Having survived the industry for a decade now, Andrea shares what it was like to be thrust into the public eye as a child actress
Below is an excerpt from MEGA magazine’s June 2022 cover story.
A certified go-getter, Blythe, as she is also fondly called, works all the hours God sends. She’s been on a roll since she stepped foot in show business a decade ago in the teleserye, Annaliza. Her “kayod nang kayod” mentality is rooted in her selfless decision to accept the gargantuan responsibility of being her family’s breadwinner. This is why despite the tribulations that the well-rounded star is constantly embattled with, she keeps hustling. And with each punch she throws, she leaves a dignified mark in the industry that can only be branded as the brilliance of Andrea Brillantes.
“Ang hirap, hirap pala,” she says with a weary tone when I ask what discoveries she made about the business in her 10-year career. This renaissance woman recounts the time when the harsh reality of this bleak industry was made apparent to her.
Bravely disclosing how she felt back then, she rehashes painful realizations: “When I was younger kasi, puro lang ako love, happiness and positivity. Never ko inisip ’yong mga bashing, kasi nga di naman gano’n ang tingin ko sa mundo. Until unti-unti ko na-realize na madaming mga tao na close-minded. Madaming tao na ’di ka maiintindihan. Madaming tao na ’yong actions mo kahit good intentions ’yan, puwede pa rin nilang maliin.”
Corset top and skirt by JOB DACON, Earrings by MAUVE MANILA
Disclosing another unfiltered answer, Andrea doesn’t shy away from admitting that until this very day, she’s still coming to terms with unmet expectations she had for this world. “Kahit 10 years na ako sa industry na ‘to, ngayon lang ako natututo. Ngayon ko lang din talaga ina-absorb ’yong mga advice ko sa sarili ko at ng ibang tao.”
Read more about Andrea’s journey in MEGA magazine’s June 2022 issue, now available on Readly, Magzter, Press Reader and Zinio.
Photography JERICK SANCHEZ
Art direction NICOLE ALMERO
Fashion direction RYUJI SHIOMITSU
Beauty direction MIA CASTRO
Styling BEA GUERRERO, MIGUEL QUILANG and JOAQUIN RODRIGO (NEW
COLLECTIVE STYLE)
Makeup JAKE GALVEZ assisted by EFTEN EVARDOME
Hair RJ DELA CRUZ
Sittings Editor JANN PASCUA
Photography Assistants CZAR ANDREI HERRERA, WILLIAM TAN, and BRAYA BANAAG
Videography EXCEL PANLAQUE and JR RAMIREZ
Shoot coordination KZ FRANCISCO and MJ ALMERO
Shot on location SHERATON MANILA HOTEL
Special thanks to BELLE CAHULOGAN of SHERATON MANILA HOTEL, AJ
JAVIER, BONITA PENARANDA, JOB DACON and RIAN FERNANDEZ
