# Iya Villania

Raelene Elaine Villania-Arellano (born June 29, 1986), known professionally as Iya Villania-Arellano (Tagalog:), is a Filipino-Australian 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. She was raised by Filipino parents, Ray Villania and Elena Nada Ebaler. 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 returned 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: Antonio Primo (born 2016), Alonzo Leon (born 2018), Alana Lauren (born 2020), Astro Phoenix (born 2022), and Anya Love (born 2025).
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". She was raised in the Seventh-day Adventist Church. 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's saying "Heller!".

## Discography

* Finally! (2008)

## Filmography
### Film

| Year | Title | Role | Studio |
| 2004 | A Beautiful Life | Janice | Regal Entertainment |
| 2004 | Aishite Imasu 1941: Mahal Kita | Julia | Regal Entertainment |
| 2004 | Spirit of the Glass | | OctoArts Films |
| 2005 | Exodus: Tales from the Enchanted Kingdom | Lin-Ay | Enchanted Kingdom, Ignite Media, Imus Productions |
| 2006 | Pamahiin | Eileen | Regal Entertainment |
| 2007 | Paano Kita Iibigin | Tessa | Star Cinema, Viva Films |
| 2009 | When I Met U | Tracy | GMA Films, Regal Entertainment |
| 2009 | Shake, Rattle & Roll 11 | Lia † | Regal Entertainment |

### Television

| Year | Title | Role | Network |
| 2003 | Kahit Kailan | Marjorie | GMA Network |
| 2003–2004 | Click | Sydney Torres | GMA Network |
| 2003 | Walang Hanggan | Rachelle | GMA Network |
| 2003 | Gamechannel | Game Jock | IBC |
| 2004 | Gamechannel Extreme | Game Jock | ABC |
| 2004 | SOP Gigsters | Herself / Host | GMA Network |
| 2004 | ASAP Fanatic | Herself / Host | ABS-CBN |
| 2004 | Seasons of Love | Alex | ABS-CBN |
| 2004–2014 | Myx | VJ | Myx |
| 2004–2014 | ASAP | Herself / Co-host | ABS-CBN |
| 2005–2006 | Wowowee | Herself / Co-host | ABS-CBN |
| 2006 | U Can Dance | Herself / Host | ABS-CBN |
| 2006 | Komiks Presents: Da Adventures of Pedro Penduko | Budlis | ABS-CBN |
| 2006 | Your Song Presents: Narda | Lea | ABS-CBN |
| 2006–2012 | Us Girls | Herself / Host | Studio 23 |
| 2007 | Your Song Presents: Never Knew Love Like This Before | Becca | ABS-CBN |
| 2007 | U Can Dance Ver. 2 | Herself / Host | ABS-CBN |
| 2007 | Love Spell Presents: Ellay Enchanted | Cast Member | ABS-CBN |
| 2007 | Mars Ravelo's Lastikman | Yellena White | ABS-CBN |
| 2008 | Palmolive Shining Circle of 10: Batch 2008 | Herself / Host | ABS-CBN |
| 2008 | Mysmatch | Herself / Host | TV5 |
| 2008 | OMG! | Herself / Host | TV5 |
| 2009 | Only You | Trixie Gonzales | ABS-CBN |
| 2010 | Precious Hearts Romances Presents: Kristine | Scarlett Saavedra | ABS-CBN |
| 2011–2012 | It's Showtime | Herself / Guest | ABS-CBN |
| 2011 | I Dare You | | ABS-CBN |
| 2011 | Pilipinas Got Talent (season 2) | Herself / Guest Host | ABS-CBN |
| 2011–2013 | Umagang Kay Ganda | Herself / Host | ABS-CBN |
| 2013 | Apoy sa Dagat | Helena Redentor | ABS-CBN |
| 2014 | Sunday All Stars | Herself / Host / Performer | GMA Network |
| 2014 | Startalk | Herself / Guest | GMA Network |
| 2014 | The Ryzza Mae Show | Herself / Guest | GMA Network |
| 2014–2016 | Taste Buddies | Herself / Host | GMA News TV |
| 2015 | Mundo ni Juan | Herself / Host | GMA Network |
| 2015 | Ang Pinaka | Herself / Guest host | GMA News TV |
| 2015–present | Home Foodie | Herself / Host | GMA Network |
| 2015–present | 24 Oras | Chika Minute segment anchor | GMA Network |
| 2015 | Sunday PinaSaya | Herself / Guest | GMA Network |
| 2015–2016 | Because of You | Rebecca Reyes | GMA Network |
| 2016 | Yan ang Morning! | Herself / Guest | GMA Network |
| 2016 | Lip Sync Battle Philippines | Herself / Host | GMA Network |
| 2017 | People vs. the Stars | Herself / Host | GMA Network |
| 2017 | Mars | Herself / Guest | GMA News TV |
| 2017 | Sunday PinaSaya | Herself / Guest | GMA Network |
| 2017–2018 | My Korean Jagiya | Kennedy Santos | GMA Network |
| 2017 | All Star Videoke | Herself / Host | GMA Network |
| 2019–2022 | Mars Pa More | Herself / Host | GMA Network |
| 2019 | Tunay na Buhay | Herself / Guest | GMA Network |
| 2023 | Zero Kilometers Away | Special Participation | YouTube |