Veteran actress Dimples Romana has once again captured the hearts of Filipino audiences with her recent performance in Maalaala Mo Kaya (MMK)’s two-part retelling of the tragic Maguad siblings’ murder, which aired on May 24, 2025.
In the wake of widespread acclaim, Romana took to Instagram to reflect on her journey with MMK, particularly her iconic roles in the show’s Mother’s Day specials, which made some netizens call her the “Queen of MMK’s 2-part Mother’s Day Specials”.
Romana’s Instagram post looked back eight years to her first two-part Mother’s Day special in 2017, where she starred alongside her best friend, Angel Locsin. Titled Litrato and Kotse-kotsehan, the episodes explored the profound depths of a mother’s love from two perspectives: Romana as Idai, a mother searching for her lost son, and Locsin as Samina, the woman who raised the boy after finding him. Directed by Nuel Naval and Dado Lumibao, the special was a critical success, with Locsin earning the Best Single Performance by an Actress at the 22nd PMPC Star Awards for Television.
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“One of my most memorable projects as an actor,” Romana wrote, sharing a poster of the episode that highlighted their emotional portrayals.
Fast forward to 2025, and Romana once again took on a heart-wrenching role as Lovella Maguad in MMK’s The Maguad Family Story, directed by Onat Diaz and written by Benson Logronio. The episode dramatized the brutal 2021 murder of siblings Gwynn and Boyboy Maguad in North Cotabato, a case that shocked the nation. The story revealed the betrayal by the family’s foster daughter, Jasmine (played by Karina Bautista), and explored the emotional aftermath for the Maguad family. Romana’s raw and poignant portrayal of a grieving mother resonated deeply with viewers, sparking conversations about justice, trauma, and the complexities of the foster care system in the Philippines.
Netizens were quick to praise Romana’s performance, with X user @auntieselina tweeting, “Dimples Romana deserves a best actress award for this MMK episode.”
Dimples Romana deserves a best actress award for this MMK episode. Sobrang galing. Bawat linya, damang dama mo. ABS, Give her more IMPORTANT iconic roles please. Deserved niya bumida ulit.
#MMKMaguadFamilyStoryPart2 pic.twitter.com/yVPOGw50XL
— Auntie Selina (@auntieselina_) May 22, 2025
Another user, @dawallflower_, dubbed her the “Kween of MMK’s Two-Part Mother’s Day Specials,” a sentiment echoed across social media.
MMK’s official statement on May 25, 2025, acknowledged the emotional weight of the episode, emphasizing their collaboration with the National Authority for Child Care (NACC) to address adoption-related concerns raised by the story. “We hear you, and we hold your stories with care,” the statement read, underscoring the show’s commitment to sensitive storytelling.
In her Instagram post, Romana expressed gratitude to MMK, ABS-CBN, iWantTFC, RCD Narratives, and Star Magic for their continued trust in her craft. “To be a storyteller through my craft is the greatest gift of what I do,” she wrote, reflecting on her ability to make audiences feel seen in their pursuit of justice and peace.
She also thanked those who expressed condolences to the real-life Maguad family, Lovella and Cruz, and prayed for Gwynn and Boyboy. “Maraming Maraming Salamat po sa mainit ninyong pagtanggap sa aming paglalahad ng kanilang kwento,”she added, acknowledging the overwhelming support from fans.
Romana’s journey with MMK, spanning eight years between these two impactful Mother’s Day specials, highlights her versatility and emotional depth as an actress.
