The best part of the year for Andrea Brillantes was winning the award for best child performer at the 27th Star Awards for TV last November.

In her acceptance speech, the Annaliza star tearfully dedicated her first major acting feat to her non-fans, the “bullies.”

She said, in between sobs, “Thank you rin sa mga nangbu-bully sa akin, sa mga nagsasabing pangit ako, na hindi ako mananalo, na hindi ako sisikat.”

In an interview with PEP.ph (Philippine Entertainment Portal) and a group of entertainment writers last Friday, December 13, on the set of Annaliza in Fairview, Quezon City, Andrea recalled her redemptive moment, “Siyempre masaya ako dahil natupad yung wish ko!”

Like any other kid on Christmas, the ten-year-old Andrea wishes to receive gifts. Only hers cannot be wrapped in a shiny paper.

She said, “[Sana] maging okay na tayong lahat, yung mga nasalanta sa bagyong [Yolanda].

“At wish ko, ako yung maging young Dyesebel!”

ABS-CBN had announced in late November its acquisition of the rights to Mars Ravelo’s comics characters Darna, Dyesebel, and Captain Barbell.

As the Kapamilya network is now in the process of selecting who will play the iconic comics characters on television, Andrea is among those aspiring to play the role of the young Dyesebel.

She revealed, “Gusto ko talaga kasi nung bata ako, feeling ko sirena ako.

“Kinulang lang kasi ako sa buntot [pero] marunong akong lumangoy!”

FRIENDSHIP WITH ZANJOE. Hearing her spill her dream of starring as the young Dyesebel, Zanjoe Marudo, sitting beside Andrea, started teasing her. The endearing repartee between the two, who play father and daughter in Annaliza, went:

Zanjoe: “Pero yung ulo mo isda, tapos yung paa mo tao!”

Andrea: “E, hindi ako makikita!”

Zanjoe: “Kita naman yung paa mo!”

Andrea: “E, pa’no nila malalaman na ako yun?”

Zanjoe: “May palatandaan sila!”

Andrea: “E!”

The bond between the 31-year-old actor and the child star was obvious and, according to Zanjoe, it developed spontaneously, just like that.

“Bigla lang nangyari” was how he put it.

He went on, “Hindi naman siya yung plinano na, ‘Ay, magiging close ako sa batang ito pagkatapos ng show’ kasi hindi naman ako…

“Pag taping naman, tahimik lang ako, trabaho lang ako.

“Wala. Bigla na lang nangyari na naging close ako sa bata.”

He said he and his girlfriend Bea Alonzo have taken Andrea out a few times—malling and seeing movies together.

That triggered the question, do Zanjoe and Bea have plans of becoming parents soon?

Surprised, amused, he exclaimed, “Napakalayo naman ng… baby na agad?”

He explained that he and Bea just happen to be charmed by Andrea, relating it was the actress who insisted on meeting the kid star.

“Nakikita ni Bea sa akin [at] pag kinukuwento ko o nag-uusap kaming dalawa.

“So, parang siya, gusto rin niya makilala, gusto rin niyang ma-experience kung gaanong ka-cute itong batang ito.

“Tapos ayun, pinakilala ko siya kay Bea.

“Minsan silang dalawa na lang yung magkausap. Minsan silang dalawa lang yung magkasama,” Zanjoe said.

Andrea said hanging out with them has been fun, wishing that her Ate Bea and Zanjoe would remain a couple.

Both Andrea and Zanjoe agreed that watching the Star Cinema romantic comedy, She’s The One, a Bea Alonzo starrer, was one of their most fun times together.

Zanjoe narrated, “Kapag may kissing scene, gagawin ni Bea, tatakpan niya yung mata ni Andrea.

“Gagawin naman ni Andrea, tatakpan yung mata ko.

“Yung mga tao sa sinehan, tawanan nang tawanan!”

CLOSENESS. Andrea said Zanjoe is like an older brother, funny and sweet, and she does not mind being “pestered” by him constantly.

This made the actor laughed. “Gusto niya yun, e. Ayaw niya yung, ‘Cute!’

“Ayaw niya ng gano’n kasi lagi siyang ginagano’n.

“Siguro, nung nakilala niya ako, bargas ako sa kanya, siguro ngayon lang siya naka-experience ng kasama niyang ganon sa kanya.

“So, parang masyado na siyang sawa sa mga ‘Ang ganda-ganda mo naman, ang cute-cute mo naman!’

“E, siya, hindi ko siya ginaganun!” Zanjoe related.

Fortunately for friends Andrea and Zanjoe, Annaliza will continue to air next year, which means more bonding time for the two of them.