Throughout her nearly three decades in the local entertainment industry, Dimples Romana certainly had a range of roles in films and television shows, showcasing her acting prowess and versatility. Outside of the spotlight, however, she endears and inspires many with how she impressively plays her most important roles in life—being a doting wife and hands-on mom to her beloved family.

“When you have a property na inaalagaan po ninyo as a family, it becomes somewhat of a life project. So, iniisip mo, it’s just an investment, it’s just for money, it’s just for business. Pero para sa amin, bilang pamilya, it grows as we grow as a family. It houses our memories together,” she said.

The she continued, “’Pag meron kang property like a farm na pinupunta-puntahan ng mga anak mo, nasasanay sila at nagkakaroon sila ng hope for the future that they will also be building the same environment para sa mga susunod nilang pamilya.”

According to Dimples, the farm was their first purchase after paying for their own home, which was initially bought for them by Boyet’s parents. However, being the breadwinner, she couldn’t help but be bothered by the thought of having other people provide them a house, so they convinced her in-laws that they would pay them back. His parents agreed and even told them to pay once they’re already able.

Dimples believes that communal properties like their farm, which she, her husband, Boyet Ahmee, and their three children share, "become a weaver of dreams" for families who find it difficult to forge stronger family ties.

The “High Street” star went on to recall how they came to own the farm lot, which they purchased from a seafarer when she came across it in a newspaper classified ad. She recounted going on a variety of acting roles to raise enough money for it, ranging from maternal roles to characters that needed to be killed right away, as well as putting aside her original goal to get a new car. Fortunately, the landowner accepted the P250,000 she had saved in the bank as the initial payment and proposed that she pay the remaining balance each month.

As she contemplated about borrowing money from others so they could make the complete payment, she consulted veteran actor Tirso Cruz III, her co-star in the 2009 series “Only You,” about his thoughts on "utang," or loans. He advised her not to be afraid of taking out a loan because he believed her diligence would enable her to pay it back. Just in case they would encounter a problem, he told her, "Lahat ng bagay, nadadaan sa pakiusap basta tao ka humarap."

Heeding to his advice, Dimples spoke with the land owner and told him that she was willing to put her reputation and career as collateral once she would fail to pay him. Opportunely, that didn’t happen as they received financial blessing when the land owner asked for their payment in an earlier date.

She took the plunge and told herself, “If there’s anything na na-afford natin at natutunan ko sa pagbili ng una mong bahay bago ka mag-invest ng mga farm, ng mga beach property, ay kahit anong mangyari, meron at meron tayong titirhan. So, dahil naisip ko ‘yon, ‘di na ako masyadong natakot.”

Even though there would only be P10,000 left on their bank account during that time, they still took the courage to pay for it. They were able to buy more properties after that, but this particular farm lot has always been the most "sentimental" to Boyet and her since it gave them the confidence to really dream big for their family.

When quizzed by Karen what message she would like to impart to her fellow celebrities with regard to the pitfalls or unsuspected difficulties in their careers, Dimples said, “I acknowledge that mapa-artista ka o hindi, you go through different seasons in your life. Some chapters, you’re not exactly proud of them dahil ang bilis mong kinikita ang pera, ang bilis mo ring gagastusin kasi inisip mo, sa isang araw kinita ko ang P100,000, pwede ko na ring gastusin ‘yon nang gano’n kabilis.”

Since her husband isn’t in showbiz, Dimples tends to listen to him, who would always remind her that not all the fortune that she has now will be forever. Thus, they must do the best that they can to grow it. Besides, she also developed an important mindset, which is to not buy something that she doesn’t afford.

Karen then had her talk about her childhood since it definitely played a significant part to who she is at present. She grew up to simple family and was raised by a pair of hardworking parents, with her madiskarteng mom doing buy and sell of home decors and her lowkey dad working as a postmaster at the Philippine Post Office. Her dad might have died early, but he had left her with a lasting word of wisdom that continues to guide her up to the present, which was, “Alam mo ang pinaka libre na masarap sa buhay ay ang pangarap.”

Dimples went on to share that they hardly had everything, to the point that they couldn’t even afford to buy a pair of new shoes for her, which resulted in her getting bullied. Her father even lined up to the main office of PCSO (Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office) to seek financial help for the medication of her sibling, who eventually succumbed to leukemia.

With the passing of her father, she was left with no choice but to make a sacrifice and become the breadwinner of their family as the eldest daughter, and she embraced this role without hesitation.

“Boyet and I really started from zero,” the Kapamilya actress imparted as their conversation shifted to her marriage with her husband of two decades and their three cherished kids. “Hindi ko rin naisip na lumipas ‘yong panahon, nanganak ako ng tatlo.”

She then reminisced about the day when she went to Baclaran Church and prayed for her and Boyet to be blessed with at least one baby at the age of 19. Fearing that she would have the same fate as her sister and father, who died at early ages, she asked the Lord to allow her to experience having a family of her own.

The actress also expressed how happy and proud she is of her firstborn and unica hija, Cali, who’s now a licensed pilot in Australia. She related, “What makes me happier is not the fact that she has become a pilot but because she is doing this at a very young age and that she’s happy. Boyet and I had a pact noong mga bata pa lang kami at nagsisimula sa marriage na ‘to. Ang sabi talaga namin sa isa’t isa, ang dapat goal talaga natin ay happy children, not successful children.”

Karen ended the interview by asking Dimples about the Bible verse that she holds dearly, to which the latter responded by reciting portions of Psalm 144. It begins as, “Blessed be to the Lord my rock, who trains my hands for war, my fingers for battle. He is my loving God and my fortress, my stronghold and my deliverer, my shield in whom I take refuge, who subdues peoples under me.”

Dimples explained, “Ako kasi, I’m not shy to ask for help. So, lagi kong sinasabi na, ‘Lord, Ikaw na ‘to kasi hindi ko naman ‘to magagawa on my own.’ If I were only able to rely on my strengths and my weaknesses and my gifts, merong mas magaling sa’kin lagi. May mas maganda, mas sexy, mas paborito. Pero you call me by my name and that is valued.”