Iya Villania

Filipino-Australian singer, actress, model, dancer, and television presenter

Iya Villania

Born|

Raelene Elaine Villania[a]

(1986-06-29) June 29, 1986 (age 39)

Sydney, Australia

Occupations|

* Singer
* actress
* model
* dancer
* television presenter

Years active| 2002–present
Agents|

* Sparkle GMA Artist Center (2002–2004; 2014–present)
* Star Magic (2004–2014)

Spouse|

Drew Arellano

(m. 2014)​

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)

Raelene Elaine "Iya" Villania-Arellano[a] (born June 29, 1986), (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 segment anchor in GMA's primetime newscast 24 Oras.

## Early and personal life

[edit]

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 moved 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 five children: Antonio Primo (born 2016),[8] Alonzo Leon (born 2018),[9] Alana Lauren (born 2020),[10] Astro Phoenix (born 2022),[11] and Anya Love (born 2025).[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

[edit]

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. Iya was chosen from a group of 15 individuals, as she contacted Guanio to secure that role during Iya's audition.[20] Initially having doubts about the Tagalog language, she prepared for her role by reading tabloids to learn more Filipino words. She previously acted as that segment's guest anchor to substitute Guanio before her departure.[21]

## Popular culture

[edit]

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!".[22]

## Discography

[edit]

* Finally! (2008)

## Filmography

[edit]

### Film

[edit]

Year  | Title  | Role

|
|

2004  | A Beautiful Life | Janice
Aishite Imasu 1941: Mahal Kita | Julia
Spirit of the Glass |
2005  | Exodus: Tales from the Enchanted Kingdom | Lin-Ay
2006  | Pamahiin | Eileen
2007  | Paano Kita Iibigin | Tessa
2009  | When I Met U | Tracy
Shake, Rattle & Roll 11 | Lia †

### Television

[edit]

Year | Title | Role

|
|

2003  | Kahit Kailan | Marjorie
2003–2004  | Click | Sydney Torres
2003  | Walang Hanggan | Rachelle
Gamechannel | Game Jock
2004  | Gamechannel Extreme
SOP Gigsters | Herself / Host
ASAP Fanatic
Seasons of Love | Alex
2004–2014  | Myx | VJ
ASAP | Herself / Co-host
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
2007  | Your Song Presents: Never Knew Love Like This Before | Becca
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
OMG!
2009  | Only You | Trixie Gonzales
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
Startalk | Herself / Guest
The Ryzza Mae Show
2014–2016  | Taste Buddies | Herself / Host
2015  | Mundo ni Juan
Ang Pinaka | Herself / Guest host
2015–present  | Home Foodie | Herself / Host
24 Oras | Chika 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
Sunday PinaSaya
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

## Notes

[edit]

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

## References

[edit]

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. ^ Pasajol, Anne (February 11, 2025). "Iya Villania, Drew Arellano announce birth of baby No. 5, Anya Love". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Archived from the original on February 11, 2025. Retrieved February 11, 2025.
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. ^ Franco, Bernie V. (June 11, 2015). "Iya Villania is the new host of Chika Minute on 24 Oras". Philippine Entertainment Portal (in Tagalog). Archived from the original on June 14, 2015. Retrieved January 25, 2025.
21. ^ Esteves, Patricia (June 14, 2015). "New Chika Minute girl Iya geys pointers from Pia". The Philippine Star. Archived from the original on June 16, 2015. Retrieved February 11, 2025.
22. ^ "10 Catchphrases that Caught On Locally". Spot.ph.

## External links

[edit]

* Iya Villania at IMDb

* v
* t
* e

24 Oras

Anchor|

| Current|

* Mel Tiangco
* Vicky Morales
* Emil Sumangil
* Pia Arcangel
* Ivan Mayrina

|

Former|

* Mike Enriquez
* Jiggy Manicad

Segment anchor|

| Current|

* Iya Villania
* Kim Atienza
* Martin Javier
* Amor Larrosa
* Nelson Canlas

|

Former|

* Pia Guanio
* Grace Lee
* Luane Dy
* Nathaniel "Mang Tani" Cruz
* Cata Tibayan
* Maureen Schrijvers

Defunct regional versions|

* Bikol
* Central Visayas
* Ilokano
* North Central Luzon (2014-2015)/24 Oras Amianan
* Northern Mindanao
* Southern Mindanao/24 Oras Davao
* Western Visayas (2014-2015)/Ratsada 24 Oras

Others|

* Accolades

Authority control databases: Artists |

* MusicBrainz

|

*[m.]: married
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*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template