Andrea Brillantes opens up on past struggles as a young breadwinner

• Andrea Brillantes shared that she became the breadwinner of her family at a very young age and struggled to support everyone while she was still a child
• The actress recalled asking for help to pay for her siblings’ tuition because her earnings as a young actress were not enough
• Andrea also shared how people assumed she was already rich just because she was on TV, which made the situation more painful
• She said it took around 13 years before she finally felt strong enough to handle that level of responsibility

Andrea Brillantes opened up about the heavy responsibility she carried as a child actor during her guest appearance on the Painfully Human Podcast with Edward Barber. The actress shared that she became the main breadwinner of her family at a very young age, explaining how difficult it was to support everyone while she was still just a child trying to understand her situation.

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She recalled moments when she had to ask for help to pay for her siblings’ school tuition because what she earned was not enough, especially at only 10 years old. Andrea said she even had to reach out to her father’s side of the family for support because the responsibility was simply too much for her at that age.

Andrea also talked about the painful comments she received from relatives and people around her, who assumed that being an actress meant she was already rich. She shared that some would question why she still needed help just because she already had a lead role on television. According to Andrea, people did not see the full picture of what she was going through behind the scenes. She admitted that back then, she truly was not ready for that level of responsibility.

Now older and more experienced, Andrea reflected that it took many years before she felt capable of handling such pressure. She said that while she may be able to manage it today, it took around 13 years of hard work, growth, and sacrifice to get there.

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“Ako talaga ’yung breadwinner ng family… May times na nanghihingi pa rin ako ng tuition para sa mga kapatid ko kasi ang hirap, 10 years old ka, tapos ito lang din ’yung kinikita ko.

Tapos kailangan kong buhayin ’yung buong pamilya ko, so hihingi din ako sa part, sa dad’s side ko.

‘Di ba, artista ka na? Mayaman ka na? Ba’t ka pa hihingi sa amin?’ Yun ’yung sasabihin nila sa ’kin kasi dahil lang nagkaroon ako ng isang bida show…

Hindi ko pa kaya noon, hindi talaga. Siguro ngayon pero it took me, what? 13 years.”

Andrea Brillantes is a Filipina actress who started her career as a child star and later became one of the most popular young actresses of her generation. She rose to greater fame after playing the strong and unforgettable character Marga in the hit series Kadenang Ginto. Along with Francine Diaz, Kyle Echarri, and Seth Fedelin, she became part of the well-loved group called The Gold Squad. Andrea was previously in a relationship with basketball player Ricci Rivero, which ended around June 2023.

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Recently, Andrea welcomed 2026 at a big New Year’s Eve celebration in Taguig with her rumored boyfriend, Pankie Capistrano. The two were seen enjoying the BGC countdown, watching SB19 perform, and dancing with friends. Pankie later shared moments from the night on Instagram, which sparked dating rumors among fans. Andrea ended 2025 feeling proud, as she reached several milestones in fashion, movies, and brand endorsements.

Earlier, Andrea made fans happy when she gave away an extra ticket to BLACKPINK’s concert in Manila. She announced the giveaway on X and said it was open to anyone in Metro Manila, reminding people not to use dummy or resale accounts. Andrea personally chose the winner, a fresh graduate who shared how BLACKPINK’s songs helped her stay motivated in school.

Source: KAMI.com.gh