Drew is a Monkey. Are you?

The Monkey is, according to the horoscope, the smartest of all the Chinese animal signs, quick to learn new things and a good problem solver. Feng shui master and geomancer Joseph Chau (contact numbers: 752-5882 and 750-8888 local 2722) will tell you that Monkeys are brilliant, creative, imaginative, confident and inquisitive. They become successful in politics, banking, business, law, show business, the arts and even in the black market. They are charismatic, witty, opportunistic, tricky, manipulative and attract lots of admirers.

Drew Arellano was born on Jan. 16, 1980. He’s a Monkey – a special kind of Monkey. He has all the Monkey characteristics mentioned above, all right... and more. He has a great sense of humor and he’s forever smiling you wonder if he ever blows his top ("Very seldom," he smiles, as expected).

Since the release of that Sunsilk TV commercial where he calls his girlfriend (played by Kaye Garcia) pare, Drew has become a very familiar face, his 5’7" well-trimmed figure (thanks to quality time in the gym) drawing more attention than those taller – and, he concedes – (slightly) better-looking than him.

And he’s now in TV shows: Click and All Together Now both on GMA and Retro TV on IBC 13. He did a "special participation" in the John Prats-Heart Evangelista episode of Star Cinema’s First Romance and is now shooting the yet untitled first team-up of Aga Muhlach and Kristine Hermosa (also for Star Cinema).

"I never thought of joining showbiz," admitted the La Salle Management graduate and second to the youngest of five children of lawyer Antonio Arellano (known to listeners of RMN’s DZXL as Atty. Aga), coming after Angelo (who manages one of the Bruno’s barber shops), Andrea (a US-based doctor) and Ann-Marie (a teacher who manages the pre-school Play), and before Anton (a high schooler). "It was my manager, Tito Boy (Abunda), who encouraged me to try showbiz."

Drew (short for Andrew) was born in San Jose, California, and was only months old when he was brought to the Philippines by his parents (now separated). After coming and going, he decided to try living on his own in San Francisco after finishing college and came back to work at J. Romero’s marketing department. His world radically changed after that Sunsilk commercial.

"No regrets," Drew smiled, as expected.

So what else is this Monkey made of?

Let’s check his favorites:

• Actor: Tom Cruise ("Versatile")

• Actress: Natalie Portman ("Beautiful")

• Movie(s): The Lord of the Rings (trilogy), Life is Beautiful and Love Affair

• Singer: Dave Matthews Band, John Meyer and Michael Bublé

• Song: 41 (by Dave Matthews)

• Food: Chinese ("When not on diet")

• Pastime: Sports (Badminton, basketball and lifting weights)

• Hideaway: Tagaytay

• Perfume: Aqua de Gio, Clinique Happy, Cool Water and Polo Ralph Lauren

• Drink: Distilled water and chocolate

• Part of His Body: Teeth ("That’s why I’m always smiling!")

• Part(s) of a Girl’s Body: Neck and ankle

• Part of the House: None ("I live with my Dad and I sleep on a separate bed in a room with him")

• Time of Day: Morning ("I am an early-to-bed-early-to-rise person")

• Day of the Week: Sunday ("Rest day")

• Comic Character/Hero: Superman!

• Saint: St. Andrew ("When I was at J. Romero, I frequented the St. Andrew Church beside our office")

• Car: BMW ("My dream car. I don’t have a car now but I’m saving for a Rav4")

• Motto: Always be positive in everything you do.

Okay, Drew, smile please!

(E-mail reactions at [email protected])