Drew as host is just being himself

Drew Arellano can definitely talk up a storm. "I prefer hosting over acting," he declares. "It’s because hosting allows you to be yourself. And I am more at ease being myself rather than playing a character. But I’m open to acting roles, too."

Drew hosts Balikbayan, a travel show on QTV 11, and Unang Hirit on GMA 7. Before that, he had stint in the popular Studio 23 spoof news show Wazzup, Wazzup.

As a host, Drew discovered that the secret to effective hosting is to be yourself.

"Before I was always nervous," he recalls. "Then, I realized that the key to successful hosting is being yourself. To deliver your lines as naturally as possible." But as a TV host, Drew knows that there is a downside to it. One is waking up very early and not having enough sleep. "I have to wake up in the wee hours of the morning to be able to do Unang Hirit that airs daily."

"I need to be up and about at four o’clock," he pipes in. "And be in the studio before our 5:30 a.m. roll time. It’s okay. After the show, I get to sleep for two hours." While most young men his age are still in bed, Drew is already at the studio doing his chores. He considers the opportunity to host Unang Hirit as a privilege.

"Being part of a public affairs show is an honor," he says. "It entails tremendous responsibility." And at Unang Hirit, Drew constantly checks on himself. "I can be overly wacky at times," he says. "I learned to tone down if necessary. Flexibility is the name of the game," he says.

Drew feels home with his the Unang Hirit team. "They’re a great family. I gelled with them instantly. Everyone is supportive," he enthuses.

"It’s so funny," says Drew. "Now, I am working with my dad’s friends like Arnold Clavio." Dad is famous lawyer Aga.

Drew enjoys his "remote" assignments. "I get to meet a lot of people. And from them, I learn a lot. I also get to visit a lot of places." Drew cites an instance when he had to cover the inauguration of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. "I got inside an armored vehicle. That was my first time and it was cool."

Drew loves challenges. Once he got into bungee jumping and deep sea diving. "You just have to tell me what to do and I will do it," he exclaims.

In Balikbayan, Drew says that the show allows him to travel to places he has never been to. "It’s like you’re in a class and you are studying different peoples and different cultures. It is said that the best way to learn is to travel. That is exactly what I am doing in the show."

Working on Balikbayan is refreshing. "My perspective of things is getting wider because of it. I am also more accepting of other people in the regions kasi di ba may kanya kanyang ugali ang bawat region natin? In the show, I also learn history and that is exhilarating."

Drew is enjoying his time in both Unang Hirit and Balikbayan. He gets to travel, meet all kinds of people and be himself. And when not traveling around, Drew attends to Grupo Barbero Manila, a barber shop he set up with his dad in Tomas Morato Ave., QC.