Andrea Brillantes. Image: Courtesy of Star Magic
Andrea Brillantes said attending the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival in California in April was a once-in-a-lifetime experience for her, saying she hopes she would have the chance to attend it every year.
Brillantes took time off her busy schedule to immerse herself in the annual music festival last month where she made waves on social media for her stylish ensembles and making her fangirl dreams come true.
On the sidelines of a brand event, the actress told select reporters that even though Coachella was “tiring,” it was a moment that made her starstruck especially since she only used to see the majority of its celebrity guests and attendees on her phone.
“Sobrang saya. Pero sobra po siyang nakakapagod kasi ‘yung music festivals na nakasanayan ko sa Pilipinas, parang five times bigger [ang Coachella],” said Brillantes. “Sobrang daming tao pero ang dami kong nakita na celebrities and influencers na [dati] ko lang nakita sa phone ko.”
(It was so fun. But it was really exhausting too compared to the music festivals I was used to here in the Philippines. Coachella was five times bigger. There were so many people, and I saw a lot of celebrities and influencers who I used to see on my phone.)
But if Brillantes would choose, her favorite Coachella attendees were Lana Del Rey — who also performed at the event — and Suki Waterhouse, whom she didn’t have a chance to see in person.
“Na-starstruck ako sa kanila. Worth it siya. Kung may time ako, gusto ko na siyang gawin as an annual thing,” she said. “Ang favorite ko talaga was Lana Del Rey and Suki Waterhouse, pero hindi ko nakita si Suki. So [nag-send ako] ng DM. Siyempre, hindi niya ‘yun makikita pero sinabi [ko sa sarili ko] na mag-iipon ako nang todo para balang araw, ma-afford kita sa wedding ko. Charot!”
(I was starstruck with them. It was worth it. If I have the time, I want to make it into an annual thing. My favorite celebrities there were Lana Del Rey and Suki Waterhouse but I didn’t see Suki. So I sent her a direct message. Of course, she wouldn’t see it. But I told myself that I’d save a lot of money so I could afford her at my wedding. Just kidding!)
READ: Andrea Brillantes ‘more determined’ to fulfill self-promises this year
On ‘High Street’
As the chat shifted to Brillantes taking the lead of “High Street,” a new TV series on ABS-CBN, the actress said it’s a glimpse of the characters going out of the halls of the fictional Northford High School.
The upcoming youth series is the sequel to “Senior High” which centered on Sky (Brillantes) seeking justice for the death of her twin sister Luna while uncovering the hidden sexual assault and bullying horrors plaguing the school’s history.
“Sa ‘Senior High,’ nasa school lang kami. But “High Street” is after college. Wala na kami sa four walls ng Northford so mas intense ang haharapin naming challenges. But at the same time, mas mature na rin kami,” she said.
(In “Senior High,” we were just in school. But “High Street” happens after college. We’re beyond the four halls of Northford already so the challenges will be more intense. But at the same time, our characters are more mature.)
Brillantes also hoped the viewers would be able to relate to the series, as it would revolve around the characters going through real-life situations such as surviving the workforce, motherhood, and other matters.
“Sabay sina Sky and Roxy (Xyriel Manabat) na natututo pa lang sa real world na wala na sila sa school. Makakarelate sila in a way na lahat tayo rito, merong dreams na tinatry ma-reach but reality kicks in. Natututo tayo habang natututo sila. Makikita nila na hindi lahat after high school and college [have] perfect [lives],” she said.
(Sky and Roxy will navigate and learn from the real world together. The viewers would relate in a way that we, too, have dreams we want to achieve but reality kicks in. We will learn just as the characters will learn too. They will also realize that some people don’t have perfect lives after leaving high school and college.)
The series also stars Juan Karlos, Xyriel Manabat, Elijah Canlas, Dimples Romana, Angel Aquino, Daniela Stranner, Zaijian Jaranila, Miggy Jimenez, Tommy Alejandrino, Gela Atayde, Mon Confiado, and Ana Abad Santos.
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