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Iya Villania

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Iya Villania-Arellano
Born
Raelene Elaine Villania[a]

(1986-06-29) June 29, 1986 (age 38)
Sydney, Australia
Occupations
  • Singer
  • actress
  • model
  • dancer
  • television presenter
Years active2002–present
Agents
Spouse
​
(m. 2014)​
Children5
RelativesAntonio Arellano (father-in-law)
Bernadette Estrella Arellano (mother-in-law)
Conrado F. Estrella Sr. (grandfather-in-law)
Conrado M. Estrella III (cousin-in-law)

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.

Early and personal life

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Raelene 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

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Villania'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]

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She 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

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Filmography

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Film

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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

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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

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  1. ^ a b Iya Villania was born in Australia. Thus, she does not possess her mother's maiden name which is Ebaler.

References

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  1. ^ 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.
  2. ^ 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.
  3. ^ "Iya Villania Biography". TV Guide. Archived from the original on September 25, 2017. Retrieved May 6, 2018.
  4. ^ Lo, Ricky (October 29, 2008). "So who broke Iya's heart?". The Philippine Star. Retrieved March 27, 2016.
  5. ^ Dimaculangan, Jocelyn (March 4, 2008). "RP showbiz personalities who excel academically". GMA News. GMA Network Inc. Retrieved March 27, 2016.
  6. ^ 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.
  7. ^ 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.
  8. ^ "Look: Iya Villania, Drew Arellano welcome son". Rappler. August 30, 2016. Archived from the original on January 31, 2022. Retrieved January 31, 2022.
  9. ^ "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.
  10. ^ "Iya Villania and Drew Arellano welcome baby girl". Rappler. July 18, 2020. Archived from the original on January 31, 2022. Retrieved January 31, 2022.
  11. ^ "Iya Villania, Drew Arellano welcome fourth child". CNN Philippines. June 4, 2022. Archived from the original on June 4, 2022. Retrieved June 4, 2022.
  12. ^ Kang, Kristine (September 4, 2024). "Iya Villlania is pregnant with baby number 5". GMA Network. Retrieved September 4, 2024.
  13. ^ "Iya: I was a virgin until wedding to Drew". ABS-CBN News. January 15, 2015. Retrieved October 30, 2017.
  14. ^ "Seventeen Magazine January 2005". Facebook. Retrieved June 27, 2019.
  15. ^ "Iya Villania: Home away from home". Philippine Entertainment Portal. June 2007. Retrieved June 27, 2019.
  16. ^ 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.
  17. ^ 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.
  18. ^ 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.
  19. ^ 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.
  20. ^ "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.
  21. ^ "10 Catchphrases that Caught On Locally". Spot.ph.
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