Drew Arellano
Drew Arellano would rather be out exploring the world than get stuck at an office desk. As luck would have it, he ended up becoming a travel show host. “Biyahe ni Drew’’ is currently celebrating its 10th year on air. While the job can be exhausting at times, there’s nothing quite like creating new and memorable experiences every week.
“Sometimes, I feel old when I realize that I have been doing this for 10 years now and have taped over 500 episodes. The shoots can be tiring. But they’re always fulfilling. I feel blessed,” he told the Inquirer in a video conference for “Biyahe ni Drew’s” anniversary episodes.
“You do new things every week. And that’s a big deal for me. Even if there are difficulties—lack of sleep, movement restrictions or whatever that comes our way, I’m still happy I don’t have to be stuck with an office job. It’s a pretty cool feeling to host a travel show. I think a lot of people would love to have this same opportunity.”
“Biyahe ni Drew’s’ two-day special, which premiered last July 2 and continues this Sunday, July 9, at 8:15 p.m., had Drew bringing along his wife, Iya Villania, to South Korea for an adventure in some of the country’s most scenic spots.
The couple also immersed themselves in Korean pop culture, visiting K-pop and K-drama-related locations like the BTS Bus stop in Gangneum City and a set of the popular series “Goblin.” “We have never featured that side of Korea before. K-pop and K-dramas are such a phenomenon. There’s a craze. And one of our goals is to share these experiences with viewers,” he said.
But beyond featuring picturesque natural landscapes or mouthwatering food trips, “Biyahe ni Drew” has also been advocating for sustainable tourism.
“We always promote and feature people, places and initiatives that highlight and practice sustainability. We try to become a medium for their cause. By featuring them on television, we hope that viewers can learn from them. We hope not only to travel, but also to practice sustainable tourism,” he said.
With the easing of travel restrictions, Drew has noticed that more and more people are eager to do “revenge traveling.” What piece of advice can he give travelers, especially those venturing out of their cities or countries for the first time?
“There are people who prefer peace and quiet. Some people want loud adventures. When you’re traveling to a place you have never been to, it’s important to keep an open mind. You have to be open to trying new stuff, food and meeting people,” he said. “That would make your trip more memorable. And I think that’s what all of us want.”
But as fun and rewarding traveling is, Drew always finds comfort in knowing that he has a loving family to go home to. He has four children with Iya: Primo, 6; Leon, 4; Alana, 2; and Astro, 1.
“We usually tape the show on Wednesdays and Thursdays. And it’s hard being away from my kids and family. Just a few hours after I leave, I check my phone and look at their photos and videos. That means that I’m already missing them. So it’s also great to come home to them after work,” he said.