Iya Villania

Raelene Elaine "Iya" Villania-Arellano (born June 29, 1986), , is a Filipino 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 Raelene Elaine Villania, the last of three siblings, was born on June 29, 1986, in Sydney, Australia. 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. She attended college at De La Salle University – Manila majoring in psychology and graduated on December 16, 2008.

In 2004, Villania began dating television presenter Drew Arellano. They married in Nasugbu, Batangas in January 2014. The couple have five children.

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". Raised in the Seventh-day Adventist Church, she is now a practicing Evangelical Christian.

In January 2022, Villania, alongside Arellano and their three children, tested positive for COVID-19.

Career 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. 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. 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.

Popular culture 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 is saying "Heller!".

Discography Finally! (2008)

Filmography Film 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 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 My Myx VJ Myx Hit Chart Myx Versions 2004–2009 OPM Myx 2004–2014 Pop Myx ASAP Herself / Co-host 2005–2006 Wowowee 2005–2014 Myx News VJ 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 2009–2014 Pinoy Myx VJ 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