Andrea Brillantes and Enrique Gil believe they are more candid than their characters in A Secret in Prague,
Andrea’s Kiara attempts to maintain a semblance of normalcy despite her ties to a powerful crime syndicate.
Conversely, Enrique’s Mikoy operates as a police asset, forced to suppress his romantic feelings for Kiara while covertly gathering evidence against her family.
As the series' co-producer, Enrique takes immense pride in the depth of the writing—specifically the intricate way each character’s dangerous secrets are woven into the plot.
“That's why they're keeping the secrets, it's because mahal nila isa't isa, you know, and they're doing it for yung mahal nila sa buhay.
"Nakakaasar lang na hindi sila nag-uusap at nagsasabi ng secret,” said the 34-year-old actor.
He knows that secrets are a potent currency in showbiz. In real life, he might be more open than Mikoy, but he still chooses who to reveal his secrets to.
“Minsan naiiba pa, e, di ba? May dinadagdag pa. May mga hindi sinama. So I think just, you just have to really be careful lang, you know, just don't trust anybody.”
Andrea, on the other hand, is much more transparent.
“Sobrang open book ako kasi. As in, ask me anything, ano, e, I really live by, ano iyon, 'The truth sets you free.'
"And feeling ko, kaya feeling ko like sobrang carefree lang ako na tao or like sobrang malaya ako kasi sobrang honest ko talaga.”
The 23-year-old leading lady paused for a moment to think about whether there are secrets she is keeping.
She said: “I think wala akong secret. It's more of just, deserve ba malaman ng taong ito yung totoo, or like kung anumang truth yung kailangan niya from me. Mas yun lang.
"Kung sino lang mas deserve makita itong version na ito of me or whatever, pero I don't really keep secrets.”
In a recent interview with PEP.ph (Philippine Entertainment Portal) for their series A Secret in Prague, Enrique and Andrea also discussed the current status of their careers and their respective plans for the future.
Read: Andrea Brillantes and Enrique Gil weigh in on love teams
ON LOVE
Secrets aren't the only thing both celebrities share with their characters.
While Andrea can’t relate to Kiara’s generational wealth, she can vibe with the strength of her character.
“Parehas kaming matapang, e. Parehas kaming matapang sa pag-ibig. As in parehas kaming fighter sa love. Parehas kaming lover,” said Andrea.
Enrique likes Mikoy’s positive outlook.
“Ako is a Mr. Positive. Ayoko ma-feel depressed, ayoko ma-feel sad, so I was trying to make myself happy or make other people happy para sumaya ako, alam mo iyon. Ako yung...'Tara, let's go, tara, enjoy tayo, kulitan tayo.'”
In real life, the lead stars also as hardworking as Kiara and Mikoy.
Both of them lead their own businesses.
Andrea started her own beauty brand, Lucky Beauty, in 2023.
Then there’s Enrique, whose Slingshot Studios co-produced A Secret in Prague, which currently airs on TV5 and Netflix.
How do they manage their businesses while having an active showbiz career?
Andrea is grateful for having a very supportive team.
“From the start, alam na nila na hindi ako talaga makakapag-100% sa kanila.
"Pero sa lahat ng importanteng decision-making, hands-on ako and present po ako.
"Sa lahat ng campaigns, sa lahat pa rin ng nire-release ng bawat product ng Lucky Beauty, galing pa rin sa akin po iyon.”
Enrique is a hands-on boss, setting online meetings with his team every other day.
Slingshot has an office in Makati, but he hopes to launch a bigger studio space.
Read: Love, Mom: Belle and Andrea Brillantes
ON SETTLING DOWN
Launching a bigger production company isn’t the only thing on Enrique’s mind.
He has a more personal dream, one that’s been tapped after he filled Mikoy’s shoes.
“It's always been my dream to be a dad, you know. I've always wanted to have my own family. And settle down and, you know, just live a, in a way kahit papaano normal life."
After his eight-year relationship with Liza Soberano ended in 2022, Enrique has been mum about the status of his love life.
But he's ready to settle down.
He continued, “Ang dami ko pang kailangan i-set up muna, feeling ko, before. But definitely I don't want to wait too long. That's, that's for sure. Um, yeah, but that's been my ultimate dream talaga.”
Is anyone pressuring him to get married and have children?
He quickly answered no.
“I think I'm pressuring myself,” he clarified.
“'Cause I've always wanted to, e. Feeling ko ready na ako before, and then, yun pala wait lang, hindi pa. But I know deep inside I really want.”
For Andrea’s part, she originally set a timeline for when she would settle down
“Bilang babae, lagi kang natatanong, ‘Kailan mo gustong mag-anak,’ ganyan. Tapos nung bata ako, talagang nagbibigay ako ng edad. ‘Kailan ko gusto, 28. 28.’
"Basta as in like...for years, hindi siya nagche-change,” explained the young actress.
Why 28?
“Minindset ko talaga 28, kasi for me, parang dapat, mga 22, 23, nasa stable relationship na ako.
"At least five years kami. Five years kami na together and then magpo-propose siya.
"And then, siguro, one year yung paggawa ng wedding.
"And then pag kinasal kami, at least one year na solo namin yung isa't isa, magta-travel ng buong mundo, bago mag-ano, mag-baby, ganoon siya.”
But after experiencing a heartbreak, it's no longer about the age or the number of years in a relationship.
“Nung mas naka-experience ako ng love, at ang sakit-sakit niya pala, ang hirap pala ng pag-ibig, nagbago na yung sagot ko. ‘Kailan mo gustong mag-anak, kailan mo gustong magka-baby, magpakasal?’
"'Pag tama na po yung tao. Yun na yung naging sagot ko, pag tama na po yung lalaki, ganyan. So yun yung, yun ang timeline ko. Pag tama na.”
Andrea is presently dating Franchesko Juan "Pankie" Capistrano.