Raelene Elaine Villania-Arellano[a] (born June 29, 1986), known professionally as Iya Villania-Arellano (Tagalog: [ˈʔija bilˈjaɲɐ ʔɐrɛlˈjanɔ]), is a Filipino-Australian singer, actress, model, dancer, and television presenter. She has been widely known for her work as a VJ in the music channel MYX and as the Chika Minute and Chika in a Minute segment anchor in GMA's primetime newscast 24 Oras.
Iya Villania-Arellano | |
|---|---|
| Born | Raelene Elaine Villania[a] June 29, 1986 Sydney, Australia |
| Occupations |
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| Years active | 2002–present |
| Agents |
|
| Spouse | |
| Children | 5 |
| Relatives | Antonio Arellano (father-in-law) Bernadette Estrella Arellano (mother-in-law) Conrado F. Estrella Sr. (grandfather-in-law) Conrado M. Estrella III (cousin-in-law) |
Early and personal life
editRaelene Elaine Villania,[1] the last of three siblings,[2] was born on June 29, 1986, in Sydney, Australia.[1] She was raised by Filipino parents, Ray Villania and Elena Nada Ebaler.[3] Villania's interest in music started when her father sang karaoke when she was a child. She used to be a member of a touring band in Australia called Iron & Clay that address issues in schools and churches such bullying, drunk driving, and self-esteem. Later, she returned to the Philippines and attended high school at Colegio San Agustin in Makati, graduating In 2004.[4] She attended college at De La Salle University – Manila majoring in psychology and graduated on December 16, 2008.[5]
In 2004, Villania began dating television presenter Drew Arellano.[6] They married in Nasugbu, Batangas in January 2014.[7] The couple have four children: Antonio Primo (born August 30, 2016),[8] Alonzo Leon (born August 19, 2018),[9] Alana Lauren (born July 18, 2020),[10] and Astro Phoenix (born June 4, 2022).[11] In September 2024, the couple announced they are expecting their fifth child.[12]
Villania is an advocate for abstaining from sex before marriage. She divulged that she had not had sexual intercourse before marrying Arellano, who himself was supportive of her decision. Although she does not necessarily condemn women who has had intercourse, she remarked that virginity is "something that a girl can be proud of".[13] She was raised in the Seventh-day Adventist Church.[14][15] In January 2022, Villania, alongside Arellano and their three children, tested positive for COVID-19.[16][17][18]
Career
editVillania's first television appearance in the Philippines was In 2003 on the IBC interactive program "Game Channel". After she gained a "cult" following, the management team of GMA Network took notice and cast her in the daytime drama Walang Hanggan. She then played the role of Sydney Torres in the third and fourth seasons of the iconic teen series Click.
In 2004, she moved to GMA's rival network ABS-CBN and was announced as one of the new VJ's for their subsidiary music channel Myx. She would remain in the job for 10 years. Subsequently, she was regularly featured in the variety show ASAP. Villania's feature film debut was in the 2004 drama "A Beautiful Life" alongside acclaimed actresses Gloria Romero, Dina Bonnevie and Amy Austria. In the same year, Villania appeared in the critically acclaimed historical film Aishite Imasu 1941: Mahal Kita. Her run as host on ABS-CBN included co-hosting the noontime game show Wowowee from its premiere in February 2005 until June 2006, the two seasons of the reality dance competition show U Can Dance in 2006 and 2007, the reality show I Dare You In 2011 and her two-year stint on ABS-CBN's morning show Umagang Kay Ganda. Villania also hosted the Studio 23 lifestyle program Us Girls from 2006 to 2012. In 2008, she released her first album, Finally! under Viva Records.
After signing an executive contract with GMA Network in October 2014, Villania made a part of Sunday All Stars (2013–2015), a variety show. This marked her return to GMA Network after a decade in ABS-CBN.[19] In June 2015, she joined the newscast 24 Oras as its Chika Minute segment anchor, replacing Pia Guanio.[20]
Popular culture
editShe accidentally popularized a now very common Filipino slang greeting "haller/heller" in place of "hello". This was credited to her distinctive and then-unfamiliar Australian twang in her early showbiz career years. On her show, Game Channel - Filipino viewers misheard her intro greeting as though she's saying "Heller!".[21]
Discography
edit- Finally! (2008)
Filmography
editFilm
edit| Year | Title | Role | Studio |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | A Beautiful Life | Janice | Regal Entertainment |
| Aishite Imasu 1941: Mahal Kita | Julia | ||
| Spirit of the Glass | OctoArts Films | ||
| 2005 | Exodus: Tales from the Enchanted Kingdom | Lin-Ay | Enchanted Kingdom, Ignite Media, Imus Productions |
| 2006 | Pamahiin | Eileen | Regal Entertainment |
| 2007 | Paano Kita Iibigin | Tessa | Star Cinema, Viva Films |
| 2009 | When I Met U | Tracy | GMA Films, Regal Entertainment |
| Shake, Rattle & Roll 11 | Lia † | Regal Entertainment |
Television
edit| Year | Title | Role | Network |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | Kahit Kailan | Marjorie | GMA Network |
| 2003–2004 | Click | Sydney Torres | |
| 2003 | Walang Hanggan | Rachelle | |
| Gamechannel | Game Jock | IBC | |
| 2004 | Gamechannel Extreme | ABC | |
| SOP Gigsters | Herself / Host | GMA Network | |
| ASAP Fanatic | ABS-CBN | ||
| Seasons of Love | Alex | ||
| 2004–2014 | MYX | VJ | MYX |
| ASAP | Herself / Co-host | ABS-CBN | |
| 2005–2006 | Wowowee | ||
| 2006 | U Can Dance | Herself / Host | |
| Komiks Presents: Da Adventures of Pedro Penduko | Budlis | ||
| Your Song Presents: Narda | Lea | ||
| 2006–2012 | Us Girls | Herself / Host | Studio 23 |
| 2007 | Your Song Presents: Never Knew Love Like This Before | Becca | ABS-CBN |
| U Can Dance Ver. 2 | Herself / Host | ||
| Love Spell Presents: Ellay Enchanted | Cast Member | ||
| Mars Ravelo's Lastikman | Yellena White | ||
| 2008 | Palmolive Shining Circle of 10: Batch 2008 | Herself / Host | |
| Mysmatch | TV5 | ||
| OMG! | |||
| 2009 | Only You | Trixie Gonzales | ABS-CBN |
| 2010 | Precious Hearts Romances Presents: Kristine | Scarlett Saavedra | |
| 2011–2012 | It's Showtime | Herself / Guest | |
| 2011 | I Dare You | ||
| Pilipinas Got Talent (season 2) | Herself / Guest Host | ||
| 2011–2013 | Umagang Kay Ganda | Herself / Host | |
| 2013 | Apoy sa Dagat | Helena Redentor | |
| 2014 | Sunday All Stars | Herself / Host / Performer | GMA Network |
| Startalk | Herself / Guest | ||
| The Ryzza Mae Show | |||
| 2014–2016 | Taste Buddies | Herself / Host | GMA News TV |
| 2015 | Mundo ni Juan | GMA Network | |
| Ang Pinaka | Herself / Guest host | GMA News TV | |
| 2015–present | Home Foodie | Herself / Host | GMA Network |
| 24 Oras | Chika Minute and Chika in a Minute segment anchor | ||
| 2015 | Sunday PinaSaya | Herself / Guest | |
| 2015–2016 | Because of You | Rebecca Reyes | |
| 2016 | Yan ang Morning! | Herself / Guest | |
| Lip Sync Battle Philippines | Herself / Host | ||
| 2017 | People vs. the Stars | ||
| Mars | Herself / Guest | GMA News TV | |
| Sunday PinaSaya | GMA Network | ||
| 2017–2018 | My Korean Jagiya | Kennedy Santos | |
| 2017 | All Star Videoke | Herself / Host | |
| 2019–2022 | Mars Pa More | ||
| 2019 | Tunay na Buhay | Herself / Guest | |
| 2023 | Zero Kilometers Away | Special Participation | YouTube |
Notes
editReferences
edit- ^ a b "Iya Villania: Home away from home". Philippine Entertainment Portal. May 2, 2008. Archived from the original on August 11, 2017. Retrieved March 2, 2024.
- ^ Ganal, FM (September 1, 2016). "Who does Baby Primo look like? Daddy Drew or Mommy Iya?". Philippine Entertainment Portal. Archived from the original on November 10, 2016. Retrieved March 2, 2024.
- ^ "Iya Villania Biography". TV Guide. Archived from the original on September 25, 2017. Retrieved May 6, 2018.
- ^ Lo, Ricky (October 29, 2008). "So who broke Iya's heart?". The Philippine Star. Retrieved March 27, 2016.
- ^ Dimaculangan, Jocelyn (March 4, 2008). "RP showbiz personalities who excel academically". GMA News. GMA Network Inc. Retrieved March 27, 2016.
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "Look: Iya Villania, Drew Arellano welcome son". Rappler. August 30, 2016. Archived from the original on January 31, 2022. Retrieved January 31, 2022.
- ^ "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.
- ^ "Iya Villania and Drew Arellano welcome baby girl". Rappler. July 18, 2020. Archived from the original on January 31, 2022. Retrieved January 31, 2022.
- ^ "Iya Villania, Drew Arellano welcome fourth child". CNN Philippines. June 4, 2022. Archived from the original on June 4, 2022. Retrieved June 4, 2022.
- ^ Kang, Kristine (September 4, 2024). "Iya Villlania is pregnant with baby number 5". GMA Network. Retrieved September 4, 2024.
- ^ "Iya: I was a virgin until wedding to Drew". ABS-CBN News. January 15, 2015. Retrieved October 30, 2017.
- ^ "Seventeen Magazine January 2005". Facebook. Retrieved June 27, 2019.
- ^ "Iya Villania: Home away from home". Philippine Entertainment Portal. June 2007. Retrieved June 27, 2019.
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ Jimenez, Joyce (October 30, 2014). "Iya Villania returns to GMA". The Philippine Star. Archived from the original on February 2, 2022. Retrieved February 2, 2022.
- ^ "Iya Villania is new Chika Minute host on 24 Oras". Rappler. June 11, 2015. Archived from the original on February 2, 2022. Retrieved February 2, 2022.
- ^ "10 Catchphrases that Caught On Locally". Spot.ph.
External links
edit- Iya Villania at IMDb