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Manila Bulletin devider Entertainment devider Celebrities devider 'Ultimate biyahero' Drew Arellano hopes to feature in his travel show this spectacular place in the Philippines

'Ultimate biyahero' Drew Arellano hopes to feature in his travel show this spectacular place in the Philippines

Published Jun 29, 2023 11:51 pm

Drew Arellano


Award-winning host Drew Arellano has been to many exciting places here and abroad. But if there's a place he wants to visit and be featured in his travel show, it's Tawi-Tawi in Mindanao. "Top of mind would be Tawi-Tawi. I've never been there. A good friend of mine went there already. And I saw the videos and it's spectacular. And we've never been there before. So hopefully, bibigyan na kami ng go-signal ng mga boss namin," said Drew, during a Zoom press conference for the 10th anniversary of his travel show "Biyahe ni Drew" recently. Asked about one of the biggest challenges in hosting a travel show, Drew answered: "The biggest challenge as a father would be time away from the kids. Normally my schedule for the travel show is two days. So I take Wednesday and Thursday and then I get back to my family. The hardest thing would always be not being with them physically." Drew, 43, is married to fellow Kapuso personality Iya Villania. They have four kids. The "ultimate biyahero" also announced that a line-up of thrilling surprises awaits all budget-conscious and adventure-seeking biyaheros "Biyahe ni Drew" celebrates its 10th anniversary with back-to-back specials in South Korea airing this July 2 and July 9 on GTV.

Drew Arellano and Iya Villania-Arellano in South Korea

 
The two-part anniversary episode is made more special as Drew's wife Iya joins him in exploring and discovering the wonders and hidden gems of South Korea.  Viewers should definitely not miss out as the couple tries the most sumptuous Korean dishes, explores Korean beauty, and visits the most talked-about places including a popular BTS bus stop and a film location of the hit K-drama series “Goblin.” “We want viewers to have the chance to experience South Korea, most especially *maraming Pilipino ang* KPop and KDrama fans. Once we air the episode, automatic *na iisipin nila na* they want to experience what we have shown *sa* “Biyahe ni Drew” as we will give them options that will be useful when they travel,” shared Drew. Since 2013, ‘Biyahe ni Drew’ has established itself as the definitive travel magazine show on television. The program has proudly featured all the regions of the Philippines and has visited at least 14 countries — from Asian neighbors like Japan and Singapore, to parts of the Middle East like Jordan and Israel, to countries in Africa like Kenya, Zimbabwe and Zambia. As a host who is naturally always game for everything, Drew has tried all sorts of thrilling and extreme adventures including skydiving, free diving, scuba diving, rock climbing, canyoneering, e-foiling, surfing, paragliding, and climbing a vertical bivouac.  He has also communed with nature in so many ways — swimming with sharks, whale sharks, sea turtles, and millions of sardines, as well as dolphin watching, bat watching, and many more. Aside from showcasing must-see places and featuring all sorts of things-to-do on a trip, ‘Biyahe ni Drew’ more importantly advocates for responsible travel, sustainable tourism, respect for local culture, and an appreciation for the locals and hardworking members of the tourism industry. As the host of “Biyahe ni Drew” for a decade and counting, Drew has definitely made a mark as the “ultimate biyahero.” “I feel proud [being regarded as the “ultimate biyahero”] because it’s not just me – it’s mostly my team. It’s such an honor to host a travel show for this long, and to experience so many beautiful places, to eat so much good food, and to meet interesting people along the way. If I could do this for another 10 years, that would be awesome,” he said. On the longevity of the program, Drew said: "Sometimes I feel old. You realize na matagal na pala namin itong ginagawa. You feel old and at the same time you feel blessed because even though some shoots are tiring, it's always fulfilling. Kahit na maraming challenges, iniisip ko pa rin na hindi kami stuck sa office job, pasensya na sa may mga office job. It's still a pretty cool feeling to host a travel show. I think a lot of people would kill to take my place as a travel show host." This 2023, local travel will remain at the forefront of ‘Biyahe ni Drew’ adventures as it continues to promote Philippine tourism. In addition, the show will also return to traveling abroad this year as it heads to Bali, Indonesia for a budget-friendly and Instagram-worthy cultural immersion.  The team is also set to visit Hanoi, Vietnam where Drew will be joined by another surprise celebrity guest. Catch ‘Biyahe ni Drew’ every Sunday, 8:15 PM on GTV. Global Pinoys can watch it via GMA International channel, GMA Life TV.
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