Early morning shows have become a daily viewing staple for many.
True, the baby boomer and Gen X demographics still prefer to start their day reading the day’s newspaper paired with their brewed coffee. But breakfast programs, however, have become essential for the younger generations as sources of political, community and everyday news, amusing and educational segments, cooking, fashion, entertainment, legal and medical bits, and conversations about anything and everything that would pique the morning mood of viewers.
That is why Dimples Romana is a much welcome addition to TV5’s Gud Morning Kapatid. Romana is one of the few actresses who has a natural gift for gab and something between her ears. Now, many who adored her as the scheming Daniela Mondragon in the hit TV series Kadenang Ginto are waking up early to savor the A-game she brings to TV5’s 9:30 a.m. offering.
Chiqui Roa-Puno, Jes Delos Santos, Justin Quirino, Maoui David, Dr. Dex Macalinta and Atty. Buko dela Cruz join Romana in the show.
“I am not pikon at all,” said Romana when asked about the enduring notoriety and popularity of her most famous TV character.
“Even myself, pinaglalaruan ko si Daniela Mondragon (I play with the Daniela Mondragon character). Every time I wear red and I enter a mall or a restaurant, tumatabi na agad ang mga tao (the crowd parts) and I am not even carrying my luggage. I did Daniela three years ago and still she is very much around, teasing everyone with her maldita aura and persona. I am so happy that because of Daniela, and the luggage which I consider my lucky charm, a lot of opportunities .”
Romana revealed in a recent presscon that she is a product of the public school system and that she did not come from a well-off family. She gives credit for the fact that she speaks and sounds like someone who studied in a private school to an English elementary school teacher who mentored her in writing and taught her proper grammar, diction and pronunciation.
Being in an early morning hosting gig is a full-circle moment for her, said the articulate actress.
“I am doing two segments. In MOMents, I talk with mothers that are part of different professions and vocations and we talk about issues that affect us as mothers and how we make our children well-rounded and grounded. I enjoy as well the May Bahay segment because it is about home makeovers. I hope our audiences learn from what we give them.”
Something new
What excites and thrills her about the show is “it gives me a chance to do something new and offer a different side of me, the makulit and maalaga side, hindi ‘yung pagiging artista (the playful and nurturing side, not the celebrity side).”
“There is so much learning and discovery from the people who are part of my segments and with my co-hosts, mas marami pa akong nauunawaan at naalaman (I learn and understand more),” said Romana.
The uniqueness of their morning show, she pointed out, is that “it is current. I congratulate the producers and the researchers kasi well-researched ang mga pinag-uusapan and delivered in such a way na mas madali siyang ma-grasp. And I like the responsibility that the show takes, ‘yung correcting the misinformation that is in wide circulation, especially those coming from social media.”
“Nangagapa ako noong una (I was feeling my way around at first),” Romana admitted. “You know, I am the newbie in the show, the bagong salta, and pamilya na sila (they were already a family). But they did not make me feel like that. Hindi ako binagito (I wasn’t made to feel like a newbie). It warms my heart that they welcomed and embraced me as part of their family. They are the happiest bunch of down-to-earth and intelligent people na ang gaan-gaan, walang yabang (it’s all light, no arrogance from anyone). No airs or superficiality. So paano naman akong hindi gaganahan (So why wouldn’t I be enthusiastic)?”
Gud Morning Kapatid airs Mondays to Fridays, 9 a.m., on TV5.
Originally published on Daily Tribune.
