Iya Villania
| Iya Villania | |
|---|---|
| Born |
Raelene Elaine Villania-Arellano[fn 1] June 29, 1986 Camperdown, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia |
| Nationality | Filipino Australian |
| Occupation | Actress, host, model, singer |
| Years active | 2002–present |
| Spouse(s) | Drew Arellano (m. 2014) |
Raelene Elaine "Iya" Villania-Arellano[fn 1] (born 29 June 1986), better known as Iya Villania, is an Australian-Filipino television presenter and actress.[1] She has been widely known for her work as a VJ in the music channel MYX.
Early life
Villania was born and raised in Sydney, Australia. Her parents, Ray and Elena Villania, are of Filipino descent. The youngest of three siblings, she has two older sisters named Rhoda and Sheila. Villania's interest in music started when her father sang karaoke when she was a child. As a teenager, she returned to the Philippines and went to high school in Colegio San Agustin in Makati, graduating in March 2004.[2] She attended college at De La Salle University – Manila majoring in psychology and graduated in February 2009.[3] On January 31, 2014, she married her boyfriend of ten years, television host Drew Arellano, in Meditation Point, Kawayan Cove, Nasugbu, Batangas.[4] In March 2016, the couple announced through Instagram that they were expecting their first child.[5]
Career
Beginnings in Game Channel and GMA-7
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.
Move to ABS-CBN and MYX VJ career
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 briefly co-hosting the noontime game show Wowowee in 2005, 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.
Return to GMA-7 and present career
After finishing her supporting stint in the short-lived primetime series "Apoy sa Dagat", Villania took the rest of 2013 as a break. In early 2014, she announced her return to GMA Network and then appeared on the weekend musical variety show Sunday All Stars. She was initially rumored to have been considered to be the new host for the reality talent competition StarStruck but these reports were proven false when Megan Young was announced by the network to be the new host. On June 11, 2015, the top-rating nightly news program 24 Oras announced that Villania is taking over the showbiz anchor slot taking over for the show's entertainment correspondent of 11 years Pia Guanio.
Filmography
Television
| Year | Title | Role | Network |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | Lip Sync Battle Philippines | Host | GMA Network |
| Princess in the Palace | Helen | ||
| 2015 | Because of You | Rebecca Reyes | |
| Sunday PinaSaya | Herself / Guest | ||
| 24 Oras | Chika Minute segment host | ||
| Ang Pinaka | Guest Host | GMA News TV | |
| Mundo Ni Juan | Host | GMA Network | |
| 2014 | Taste Buddies | GMA News TV | |
| 2014 | The Ryzza Mae Show | Herself / Guest | GMA Network |
| Sunday All Stars | Herself / Host / Performer | ||
| 2013 | Apoy Sa Dagat | Helena Redentor | ABS-CBN |
| 2011/2013 | Umagang Kay Ganda | Herself / Host | |
| 2011 | I Dare You | ||
| 2011/2012 | It's Showtime | Guest | |
| 2010 | Precious Hearts Romances Presents: Kristine | Scarlett Saavedra | |
| 2009 | Only You | Trixie Gonzales | |
| 2008 | OMG! | Host | TV5 |
| Mysmatch | |||
| Palmolive Shining Circle of 10: Batch 2008 | ABS-CBN | ||
| 2007 | Mars Ravelo's Lastikman | Yellena White | |
| Love Spell Presents: Ellay Enchanted | Cast Mmember | ||
| U Can Dance Ver. 2 | Host | ||
| Your Song Presents: Never Knew Love Like This Before | Becca | ||
| 2006/2012 | Us Girls | Host | Studio 23 |
| 2006 | Your Song Presents: Narda | Lea | ABS-CBN |
| Komiks Presents: Da Adventures of Pedro Penduko | Budlis | ||
| U Can Dance | Host | ||
| 2005/2006 | Wowowee | Co-Host | |
| 2004/2014 | ASAP | ||
| MYX | VJ | MYX | |
| 2004 | Seasons of Love | Alex | ABS-CBN |
| ASAP Fanatic | Host | ||
| SOP Gigsters | GMA Network | ||
| Gamechannel Extreme | Game Jock | ABC | |
| 2003 | Gamechannel | IBC | |
| Click | Sydney Torres | GMA Network | |
| Walang Hanggan | Rachelle |
Films
| Year | Title | Role | Studio |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | Flores De Mara | ||
| Shake, Rattle & Roll 11 | Lia † | Regal Entertainment, Inc./Regal Multimedia, Inc. | |
| When I Met U | Tracy | GMA Films, Regal Entertainment | |
| 2007 | Paano Kita Iibigin | Tessa | Star Cinema, Viva Films |
| 2006 | Pamahiin | Eileen | Regal Entertainment |
| 2005 | Exodus: Tales from the Enchanted Kingdom | Lin-Ay | Enchanted Kingdom, Ignite Media, Imus Productions |
| 2004 | Aishite Imasu 1941: Mahal Kita | Julia | Regal Films |
| A Beautiful Life | Janice | ||
Music videos
| Year | Song | Album |
|---|---|---|
| 2009 | "I Never Cry" | Finally! |
| 2008 | "My First Broken Heart" | Finally! |
| 2006 | "Good To Be Me" | Rose Online Original Soundtrack |
| 2005 | "Almost Paradise" | Footloose: The Musicale Original Soundtrack |
Endorsements
| Year | Brand | Company |
|---|---|---|
| 2014 | Kopiko Blanca | Kopiko Coffee |
| 2013 | Tencent Holdings, P&G |
Notes
References
- ↑ Iya Villania wants to marry Drew Arellano "MANILA, Philippines -- Iya Villania is confident that her 9-year relationship with Drew Arellano will eventually lead to marriage. In an interview on late-night newscast "Bandila" aired Friday, the Kapamilya singer-host belied rumors that she and Arellano have already secretly married."
- ↑ Lo, Ricky (29 October 2008). "So who broke Iya's heart?". The Philippine Star. Retrieved 27 March 2016.
- ↑ Dimaculangan, Jocelyn (4 March 2008). "RP showbiz personalities who excel academically". GMA News Online (GMA Network Inc.). Retrieved 27 March 2016.
- ↑ "WATCH: Drew Arellano and Iya Villania's wedding film". Rappler. 6 February 2015. Retrieved 27 March 2016.
- ↑ "Iya Villania, Drew Arellano expecting first child". Rappler. 27 March 2016. Retrieved 27 March 2016.