospital. ‘Yong mga gano’n. Parang lambing tatay ba.”
She adds, “But that day, it was only my Mama who was asked to come in. I was not asked to come in.”
Dimples didn’t think much of it because she thought that maybe her parents wanted her to rest since she has just gotten back from taping a show. It wasn’t until that evening that she found out what really happened.
“He passed on very quick kasi aneurysm.”
It all happened suddenly, and at 16, she assumed the role of her family’s breadwinner.
It affected Dimples greatly, but the actress willingly accepted the responsibility of looking after her mom and siblings.
“I’m the Ate… so automatic ‘yon na alam mo na na you need to help out the family. And very lovingly and willingly, I did that naman. Kumbaga, I wanted to look out for my siblings and for my Mama.”
But being the breadwinner meant that her dream of becoming a flight attendant is out of the window.
“Pumasa ako sa UST [University of Santo Tomas]… Dapat mayroon kaming kuntiyabahan ng tatay ko na mag-stop muna akong magtrabaho ‘tapos mag-college muna ako. Kaya lang [his death] changed everything. But I know naman na my Papa is always looking out after us. Even now, I feel like every time I say a prayer, mabilis nasasagot kasi feeling ko ando’n ‘yong tatay ko, kinukulit si Lord!”
Aside from learning to be responsible at a young age, her sister and father’s death also taught Dimples a valuable life lesson.
“Being able to go through losses in the family has given me a sense of deeper appreciation for life, for experiencing celebrations of daily life,” she shares.
The early loss of her loved ones also enkindled Dimple’s wish of starting a family early.
“During that time, all I could think about was, ‘Lord, I hope you give me a family early so I could take care of them. That if you were to take me early as well, I would have lived a life that was full, and one that I would be proud of. A life that can inspire other people to celebrate every day.”
That experience led Dimples to create meaningful relationships with the people around her and be intentional with everything that she does.
“I waste no time. Everything that I do is intentional. I don’t say yes when I feel like saying no. Because I lost family early on, I learned the importance of investing in people, investing in time,” she adds.
Photographed by Shaira Luna
Giving her best to her family
Dimples made sure to apply this important lesson with her own family. Regardless of her busy schedule, the celebrity mom makes sure to sit down and talk to her husband and children on a daily basis.
Her eldest daughter, Callie, just turned 17. When she was at that age, Dimples had to take over on a lot of responsibilities at home. Naturally, she imparts the lessons that she learned to Callie.
“I always tell her, ‘Callie, the luxury of choice that you have right now is not something everybody gets to enjoy.'”
With her parents’ guidance, Callie grew up to be a very appreciative and responsible young adult.
The celebrity mom proudly shares about her daughter’s new business venture, Cal the Brand.
“Callie tries to champion supporting local communities who want to sell the local products that they have by collaborating with them.”
Dimples’ superpower
Becoming a breadwinner and having a family at an early age did not hinder Dimples from pursuing her dreams. Instead, it revealed what her superpower is—patience.
“If there’s anything I know about myself that is a solid trait is that I’m very patient. I think that everybody’s born into timing. If it’s not happening to me yet, it’s not bound to happen yet,” she shares.
This is the reason why she never bears any grudge or negativity towards anyone.
“Whatever is given to me at a certain point, I make do with that. I say thank you for that. Anything on top of that is already the icing on the cake for me.”
She applied this attitude of gratitude and patience at work. Despite not having a big break early on in her career, she kept honing her craft. She continued accepting projects regardless of the role and was just grateful that work kept coming.
“Because at the end of the day, my path is my path and I should just be about what I can do with what I’m given. So if I’m not given this much, then I should work hard. Lahat naman naaaral.” she adds.
Of course, her patience paid off as she is now one of the most notable and successful actors of her generation.
The power of a husband’s support
With all the success she attained in her career and personal life, Dimples shares all the credit to her family, especially to her husband, Boyet. She considers herself blessed to have her husband’s understanding and support on everything that she pursues.
“Boyet’s support for me is everything. If I didn’t have his support, I don’t think I’ll be able to take one step further to what I want to achieve in life.”
The couple has been married for almost 18 years, and the celebrity mom is proud to say that she’s still very in love with her husband.
“Everybody knows how hard it is to keep up with a marriage, especially when you are in the entertainment business. Every day I thank the Lord for giving me a partner who knows how to take care of me and who knows how to love me in the manner that I should be loved,” she shares.
Giving back and paying it forward
We all know her as actress and celebrity mom Dimples Romana. Those who met her in person can attest that she’s one of the nicest in the industry. But to her family and people around her, Dimples is inspiring because of her generous heart.
In 2019, Dimples wrote the self-help book Dimps Tips: 52 Essential Life Skills Every Mom Needs to Know, which is filled with practical tips and mindfulness advice for mothers.
The celebrity mom also shares a part of her motherhood journey through this book, and now, through her YouTube Channel, Dimples Romana Official.
Last year, Dimples shared on her vlog the video of her and Boyet surprising their longtime helper, Ate Vilma, with her own house. The video circulated on social media and got a lot of reviews. But Dimples, ever humble, said that the house was nothing compared to what Ate Vilma has given their family.
“Kulang pa. Ate Vi has given us her life. I feel like even if we have already given her everything that we could give her, it will not be enough. She has helped me a lot in keeping our household the way it should be kept. When I call her and she’s there, I just know that my children are safe and that Boyet is okay. So kulang na kulang pa,” she says.
“At the end of the day, what we do in this life, paying it forward will be more meaningful if it were given to the people who take care of us all the time.” she adds.
For Dimples, nothing will be ever enough to repay Ate Vilma for dedicating her life to her family.
Inspiring other women
Indeed, Dimples is an inspiring woman because of her passion and determination. She surpassed the trials and struggles in her life with grace and a lot of patience.
When asked what her message is for other women out there, this is what she has to share:
“To my fellow women who are struggling every day like myself, I want you to know that you’re not alone. Being a woman is never easy. But I want you to know that everything’s going to be okay. Every day is a struggle, but every day is also a blessing. There are days when it is more difficult to see the good, but don’t be tired. keep your chin up, wear your invisible crown, and keep moving forward.”
Main photo by Shaira Luna, courtesy of Dimples Romana