Why showbiz needs more of Dimples Romana

Dimples is part of the series titled ‘Someone Someday,’ where she plays Tita Precious, the woman who sees Kathryn’s character Billy through childhood. ‘As for my character, she’s deep. She kind of grows on you. She’s not someone you immediately understand. What I love about her is how real she is.’

Having been in the showbiz industry and on the field interviewing superstars day in and day out for more than 15 years on the entertainment beat, I’ve learned that one of the biggest compliments you can give a celebrity has nothing to do with awards, box-office numbers, or endorsement deals. It’s this: “She’s exactly the same person when the cameras are off.”

That’s Dimples Romana. I first had a real conversation with her in Cebu when I visited the set of “The Iron Heart,” and she played Selene on the show. Beforehand, it was purely in and out of coverage for projects she was in as well.

I remember how pleasant her aura was. I got to know her better when she joined TV5’s morning show “Gud Morning Kapatid” as the main host in 2023. Since then, I always looked forward to our on- and off-cam conversations. She’s one of the most authentic people you’ll ever meet in this industry.

In a business where everyone is fighting for attention, Dimples has built a career doing something completely different. She makes other people shine.

I was reminded of that during our recent interview for “Someone Someday,” her primetime return where she reunites with Kathryn Bernardo 16 years after “Mara Clara.” While many actors would naturally talk about their own comeback or the excitement of landing another major role, Dimples immediately opened the conversation to be shifted to Kathryn.

“It is important that you know what your gift is in this industry. My gift is I am able to hype whoever it is I’m working with,” she told me with her trademark smile. “That’s what I do. Kath, I just needed to remind her how beautiful she is and how good she is at what she does. Once that button clicks, tuloy-tuloy na siya.”

Think about it. How many people would describe their gift as making someone else feel more confident? But it is simply who she is.

I’ve seen it firsthand over the years. Whether she’s working with seasoned actors or newcomers, Dimples has this unique ability to make people feel seen. She doesn’t compete for attention. She creates space for other people to succeed. Because she already is comfortable as to where she is on top of the showbiz career people dream of. It is also why so many younger stars naturally gravitate toward her.

Kathryn. Julia Montes. Andrea Brillantes. Through the years, she’s become an unofficial mentor, older sister, and second mom to many of today’s biggest names.

She even laughed while telling me she’s become one of the industry’s original “showbiz moms.”

“Kathryn is one of my OG babies,” she shared. “Earlier in my career, whenever they were launching future superstars, I was usually the mommy. Kathryn, Julia Montes, Andrea Brillantes.”

That’s a role she’s embraced both on- and off-screen.

In “Someone Someday,” she plays Tita Precious, the woman who sees Kathryn’s character Billy through childhood.

“I’m the one who took them in,” she explained. “The love that Kathryn’s character experienced came from our family.”

But if you think you’ve already figured Tita Precious out, Dimples said otherwise.

“As for my character, Tita Precious, she’s deep. She kind of grows on you. She’s not someone you immediately understand. What I love about her is how real she is. You’ll probably end up tagging your sister, your best friend, or someone you know because you’ve met someone exactly like her. If you’re heartbroken, she’s even more heartbroken.”

That description actually reminds me of Dimples herself. She’s layered.

People know her as the actress. Others know her as one of the country’s most trusted endorsers. Many now wake up with her every morning on “Gud Morning Kapatid.” Then she goes home and becomes a hands-on mom to three children before creating social media content that somehow manages to be trendy without ever looking like she’s trying too hard.

If you’ve seen her TikTok content lately, you’ll know what I mean. Hair trends? Check. Nail trends? Check. She’s game for almost anything, and somehow she makes it look effortless.

Fans even joke online, “Is that really a mom of three Vampire?”

When I asked her about the glow-up everyone’s talking about, she didn’t credit expensive treatments or impossible routines.

“I think it’s because of ‘Gud Morning Kapatid,’” she said. “It taught me so many things. It grounded me. It fixed my schedule. Healthy body, healthy mind.” It’s such a Dimples answer. Grounded, simple, practical.

Another answer that caught my attention was when I asked how she has managed to stay one of the least controversial personalities in Philippine entertainment despite nearly three decades in the business.

“I’m completely apolitical,” she said. “Nothing in me is too strong of an opinion for me to voice it out. If people want to voice out their opinions, that’s on them. It takes a lot of courage. I grew up in a very humble home. My father, my grandmother… I realized there’s always power in humility and keeping it to yourself.”

Whether people agree with her approach or not, one thing is clear: she’s intentional. Intentional with her words, intentional with her career, intentional with the people she surrounds herself with. Most importantly, intentional with her family.

In today’s entertainment landscape, authenticity has become one of the hardest things to find. Social media rewards the loudest voices. Going viral has become a career goal. Sometimes it feels like being controversial is part of the marketing plan. Dimples has never needed any of that.

She’s proof that longevity doesn’t always come from making the most noise but from consistently showing up, treating people well, and letting your work speak for itself.

Next year, she’ll celebrate 30 years in show business. That’s an incredible achievement in an industry where careers can disappear overnight.

Of course, talent plays a huge part in that. So does hard work.

But I honestly believe what has kept Dimples relevant isn’t just her acting. It’s her authentic personality that can drown out the ego of mainstream showbiz.

People’s trust is not something you can manufacture. You earn it one relationship at a time, one project at a time, one act of kindness at a time, and she has been consistent since decades ago because that is who she is.

After all these years covering entertainment, I’ve realized the celebrities who leave the biggest impression are the ones who make everyone around them feel like stars, too.

And that’s exactly who Dimples has always been.

Catch her in “Someone, Someday,” now out on Netflix and airing on TV5 this coming Monday.