Andrea Brillantes. Images: Screengrabs from Tiktok/@blythe, YouTube/Andrea B.
Andrea Brillantes didn’t mince her words as she defended herself over her “Date or Pass (spicy edition)” vlog, in which she confessed that she found Jakob Poturnak—son of seasoned actress Ina Raymundo—attractive.
The vlog showed Brillantes with content creators Bea Borres, Criza Taa and Danica Ontengco engaging in a game of “jojowain or totropahin,” during which they confessed seeing themselves either dating or being friends with celebrities. Among those featured were Donny Pangilinan, David Licauco, JK Labajo and Miguel Tanfelix.
The actress then revealed she had a crush on Poturnak and jokingly told him that she’s “single” now, which had her criticized on social media. In the same video, however, the “Annaliza” star pointed out that she was not keen on entering into a committed relationship anytime soon.
Days later, Brillantes took to her Tiktok account on Sunday, Aug. 27, to express her frustration toward naysayers and some articles for focusing on her attraction to Poturnak, saying she came across them on social media.
“I saw a couple of articles [tungkol doon sa] sinabi ko na, ‘I’m single.’ na-ga-gwapuhan ako sa guy na ‘to. Tapos alam niyo, wala akong pang-amoy pero doon pa lang naaamoy ko na ‘yung comments section,” she said.
“I had a feeling na, ‘Siguro ‘yung comments section puno ng boomers. Siguro sinasabi nila na puro ako boys, hanap ako nang hanap, mag-pahinga naman muna ako.’ Or to be harsh, malandi daw [ako]. Pero hindi rin naman nagkamali ang lola niyo dahil tama nga ako. Puro ‘yun nga ang nasa comments section,” she further added.
(I saw a couple of articles regarding what I said that “I’m single,” that I find this guy handsome. You know, I don’t have sense of smell, but there and then, I could smell what others would say about me. I had a feeling that boomers in the comments would say that I’m all about boys, I’m looking for a relationship or, to be harsh, I’m a flirt. I’m not wrong. Those are what the comments say about me.)
Brillantes then stressed that while she’s aware of her job as an actress, she noted that articles focusing on her love life appeared “sexist,” as she clarified that she also discussed other things in her vlog.
“Even though artista ako, it’s part of my job. I can’t blame anyone for reacting like this… because I really do feel frustrated kasi ang dami ko pa naman nasabi dun sa vlog ko,” she said. “Ilang beses kong na-clarify, ‘We’re all independent girlies, we are of age, we’re all like 20.’ I don’t know, but ako lang ‘to, seeing articles like that, it just feels sexist. Kasi I really said a lot of things pero ‘yun lang ‘yung na-pick up.”
(Even though I’m an actress, it’s part of my job. I can’t blame anyone for reacting like this. Because I really do feel frustrated about this, because I said a lot of things in my vlog. I clarified so many times that we’re all independent girls, we are of age, we’re all like 20. I don’t know—this is just me—but seeing articles like that, it just feels sexist. Because I really said a lot of things, but that was the only thing that was picked up.)
The actress also emphasized that the term “jojowain,” which is used to describe someone as date-worthy, is “too serious,” saying she “actually ended up” getting into a relationship with a guy she once saw as a friend, an apparent reference to her ex-boyfriend Ricci Rivero.
“Sinabi ko lang naman na naga-gwapuhan ako sa tao, anong big deal du’n? Alam ko artista ako. Kahit ano talaga sabihin ko pwedeng makakuha ng attention pero like, ganitong kaliit na bagay, is it really that relevant? Is my love life or taste in boys really that relevant to this world? Full of problems na nga eh,” she said.
(I just said that I find someone handsome. What’s the big deal? I know I’m an actress. Anything I say would get attention but really, this trivial thing? Is it really that relevant? Is my love life or taste in boys really that relevant to this world? The world is already full of problems.)
@blythe get ready with me na may halong chika…. 🤭🙈 #fyp
The “Kadenang Ginto” star pointed out that no woman deserves to be hated for making the first move toward someone, as she said putting themselves out there shouldn’t be seen as a negative thing.
“I don’t think I should be getting any hate for it… I don’t think a woman should be getting any hate for making the first move, for me that’s not being malandi at all. I don’t think a woman should be receiving harsh words and hate just because she’s being courageous to the guy she likes. I also don’t think I should be getting hate if I ever decide to put myself out there,” she said.
Brillantes also noted that if she were a man, she wouldn’t receive “hate” on social media.
“Tinitingnan ko kasi siya sa perspective na, ‘I’m in my 20s, I own a business, I have a nice career, I pay my bills and taxes.’ Why need to hate when I just wanted to have fun? Bakit may nasira ba akong three-month rule? Wala nga, eh,” she said.
“Ano ba kayo, date lang nga, di nga jojowain. Titigil ba mundo niyo? And I just feel like kung lalaki ako, hindi ako makakakuha ng ganitong klaseng hate, feeling ko nga di ako mapapa-news for this matter,” she continued.
(I see it in the perspective that, “I’m in my 20s. I own a business. I have a nice career. I pay my bills and taxes.” Why need to hate when I just wanted to have fun? Did I break the three-month rule? Nothing like that ever happened. Get real. I just mentioned date, not getting into a relationship with someone. Will your world end? And I just feel like if I were a man, I wouldn’t be hated like this. I even feel like I wouldn’t be in the news for this matter.)
Brillantes had been in a relationship with Rivero for about a year before their split was confirmed last June, following allegations that the latter had been unfaithful to the actress.
Weeks after their split, the actress said she had already forgiven the athlete despite his “betrayal.” /ra
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