It’s been more than two decades since actress Dimples Romana lost her father Bong to an aneurysm. It happened on Father’s Day in 2001, back when she was just a college freshman student, and the Kapamilya actress admits the tragedy still affects her so much to this day that she still does not feel like celebrating the annual event honoring all the patriarchs in the family.
During the Mega Prime Foods’ 50 Mega Years anniversary event held last June 6 at the Shangrila Hotel in BGC, Taguig City, Dimples shared with the press how her husband Boyet gives her comfort during this time of the year. “Medyo malungkot kasi ‘yung araw na ‘yun because my Papa passed away when I was 16. So to be honest with you, it’s not an event I like to celebrate, if not for my husband,” she shared.
“Si Boyet, parang tatay-tatayan ko na rin 'yun. Siya ‘yung nagpapagalit sa akin, pero siya rin ‘yung talagang nagmamahal sa amin ng buong puso. We’re also celebrating our 22nd anniversary around that time—same weekend. Kaya siguro double celebration: Father’s Day and our 22nd anniversary,” she added.
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Dimples recalled one of her most fondest memories with her father when she was a young child. “My papa, I only had him for 16 years. One of the best lessons I remember: he would pray over us when we were half-asleep. Postmaster kasi siya, government employee, so umaalis siya ng maaga —around 5:30 or 6 AM. I remember kinu-krusan niya ang ulo naming magkakapatid habang natutulog kami, and he would whisper his prayers. Sometimes, naririnig ko, sometimes hindi. But the prayer I always remembered was, ‘Father, guide my children, guide their steps.‘ He also always shared a Bible verse about humility. He would always say: ‘Wherever life takes you — whether in failure, defeat, success, or victory — remain humble’,” she shared.
In a previous post on her Instagram account, Dimples shared how her father instilled in her the habit of being prayerful. “Isang bagay na naipamana ni Papa sa amin, ang ipagdasal ang lahat ng bagay. Nagpapasalamat ako dahil kahit maagang kinuha ni Lord si Papa, he has taught us all we need in life and more. A big salute to all the fathers who have sacrificed and loved their families to the best of their ability. 'Di masalita si Papa, tahimik lang s'ya, he had a quiet strength in him that made us stronger as a family, especially through my late sister Sarah’s cancer battle of four years. He was always humble and worked the hardest. Papa, I miss you. Today I will embrace you in my prayers hoping my prayers will reach you wherever you are. And to those reading this, if you still have your fathers around, pakiyakap naman sila para sa akin. Napakaswerte ninyong kasama ninyo pa sila. Advanced Happy Father’s Day.”
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As a couple, Dimples revealed that she and her husband are not really big on planning things because they prefer to enjoy the little things in life. “Wala kaming plano talaga. Alam mo, ‘pag tumatanda ka, hindi ka na mahilig sa plano. Gusto mo nalang kung ano ‘yung ibinibigay ni Lord within that day. When you’re younger, gigil ka to have big celebrations,” she said. “When you're older, you just want to be with people you love, eat the food you love, and be still. You realize you need very little to be happy in life.”