Andrea Brillantes was overwhelmed with happiness when she found out she was going to celebrate her 18th birthday with this Metro photo shoot that really made her feel like a debutante. The now-18-year-old star told us, “Sa totoo lang, sobrang happy ko and grateful ako sa shoot na ito kasi wala akong talagang debut pero naramdaman ko dito ‘yung pagiging isang debutante, so kinikilig ako.”

Like other girls, Andrea also dreamt of having a debut party, but as she got older, she realized that she preferred a simpler approach not just in fashion but also with how she lives her life. She’s not the type to throw a big party. That’s why she was beyond thrilled when she was told that she would have her first-ever solo Metro cover feature that proved to be a stylish alternative to a traditional 18th birthday party.

For her official photo shoot for her debut, she modeled 18 outfits—it was a tiring yet very fun shoot for this “Queen B.” Andrea (or Blythe) enjoyed each and every layout and outfit, but she cited the yellow butterfly gown by Mak Tumang (which made it to one of our three covers with Andrea) as her most favorite (and is the heaviest, too).

On Andrea: Printed dress layered with a black tulle dress and accessories all from Simone Rocha x H&M | On Seth: White button-down, black coat, and checkered trousers from Simone Rocha x H&M | Photo by Doc Marlon Pecjo of The Big Shot Studio

But more than the glitzy and glamorous wardrobe, jaw-droppingly beautiful hair and makeup looks, and fit-for-a queen venue, Andrea’s 18th birthday photo shoot with Metro was made more special because her love team partner and her “Ali” (which is short for “akin lamang ikaw“), Seth Fedelin, was there to keep her company.

Andrea says, “Gusto ko ‘yung [layout na] sumasayaw kami ni Seth kasi sobrang memorable para sa‘kin kasi never talaga ako nagkaroon ng sayaw with anyone, so thank you sa kanya. Sabi ko, wala akong debut so gawin mo talagang escort kita ngayon ha. Feel na feel ko ‘yung layout na ‘yun. Ang saya!”

Photo by Doc Marlon Pecjo of The Big Shot Studio

Yesterday, on the exact day of Andrea’s birthday, Seth posted a greeting for her on Instagram, writing, “Happy 18th to my Ali, @blythe! Wish you the grandest day yet because you deserve the world and more.” Thousands couldn’t help but feel kilig with his short and sweet message. But weeks prior, Seth had shared with Metro a longer and more kilig message for his Ali. It has made us realize that their term of endearment, Ali, may also mean “ally;” they’re always by each other’s side, influencing and pushing each other to become better artists and individuals and helping each other reach their dreams and goals in life.

From teleserye Kadenang Ginto to iWant orginal film Wild Little Love, they’re now marking 2021 with the upcoming series Huwag Kang Mangamba.

Here’s Seth’s full message for Andrea:

“Grabe itong photo shoot mo Ali ha. Nakita ko ‘yung tema, pang-dalagang pang-dalaga na ‘yung photo shoot mo. Naku, Ali, 18 ka na! Sana ‘wag ka pasaway. Joke lang!

“Gusto ko lang din sabihin sa’yo Ali na, 18 ka na, enjoy mo lang ‘yung buhay mo at sana marating mo pa ‘yung pangarap mo. At sana mas maging responsable ka pa lalo… Alagaan mong mabuti ang sarili mo and andito lang ako to guide you and to support you.”

“Mag–a-I love you sana ako,” he smiles shyly, blushing as he ends his message.

Then Seth goes on to share what he likes most about Andrea:

“Ano’ng gusto ko kay Blythe o kay Ali? Gusto ko ‘yung pagiging mabait n’ya. Mabait s’ya hindi lang sa’kin, sa pamilya n’ya pati sa ibang tao. Tapos ‘yung pagiging malambing n’ya. Tapos ‘yung inspirasyon n’ya, paano n’ya pinapahalagahan ‘yung isang bagay. May isa kasi s’yang goal eh. Kung ano ‘yung goal n’ya ngayong edad n’ya, du’n s’ya naka-focus.

“So, ‘yun ‘yung gusto ko sa kanya. Alam n’ya kung saan s’ya papunta. Gumagawa s’ya ng sarili n’yang daan. Hindi s’ya nalilihis ng daan… At maka-Diyos si Ali. Kahit sobrang kulit n’ya, talagang batang-bata, ‘di mo makikita, lalo na ‘pag ‘di mo s’ya kilala, mayroon pala s’yang side na ganito.

“18 ka na, ako magna-19, asahan mo andito pa rin ako, iga-guide kita, magtulungan tayo. ‘Yun lang. God bless. Sana matupad mo lahat ang dreams mo. Andito lang ako. At sana Ali, ako ‘yung kasama mo ‘pag natupad mo na lahat ng dreams mo. Gusto kong maging saksi du’n.”

SethDrea on Metro

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Behind The Scenes At Our Cover Shoot With Andrea Brillantes

Andrea said that despite her starting to work at an early age and going through struggles as a young star, she has managed to live her life regret-free. But if there’s one thing she truly regrets, it’s that she wasn’t able to introduce Seth to her Daddy Jun, her grandfather figure who passed away in 2019.

Andrea shares, “Siguro ang pinaka-regret ko lang, sa totoo lang, hindi ko napakilala si Seth sa lolo ko. Hindi niya inabutan ‘yung lolo ko. Feeling ko magugustuhan ng lolo ko si Seth. Sinabi ko kay Seth, sa totoo lang, kahit gaano kagulo ‘yung buhay ko, ‘yun ‘yung pinaka-pinagsisisihan ko. Hindi kita napakilala. Nu’ng burol ng lolo ko, lagi niya akong tsine-check kung kamusta ako, ganyan. Siya ‘yung nagtsi-cheer up sa akin, tapos ‘yung lola ko sinasabi na i-invite ko si Seth. Ako nahihiya. Pero ngayon na close na kami, nu’ng kinwento ko sa kanya na ‘alam mo ba dapat i-invite kita?’ Sabi niya, ‘Sana in-invite mo ako.’ Ngayon, du’n ako nagsisisi, na oo nga, sana in-invite ko siya. Sana man lang nakita niya, kahit na nasa casket na ‘yung lolo ko.

“Si Daddy Jun ‘yung greatest man na naibigay sa akin ni Lord sa buhay ko… Ang lolo ko ang pinaka the best para sa akin. Sobrang simple niya, nakakatawa siya. Hindi s’ya maarte. Siya ‘yung naging parang partner in crime ko… Siya ang naging parang daddy ko… So nu’ng nakilala ko si Seth, sa totoo lang, sa tingin ko lang, nu’ng nawala si Daddy Jun, dumating si Seth sa akin. Hindi rin maarte si Seth, tapos simple siya, nakakatawa siya. Si Seth ang nagturo sa akin na makisama sa mga tao kasi dati hindi ako sumasama sa mga tao. As in may shield ako. Pinoprotektohan ko ang sarili ko na nami-misunderstood ako before na suplada, hindi nila alam na pinoprotektohan ko lang ‘yung sarili ko. Pero nu’ng dumating siya, na-keep ko ‘yung shield ko sa sarili ko pero it’s not as thick as before. Ngayon, mas naging magaan ako, tapos mas ginawa niya akong mabait na tao.

“Comfortable ako sa kanya… ‘Pag nasa kanya ako, p’wede ako magpa-baby kasi nararamdaman ko sa kanya na aalagaan niya ako tulad ng pag-aalaga sa akin ng lolo ko, na spoiled ako sa lolo ko… So, sabi ko sayang hindi mo nakasama si Daddy Jun, kasi gusto siya ng lola ko eh. Kahit ‘yung mismong lola ko sinasabi sa kanya na kung na-meet mo si Daddy Jun, siguro magkakasundo kayo. Bubbly siya, funny siya, pero malalim siya na tao.”