Iya Villania facts for kids

Raelene Elaine "Iya" Villania-Arellano (born June 29, 1986) is a talented Filipino-Australian singer, actress, model, dancer, and TV host. She became well-known for her work as a VJ on the music channel Myx. She also anchored the Chika Minute news segment on GMA's main evening news show, 24 Oras.

Early Life and Family

Iya Villania was born in Sydney, Australia, on June 29, 1986. She is the youngest of three children. Her parents, Ray Villania and Elena Nada Ebaler, are both Filipino.

Iya's love for music began when she was young, inspired by her father singing karaoke. She was part of a band in Australia called Iron & Clay. This band performed in schools and churches, talking about important topics like bullying and self-esteem.

Later, Iya moved to the Philippines. She went to high school at Colegio San Agustin in Makati and finished in 2004. She then studied psychology at De La Salle University – Manila, graduating in December 2008.

Iya's Family Life

In 2004, Iya started dating fellow TV host Drew Arellano. They got married in Nasugbu, Batangas, in January 2014. They now have five children: Antonio Primo (born 2016), Alonzo Leon (born 2018), Alana Lauren (born 2020), Astro Phoenix (born 2022), and Anya Love (born 2025).

Iya was raised in the Seventh-day Adventist Church. In January 2022, Iya, Drew, and their three children at the time, all tested positive for COVID-19.

Iya's Entertainment Career

Iya Villania's first TV appearance in the Philippines was in 2003 on the IBC show "Game Channel." Her popularity grew, and GMA Network noticed her. They cast her in the daytime drama Walang Hanggan. She also played Sydney Torres in the popular teen series Click.

Moving to ABS-CBN

In 2004, Iya moved to GMA's rival network, ABS-CBN. She became one of the new VJs for their music channel Myx, a job she held for 10 years. She also regularly appeared on the variety show ASAP.

Iya's first movie role was in the 2004 drama "A Beautiful Life." She also appeared in the historical film Aishite Imasu 1941: Mahal Kita that same year. She hosted many shows at ABS-CBN, including the game show Wowowee (2005-2006) and the dance competition U Can Dance (2006-2007). She also hosted I Dare You in 2011 and was a host on the morning show Umagang Kay Ganda for two years. From 2006 to 2012, Iya hosted the lifestyle program Us Girls on Studio 23. In 2008, she released her first music album, Finally!, with Viva Records.

Return to GMA Network

Iya signed a new contract with GMA Network in October 2014, marking her return after a decade with ABS-CBN. She joined the variety show Sunday All Stars (2013–2015). In June 2015, she became the Chika Minute segment anchor for the newscast 24 Oras, taking over from Pia Guanio. Iya prepared for this role by reading tabloids to improve her Filipino vocabulary. She had previously filled in as a guest anchor for the segment.

Discography

• Finally! (2008)

Filmography

Movies

Television Shows

See also

In Spanish: Iya Villania para niños