For Drew Arellano, dad of five, happiness is a choice
As the father of five children he shares with wife Iya Villania Arellano, it’s a given that TV host Drew Arellano has his hands full with work and family life. Despite this, he always seems to maintain a sunny disposition, always the one with a ready smile for the people he meets throughout the course of a day.
Drew describes his parenting style as one where his children see him as the family’s funny guy.
“Most of the time, I think the kids see me as their silly playmate, but sometimes, when needed, I have to be the disciplinarian, unfortunately,” he said. He shares responsibilities with Iya when it comes to caring for their brood that includes Primo, Leon, Alana, Astro, and Anya.
Drew credits his late father, lawyer Antonio “Aga” Arellano, for leading by example. In an earlier interview, he described his father as “hardworking (with) an unwaveringly positive mindset… one who saw the glass as half-full.”
The elder Arellano was also known as a “people person” who had the gift of making people feel comfortable, as if they had known him for a while. “I certainly got some notes on fatherhood from being one of five lucky kids to have the greatest father in the world,” Drew said.
His children could probably say the same about him. According to his son Primo, “He’s somebody I look up to. I view him as my master and idol.”
Leon said his dad is “stylish and cool.” The younger kids were more playful with their answers. “I see him fart everytime and I see him fart at Mama,” Alana said.
Astro quipped, “Not Among Us,” perhaps a reference to the popular online game, while Anya, the baby of the family, joked, “gaguuuuu.”
Drew loves being a dad and makes it a point to let his children know it, admitting that he “constantly verbalizes and shows his love for the little critters.”
Father knows best
If there’s one lesson his father taught him that Drew wants his children to know, it’s that happiness is a choice.
“Choosing to be happy became my compass because it helped me measure decisions not by what looked impressive, but by what created a life I genuinely wanted to live. It reminded me that happiness isn’t the destination at the end of success — it is a principle that can guide the journey itself,” he said.
It’s rather fitting that Drew likens happiness to a journey. For thirteen years and counting, he has hosted “Biyahe ni Drew,” a travel docu-series that premiered on GMA News TV (now called GTV) in 2013. In each episode, he explores local and international destinations where he highlights culture, food and budget-friendly activities.
Produced by GMA Public Affairs, the show and its host have been nominated and have gone on to win multiple awards since it first aired. For the past two years (2024 and 2025), “Biyahe ni Drew” won as the National Winner in the Best Lifestyle Program at the Asian Academy Creative Awards. Notably, Drew is a Makabata Hall of Fame awardee for the Anak TV Awards.
Like everyone else, however, Drew’s life hasn’t always been smooth sailing. When that happens, he remembers what his father taught him about happiness being a state of mind.
Asked what advice he can give to men who are about to become fathers themselves, he had this to share: “Your children don’t need a perfect father. They need a father who is present, loving, dependable and willing to grow alongside them.”
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