2024's Most Beautiful Face ANDREA BRILLANTES

Seeing her up close would have made the case of being number 1 in the Most Beautiful Face of the Year a no contest. It's the annual voting list run by TC Candler, a creator based in LA. There have been 7 Filipinas in that list this year but the Top 1 post went to ANDREA BRILLANTES, one of Star Magic's brightest stars.

She's also been given the SPOTLIGHT by the artist agency last week and we got to talk to her a bit about getting the recognition and asked a few more things about what she plans to do this 2025. She's had a pretty lucky 2024, and for sure, ABS-CBN has huge plans for her especially after getting in this really popular list.

We talked to Andrea at the SPOTLIGHT set by Star Magic. They really prepared a lot for this event and interview (mainly to recognize their accomplishments of course!).

Andrea says "I was quite surprised about the video, I didn't know you were going to do that. I tied my hair today because of that list. Last year I was also there but I didn't get the top spot, but this year when I learned about it, I said hala, I'm top 1? I asked my Mom immediately and told her she's got a daughter that made the top spot. But really, I'm so thankful. It's the bragging rights that I could tell my friends now, really happy about it but I couldn't have that in my head, I couldn't wrap my head around it."

She adds "Right now I'm enjoying my free time because I don't have a show, but I've got a ton of things to do especially with business. I set my priorities, but try to also enjoy my youth. I also help with my community, my church, and try to learn a new sport like frisbee. I try to be intentional with my time, try to find some for everything. It's quite precious for me because I have to have energy for it everyday. I try to travel, my schedule is crazy, but want to have a work life balance. I want to manage my time because you can't disappear when you're in this business. I think it's important to have sleep, above anything, no matter how beautiful you are. Now I'm adding veggies to my diet, try to take care of that and what I eat. I also invest in skincare, do makeup, I've been doing it since I was 16 and I think I've got a pretty good grasp of it. If I'm tired, I just do my routine. I try to fit it in one hour or 30 minutes just to take care of myself." 

"You don't just have to be pretty outside, I try my best to be good, my attitude. I think making your heart pretty is better."

With all the things she's been through, she knows herself even more. She plans to do more shows, programs, movies, even other things outside showbiz. It's her experience that makes her an even better person, and we saw that during the SPOTLIGHT event with her.

STAR MAGIC Puts SPOTLIGHT on SETH FEDELIN

I've had the pleasure of watching Seth Fedelin and Francine Diaz's recent MMFF 2024 film "MY FUTURE YOU" which won Seth "Breakthrough Performance for an Actor" and a nomination for Best Actor in the film festival. Star Magic recently put the SPOTLIGHT on him after the win and he told us how he felt right after that win because he told us it didn't really sink in til he went home and celebrated with his family. Seth felt it wasn't just his win, but a huge win for his dreams, and his family.

Seth told us how he was very eager to make this count especially since projects of this magnitude doesn't come so often. When they were making it, he talked to Francine about its importance and they knew they had to return the trust being given to them by the production because it was the perfect vehicle to showcase their acting strengths. It was initially set to premiere during the 3rd quarter of 2024, but then it got moved twice, then was sent to the 50th MMFF. Regal told them that this was going to be just something they'd send to the committee with a prayer, til they saw it being announced as one of the finalists in the 2024 Metro Manila Film Festival.

He even drove back home to tell his folks, Francine told him about it. And when they did the whole promotion thing for the movie, he wasn't ready about how BIG it is.

Here's the whole interview with him a few days ago, super thanks Seth for being so nice that day!

Seth says "In all the things I do, I am really too shy. I don't know how I do it when I'm in front of the camera especially when I do roles that are really important to me. When I do it, I try to toughen up because I'm my own critic. I just do my best, and when people see it, that's me. I really mix in my persona, I don't remove myself from scenes. I just tell myself that I need to do it, like self motivation. I am happy to do it even if I'm not in my best look in the studios, I just show my truth."

He adds "I've got so many actors I'd want to work with. I'd like drama, to have a bad boy flick, action or something like that. Still a hero but challenging, a different take to a character. I'd like to do that in a different project. I'd want to learn about it first because I know it is difficult to do that."

 

This isn't the last time you'll be seeing Seth because from the looks of it, he's going to have a few more projects this 2025 especially because of his recent win. He also is open to do projects with other stars, even if they won't be working with each other because he finds it limiting for Francine if the pairing is going to hold them back. But don't fret, because they still are eager to also work with each other (he says he's full tank). Who wouldn't want to see that!

Make sure you follow him and Star Magic's social channels because I'm sure they've got something up their sleeves! (TV series Nobody, shooting soon!).

The "NO WORRY" realme C75 Phone is NOW AVAILABLE in the Philippines

If you haven't seen it yet, the newest phone from realme Philippines is now available in the market. It's called the "NO WORRY PHONE" because of its ability to be underwater and in heat, but still works afterwards according to recent tests (oh yes we'll also come out with a video soon!). We have been able to unbox this specific unit a few weeks ago, and I've been using this to cover a few events, and by standards, it's performed quite well under circumstances.

For starters, having an IP69, IP68 and IP66 rating would probably give you a clue on how this works. IP69 means it is dust tight and can hold its own in high pressure and temperatures. IP68 means it can be immersed at a certain depth, while IP66 means it is dust tight and won't be damaged on water jets. I took mine to the shower and it didn't even blink. This also means that when you drop your phone into a pool or tub (1.5m) then nothing is going to happen to it.

This phone is available in Lightning Gold, but I've got the Storm Black variety because I love anything monochrome. This is priced at Php 8,999 for the 8GB 128GB unit, but the other one sells at Php 10,999 for the 8GB and 256GB storage phone.

If you get this at realme stores and authorized sellers, you can get FREE Techlife Wireless Earbuds Neo. This is only until February 2. You can also get it from HOME CREDIT for installment plans, or shopping apps if you want to get them online!

A Bigger Bolder PUREGOLD CINEPANALO 2025

 

These are exciting times, not just for the movie goers but the creatives, those who work behind the scenes in this year's PUREGOLD Cine Panalo Film Festival.

I went up the elevator of Artson events place this morning with some of the brightest stars, including filmmakers, directors that have already made names in the industry. I already knew how much this costs, millions just in production. Php 3M for 8 entries, and Php 125,000 for 24 student filmmakers, makes this a worthy festival in the country. Mind you, this has already produced international awards in previous years, so no doubt, this is a great platform for all these stars, production in the coming days. This year, they have partnered with MTRCB, Gateway Cineplex 18, Mowelfund, Terminal Six, CMB Films, and MFP rentals.

Choosing entries this year has been stressful for the committee and Puregold execs because of the so many talented individuals who sent their films. If my memory serves me right, they had over a hundred ++ to screen and only 8 would be picked. They had even more hopefuls for the Student Short film category and they got 24 out of it. Some of which are actually schools from provinces, so you see, that's exactly what they wanted to do, a platform for talented ones anywhere you are in the country.

Here are the 8 FULL LENGTH Entries:

 

 

 For the STUDENT SHORTS Category, here are the entries:

If you see that I have a wee bit of obsession when it comes to the entry of KD Estrada and Alexa Ilacad's entry called CO-LOVE, it's because people have been waiting for their pairings movie debut. Although this is probably going to be a moment for KD Estrada, Alexa is so supportive about their appearance in this film together with Kira Balinger and Jameson Blake. There's going to be real hard work to be done to showcase what they can do as a pair, and as individual artists. We also talked to Alexa a bit about their movie and her other projects:

 There's more where these movies came from, and certainly, we have a lot to look forward to on March where they plan to put these in theaters. Please make sure you also come in the theaters a bit early so you could see the short films that students have also made.

 

For more information about the films, please follow PUREGOLD's social channels and their official website. Be part of the growing crowd that not only adores Puregold's products and prices, but their passion to help film makers have this platform, to tell their story.