Andrea Brillantes spotted holding hands with Sam Fernandez amidst dating rumors

Over the weekend, Andrea Brillantes was captured in a photo by a netizen and later relayed to The Daily Tribune.

According to our source, Brillantes and Fernandez were seen "holding each other’s hands while walking" in the vicinity of Greenfield City Sports Field in Santa Rosa, Laguna, where the actress was playing her new sport, frisbee.

In our recent interview with the actress, she shared that while waiting for her next project, she wants to focus on enjoying her youth, particularly through sports.

"I still wanna be young, I still wanna enjoy my youth, so tina-try kong mag-find ng time for my friends, for my community sa church, sa friends ko, sa sports," she shared.

The actress also expressed her growing enthusiasm for her new hobby.

"Frisbee naman, bago kong inaaral na sport, bago naman siya. Masaya siyang sport, guys, try niyo," she said.

Reports suggest that Fernandez also plays frisbee as part of maintaining his active lifestyle.

This is not the first time the actress has been spotted with Fernandez. During Valentine's Day, the two were reportedly seen on a date at an exclusive restaurant.

Netizens also claimed that Brillantes and Fernandez were spotted together last year, adding to speculation about their rumored romance. Fernandez, an athlete from San Beda College, has been linked to the actress after photos surfaced online showing him behind Brillantes.

Samuel Fernandez Abu Hijleh, now known simply as Sam Fernandez, is a Filipino-Jordanian student-athlete from Calamba City, Laguna.

Prior to these dating sightings, Brillantes revealed that she is open to entertaining suitors but remains focused on personal growth.

"Before naman ako naging Most [Beautiful Face], meron naman na rin talaga," she said with a laugh, adding, "Pero hindi kasi ako nakaka-focus doon lalo na last year. Inaamin ko iyon na, ‘Sorry, I don’t really date,’ and hindi iyon ang hinahanap ko."

("Even before I became the Most Beautiful Face, there were already some. But I couldn’t focus on that, especially last year. I admit it, I would say, ‘Sorry, I don’t really date,’ because that’s not what I’m looking for.")

Brillantes acknowledged that she has admirers, but she is in no rush to enter a new relationship.

"Mayroon po mga nagpaparamdam," she admitted, but emphasized that she is prioritizing her healing. "I think nakakapag-heal na ako, not 100 percent kasi wala namang ganun, but ang laki na ng growth ko from last year."

("There are people showing interest, but I think I’m still healing—not 100 percent, because no one really heals completely—but I’ve grown so much since last year.")

The actress also shared a heartfelt prayer she often says: "Lord, I don’t know, maybe I can kung darating or what. Let’s see. Pero I’m open to it, and I want to be intentional with it."

("Lord, I don’t know—maybe when the right person comes, we’ll see. But I’m open to it, and I want to be intentional about it.")

To recall, Brillantes and basketball player Ricci Rivero broke up in 2023. Rivero is now in a relationship with a beauty queen, which he has clarified multiple times was not the reason for his split with the actress.