Kapamilya actress Andrea Brillantes took a moment to look back on her transformative solo trip to Spain in 2023, emphasizing the empowering nature of the experience.
The journey, which captured the attention of netizens in June 2023, occurred during a challenging period in Brillantes’ personal life, marked by her split with basketball player Ricci Rivero. Months later, she shared insights from her Spanish adventure through her YouTube channel, providing a glimpse into her initial apprehensions about traveling alone.
Expressing a mix of excitement and fear, Brillantes revealed in a voiceover, “I have never done anything this extreme alone for myself. With what I was going through, I felt my emotions all at once.” She acknowledged the sense of empowerment while walking the streets alone at night, challenging societal norms cautioning women against such actions.
The video seemed to address speculation about her Spain trip that arose in November, with some noting similarities between her photos and those of Daniel Padilla, who also visited Spain for a brand-endorsement deal. Brillantes clarified that her photos were shared around June 2023, while Padilla’s were posted three months later.
In an Instagram post on January 1, Brillantes expressed gratitude for the past year, acknowledging the transformative nature of 2023. She shared her sense of having evolved into “three different people” over the year, emphasizing the importance of looking at the brighter side moving forward.
Despite the roller coaster of highs and lows, Brillantes concluded that she is “beyond grateful” for the experiences and the people who shaped her throughout the year.
Notably, she achieved recognition by securing the 16th spot on TC Candler and The Independent Critics’ list of ‘The Most Beautiful Faces of 2023,’ making her the highest-ranking Filipina celebrity on the list. Other Filipinas included in the prestigious list were Ivana Alawi (21st), Liza Soberano (28th), Janine Gutierrez (45th), and Belle Mariano (71st).
