Drew Arellano
Filipino actor and host
title: "Drew Arellano" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["1980-births", "living-people", "american-people-of-filipino-descent", "american-emigrants-to-the-philippines", "participants-in-philippine-reality-television-series", "filipino-male-film-actors", "gma-network-(company)-people", "gma-integrated-news-and-public-affairs-people", "abs-cbn-people", "radio-philippines-network-personalities", "tv5-network-people", "intercontinental-broadcasting-corporation-personalities", "filipino-television-personalities", "male-actors-from-san-jose,-california"] description: "Filipino actor and host" topic_path: "arts" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drew_Arellano" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0
::summary Filipino actor and host ::
::data[format=table title="Infobox person"]
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| name | Drew Arellano |
| nationality | Filipino American |
| birth_name | Andrew James Estrella Arellano |
| birth_place | San Jose, California, U.S. |
| birth_date | |
| education | De La Salle University (Marketing Management) |
| years_active | 2003–present |
| agent | Sparkle GMA Artist Center (since 2003) |
| occupation | Actor, host |
| spouse | |
| relatives | Robert Raymond M. Estrella (cousin) |
| Conrado B. Estrella Jr. (uncle) | |
| Conrado F. Estrella Sr. (grandfather) | |
| Conrado M. Estrella III (cousin) | |
| children | 5 |
| :: |
| name = Drew Arellano | image = | caption = | nationality = Filipino American | birth_name = Andrew James Estrella Arellano | birth_place = San Jose, California, U.S. | birth_date = | education = De La Salle University (Marketing Management) | other names = | years_active = 2003–present | height = | agent = Sparkle GMA Artist Center (since 2003) | death_date = | occupation = Actor, host | alma_mater = | website = | spouse = | relatives = Robert Raymond M. Estrella (cousin) Conrado B. Estrella Jr. (uncle) Conrado F. Estrella Sr. (grandfather) Conrado M. Estrella III (cousin) | children = 5 Andrew James Estrella Arellano (; born January 16, 1980) is a Filipino actor and host. He is one of the traveling hosts of the daily morning show, Unang Hirit and the host of informative/educational show AHA! and Biyahe ni Drew on GMA Network. He is also the host of the now defunct show Balikbayan, Weekend Gateway on GTV (formerly known as QTV/Q, and GMA News TV).
Early life and career
Arellano was born to Aga Arellano and Bernie Estrella Arellano on January 16, 1980, in San Jose, California, USA. He has two brothers and two sisters. 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). Arellano formerly worked in an advertising agency before he began his showbiz career. Arellano's first stint in showbiz on TV was in a youth-oriented show called Click, with longtime girlfriend and now wife, Iya Villania. 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. 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.
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
Arellano enjoys basketball and triathlon which has won him various medals in a triathlon competition held every year.
In 2004, Arellano began dating actress and television presenter Iya Villania. They married in Nasugbu, Batangas in January 2014. The couple have five children: Antonio Primo (born 2016), Alonzo Leon (born 2018), Alana Lauren (born 2020), Astro Phoenix (born 2022), and Anya Love (born 2025). In April 2025, Arellano underwent a vasectomy after welcoming their fifth child.
In January 2022, Arellano, alongside Villania and their three children, tested positive for COVID-19.
Filmography
Television
::data[format=table]
| Year | Title | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Comedy Island Philippines | |
| 2023 | Zero Kilometers Away | Special Participation |
| 2020 | Mars Pa More | Guest |
| 2020 | New Normal: The Survival Guide | Host |
| 2018 | Mars | Guest |
| 2017 | People vs. the Stars | Host |
| -- | Home Foodie | |
| -- | Sunday All Stars | Guest |
| 2014 | Don't Lose the Money | Contestant |
| 2015 | Sabado Badoo | Cameo Role |
| Wasak | Guest | |
| 2017 | Sunday PinaSaya | Guest |
| Bogart Case Files | Guest | |
| Boys Ride Out | ||
| Network News | ||
| -- | Bonakid Pre-School's Ready Set Laban | |
| 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 | ||
| 2010–2025 | 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 | |
| Weekend Getaway | ||
| -- | May Trabaho Ka! | Guest |
| Balikbayan | ||
| -- | Stoplight TV | |
| Paghilom | ||
| -- | Auto Extreme | |
| Basketball Show | Guest | |
| 2003 | Retro TV | Host |
| 2004–2006 | Wazzup Wazzup | |
| Points of View | Host | |
| Matanglawin | Cameo Role | |
| :: |
Film
- Spirit of the Glass (2004, OctoArts Films)
- My First Romance (2003, Star Cinema)
Awards and nominations
::data[format=table]
| Year | Award giving body | Category | Nominated work | Results |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | 19th PMPC Star Awards for Television | Best Morning Show Hosts | Unang Hirit | |
| 2006 | 20th PMPC Star Awards for Television | |||
| 2007 | 21st PMPC Star Awards for Television | |||
| 2008 | 22nd PMPC Star Awards for Television | Best Talent Search Program (with Karel Marquez) | "Coca-Cola's Ride To Fame Yes To Dream" | |
| Best Travel Show Host | Balikbayan | |||
| Best Morning Show Hosts | Unang Hirit | |||
| 2009 | 23rd PMPC Star Awards for Television | Best Travel Host | Balikbayan | |
| 2010 | 24th PMPC Star Awards for Television | |||
| 2015 | 29th PMPC Star Awards for Television | Best Travel Host | Biyahe ni Drew | |
| 2016 | 30th PMPC Star Awards for Television | |||
| 2017 | UP's Gandingan Awards 2017 | Gandingan ng Edukasyon | AHA! | |
| Gandingan ng Kalikasan | Biyahe ni Drew | |||
| 31st PMPC Star Awards for Television | Best Travel Show Host | |||
| :: |
Notes
References
References
- [https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VGSW-VNM California Birth Index, 1905-1995]
- "Drew Arellano: Biography".
- Bombarda, Angel. (November 12, 2012). "Drew Arellano: The Perks of being a Professional Traveller". GMA News.
- Tantengco, Cristina. (March 31, 2014). "Best trip ever: Drew Arellano's 'Biyahe ni Bibiboy 8=D---*' itinerary to Moalboal, Cebu". GMA News.
- Geli, Bianca. (October 8, 2014). "Drew Arellano gives tips for triathlon newbies". Philippine Entertainment Portal.
- San Diego, Bayani. (April 8, 2012). "Drew Arellano: Marathon man". Philippine Daily Inquirer.
- Lo, Ricky. (October 29, 2008). "So who broke Iya's heart?".
- de Jesus, Julliane Love. (January 31, 2014). "Iya Villania, Drew Arellano finally tie the knot". [[Philippine Daily Inquirer]].
- (August 30, 2016). "Look: Iya Villania, Drew Arellano welcome son".
- (August 19, 2018). "Look: Iya Villania, Drew Arellano welcome 2nd son Leon".
- (July 18, 2020). "Iya Villania and Drew Arellano welcome baby girl".
- (June 4, 2022). "Iya Villania, Drew Arellano welcome fourth child".
- Pasajol, Anne. (February 11, 2025). "Iya Villania, Drew Arellano announce birth of baby No. 5, Anya Love". [[Philippine Daily Inquirer]].
- (April 28, 2025). "Drew Arellano gets a vasectomy".
- Kingsu-Cheng, Jane. (January 11, 2022). "Iya Villania, Drew Arellano test positive for COVID-19". [[Philippine Daily Inquirer]].
- Cruz, Dana. (January 13, 2022). "Iya Villania, Drew Arellano's 3-year-old son tests positive for COVID-19".
- Plaza, Marane A.. (January 22, 2022). "Iya Villania back on ''24 Oras'' after bout with COVID-19".
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