Andrea Brillantes. Images: Instagram/@blythe
Andrea Brillantes was wistful as she looked back at her solo trip to Spain in 2023, saying it was an opportunity for to do something “extreme” for herself.
Back in June, Brillantes caught the attention of netizens after taking some time off the spotlight to enjoy a solo getaway in Spain where she visited several tourist spots like Plaza Mayor and Generalife Gardens, just to name a few. The trip took place at the height of her split with basketball player Ricci Rivero.
Months later, the actress took her fans on a glimpse of her vacation in the European country, as seen on her YouTube channel last Saturday, Dec. 30, where she admitted she was “anxious” about being “alone.”
“Besides being nervous about flying alone, I was also anxious about what’s to come. I have never done anything this extreme alone for myself. I was excited, but also scared. With what I was going through, I felt my emotions all at once,” she said in a voiceover.
Brillantes also shared about feeling “empowered” to walk the streets alone at night, as she noted the trip was a chance to “discover things” for herself.
“I wanted to have the freedom to wander and discover things for myself,” she said. “As an actress and as a woman, I’ve never done this before. There’s something empowering about walking the streets alone at night. It’s empowering and scary at the same time because women were taught to not walk the streets alone.”
The video appeared to be a clarification on Brillantes’ end after her Spain trip became a topic of speculation last November, after some noted the similarities between her photos and those of Daniel Padilla, who also traveled to Spain last year for a brand-endorsement deal.
However, Brillantes’ photos were posted around June 2023, while Padilla’s snaps were uploaded three months later.
On Instagram Monday, Jan. 1, the actress also recalled how the past year has been for her, saying she’s “beyond grateful” for all the experiences she had.
“I am beyond grateful for everything I experienced and for everyone who was a part of my year. I deeply appreciate each and every one of you. Happy New Year,” she said in the caption.
The “Senior High” star also shared her thoughts about feeling like “three different people” in the past year, and that she would like to “look at the brighter side” of things moving forward.
“2023 was like a wild roller coaster, full of very high-ups and downs. It’s like I was three different people this year with everything that has happened shaping me into who I am now. But even then, I still would like to look at the brighter side,” she said.
Brillantes earlier made headlines after she was the highest-ranking Filipina celebrity on TC Candler and The Independent Critics’ list of “The Most Beautiful Faces of 2023,” getting the 16th spot.
Fellow Filipinas were also included in the list such as Ivana Alawi (21st), Liza Soberano (28th), Janine Gutierrez (45th) and Belle Mariano (71st).