Over two months have passed since the official breakup of Andrea Brillantes and basketball player Ricci Rivero, and the young actress has made a bold declaration – she has chosen to forgive her former boyfriend.
In an interview with ABS-CBN News during her contract signing with the Kapamilya network, Brillantes emphasized that she has let go of any lingering anger or resentment towards the end of their relationship.
“Ay, hindi [na ako galit]. Nagalit ako, oo. Pero matagal na panahon na po ‘yun bago pa nag-trending ang lahat ng ito. Nakailang buwan na bago niyo nalaman lahat, tapos na ako,” she said. “On the way na ako matapos sa lahat ng stages of grief. Nagkaroon po ako siguro ng one month talaga na mahirap para sa akin. ‘Di ba five stages ‘yun? Per week, ibang stage ako sa loob ng isang buwan na iyon. Pero thank you Lord kasi hindi ko po pinagdaanan ‘yung depression kasi ‘di ba anger, denial, bargaining, depression and then acceptance. Na-skip ko [‘yung depression].”
Brillantes revealed that she went through the stages of grief, with one particularly challenging month. However, she surprised herself by quickly moving past the anger phase, considering she tends to hold onto ill feelings when betrayed.
“Nawala naman na ‘yung galit sa akin surprisingly po for me. Hindi ko ‘yun in-expect kasi kilala ko ‘yung sarili ko na talagang kinikimkim ‘yung bubog or kung ano man betrayal ang matanggap ko in life. Pero ito, pinili ko po kasi talagang mag-reflect lang, isang linggo ako lang, hindi ako lumabas. Wala rin akong kinausap kung ‘di ako lang,” she said.
This experience has led her to become more in tune with her genuine emotions. “Mas doon ko nakilala ‘yung sarili ko, ‘yung emotions ko. Masasabi ko pong nawawala talaga ang galit. Time heals everything. Thank you Lord, ginawa niyang one week. ‘Yung iba kasi years, buwan. After noon, nandiyan ‘yung friends ko, fans ko, ‘yung family ko na mahal na mahal ako, ‘yung network ko. Punong-puno ng pagmamahal kasi ‘yung buhay ko. Wala na siyang space para sa galit pa. It is what it is eh, so, whatever. Ang laki-laki ng mundo, ang saya-saya mabuhay para lang mag-waste ng galit.”
However, Brillantes acknowledged that not everyone heals at the same pace and that some may need more time to move past their anger phase.
When asked directly if she has forgiven Rivero, she replied, “I think so. Pero hindi po direkta kasi wala pa po kaming usap. Pero in my heart, yes. In my heart, natanggap ko na lahat and willing to move forward with my life na po ako. So yes, I think napatawad ko na siya.”
Brillantes also expressed her openness to the idea of talking to her former boyfriend if they happen to cross paths. “Kung magkikita kami, okay lang naman po sa akin ‘yun, wala akong problem with it. Okay akong magkita kami, kung makakausap ko siya, kung kakausapin niya ako, okay lang din po sa akin ‘yun kung meron pa siyang mga gustong sabihin.”
