Andrew James Estrella Arellano[fn 1][2] (Tagalog pronunciation: [ɐˈrɛʎɐnɔ]; born January 16, 1980) is a Filipino actor and host. He is one of the traveling hosts of the daily morning show, Unang Hirit[3] and the host of informative/educational show AHA! on GMA Network. He is also the host of the now defunct show Balikbayan, and Biyahe ni Drew on QTV (now GTV).[4]

Drew Arellano
Born
Andrew James Estrella Arellano[fn 1]

(1980-01-16) January 16, 1980 (age 44)
NationalityFilipino American
EducationDe La Salle University, (Marketing Management)
Occupation(s)Actor, host
Years active2003–present
AgentSparkle GMA Artist Center (since 2003)
Spouse
(m. 2014)
Children4
RelativesRobert Raymond M. Estrella (cousin)
Conrado B. Estrella Jr. (uncle)
Conrado F. Estrella Sr. (grandfather)
Conrado M. Estrella III (cousin)

Early life and career edit

Arellano was born to Aga Arellano and Bernie Estrella Arellano on January 16, 1980, in San Jose, California, USA.[citation needed] He has two brothers and two sisters.[citation needed] He graduated high school at Xavier School in March 1997, and he graduated Marketing Management at De La Salle University in October 2001 (also the same university as his wife Iya Villania).[citation needed] Arellano formerly worked in an advertising agency before he began his showbiz career.[citation needed] Arellano's first stint in showbiz on TV was in a youth-oriented show called Click, with longtime girlfriend and now wife, Iya Villania.[citation needed] He won his first solo award from PMPC Star Awards For TV as 'Best Travel Show Host' for Balikbayan, formerly aired on QTV 11 (then GMA News TV; now GTV 27), and a year later he won again in a same category.[citation needed] He also won the Unang Hirit Barkada for Unang Hirit as 'Best Morning Show Hosts' also at PMPC Star Awards For TV, three times in a row.[citation needed]

Arellano currently hosts AHA!, an informative/educational show on GMA Network, and the travel show Biyahe ni Drew on GMA News TV which has garnered several fans as it explores the beautiful islands of the Philippines and the countries outside it. He has remarkably shown talent in his job which paved way to his long running show "Biyahe ni Drew".

Personal life edit

Arellano enjoys basketball and triathlon[5][6] which has won him various medals in a triathlon competition held every year.

In 2004, Arellano began dating actress and television presenter Iya Villania.[7] They married in Nasugbu, Batangas in January 2014.[8] The couple have four children: Antonio Primo (born 2016),[9] Alonzo Leon (born 2018),[10] Alana Lauren (born 2020),[11] and Astro Phoenix (born 2022).[12]

Arellano is a practicing Catholic.[13] In January 2022, Arellano, alongside Villania and their three children, tested positive for COVID-19.[14][15][16]

Filmography edit

Television edit

Year Title Role Network
2023 Comedy Island Philippines Amazon Prime Video
2023 Zero Kilometers Away Special Participation YouTube
2020 Mars Pa More Guest GMA Network
2020 New Normal: The Survival Guide Host GMA News TV
2018 Mars Guest
2017 People vs. the Stars Host GMA Network
-- Home Foodie
-- Sunday All Stars Guest
2014 Don't Lose the Money Contestant
2015 Sabado Badoo Cameo Role
Wasak Guest AksyonTV
2017 Sunday PinaSaya Guest GMA Network
Bogart Case Files Guest 9TV
Boys Ride Out
Network News
-- Bonakid Pre-School's Ready Set Laban GMA Network
The Ryzza Mae Show Guest
Celebrity Bluff Contestant
Tunay Na Buhay
300 Kilometro: Isang Paglalakbay
Puso ng Pasko: Artista Challenge
Survivor Philippines: Celebrity Showdown Guest Host
Party Pilipinas
Happy Land
Aha! Host
Art Angel
Pinoy Meets World England Episode
Coca-Cola's Ride To Fame
Lovely Day Guest
Bahay Mo Ba 'To? Guest
Extra Challenge
Maynila
SOP Gigsters
Unang Hirit
All Together Now
CLICK Barkada Hunt
Click
-- Biyahe ni Drew GMA News TV
Weekend Getaway
-- May Trabaho Ka! Guest QTV 11
Balikbayan
-- Stoplight TV TV5
Paghilom
-- Auto Extreme RPN
Basketball Show Guest
2003 Retro TV Host IBC 13
2004–2006 Wazzup Wazzup Studio 23
Points of View Host
Matanglawin Cameo Role ABS-CBN

Film edit

Awards and nominations edit

Awards and Nomination
Year Award Giving Body Category Nominated Work Network Results
2005 19th PMPC Star Awards for Television Best Morning Show Hosts Unang Hirit GMA 7 Nominated
2006 20th PMPC Star Awards for Television Nominated
2007 21st PMPC Star Awards for Television Nominated
2008 22nd PMPC Star Awards for Television Best Talent Search Program (with Karel Marquez) "Coca-Cola's Ride To Fame Yes To Dream" Nominated
Best Travel Show Host Balikbayan QTV 11 Nominated
Best Morning Show Hosts Unang Hirit GMA 7 Won
2009 23rd PMPC Star Awards for Television Best Travel Host Balikbayan QTV 11 Won
2010 24th PMPC Star Awards for Television QTV 11 Won
2015 29th PMPC Star Awards for Television Best Travel Host Biyahe ni Drew GMA News TV Won
2016 30th PMPC Star Awards for Television Won
2017 UP's Gandingan Awards 2017 Gandingan ng Edukasyon AHA! GMA 7 Won
Gandingan ng Kalikasan Biyahe ni Drew GMA News TV Won
31st PMPC Star Awards for Television Best Travel Show Host Won

Notes edit

  1. ^ a b Although born in the United States, Drew Arellano still possesses his mother's maiden name (Estrella) as is the convention in the Philippines as indicated on his birth record.[1]

References edit

  1. ^ California Birth Index, 1905-1995
  2. ^ "Drew Arellano: Biography". TV Guide. Retrieved May 6, 2018.
  3. ^ Bombarda, Angel (November 12, 2012). "Drew Arellano: The Perks of being a Professional Traveller". GMA News. Retrieved February 9, 2015.
  4. ^ Tantengco, Cristina (March 31, 2014). "Best trip ever: Drew Arellano's 'Biyahe ni Bibiboy 8=D---*' itinerary to Moalboal, Cebu". GMA News. Retrieved February 9, 2015.
  5. ^ Geli, Bianca (October 8, 2014). "Drew Arellano gives tips for triathlon newbies". Philippine Entertainment Portal. Retrieved February 9, 2015.
  6. ^ San Diego, Bayani (April 8, 2012). "Drew Arellano: Marathon man". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved February 9, 2015.
  7. ^ Lo, Ricky (October 29, 2008). "So who broke Iya's heart?". The Philippine Star. Archived from the original on July 25, 2018. Retrieved March 2, 2024.
  8. ^ de Jesus, Julliane Love (January 31, 2014). "Iya Villania, Drew Arellano finally tie the knot". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Archived from the original on January 31, 2022. Retrieved January 31, 2022.
  9. ^ "Look: Iya Villania, Drew Arellano welcome son". Rappler. August 30, 2016. Archived from the original on January 31, 2022. Retrieved January 31, 2022.
  10. ^ "Look: Iya Villania, Drew Arellano welcome 2nd son Leon". Rappler. August 19, 2018. Archived from the original on January 31, 2022. Retrieved January 31, 2022.
  11. ^ "Iya Villania and Drew Arellano welcome baby girl". Rappler. July 18, 2020. Archived from the original on January 31, 2022. Retrieved January 31, 2022.
  12. ^ "Iya Villania, Drew Arellano welcome fourth child". CNN Philippines. June 4, 2022. Archived from the original on June 4, 2022. Retrieved June 4, 2022.
  13. ^ "Iya: I was a virgin until wedding to Drew". ABS-CBN News. January 15, 2015. Retrieved October 30, 2017.
  14. ^ Kingsu-Cheng, Jane (January 11, 2022). "Iya Villania, Drew Arellano test positive for COVID-19". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Archived from the original on January 31, 2022. Retrieved January 31, 2022.
  15. ^ Cruz, Dana (January 13, 2022). "Iya Villania, Drew Arellano's 3-year-old son tests positive for COVID-19". Manila Bulletin. Archived from the original on January 31, 2022. Retrieved January 31, 2022.
  16. ^ Plaza, Marane A. (January 22, 2022). "Iya Villania back on 24 Oras after bout with COVID-19". The Philippine Star. Archived from the original on February 2, 2022. Retrieved February 2, 2022.

External links edit