MANILA, Philippines - “It’s nice to be back here,” answered Iya Villania when asked about her homecoming to GMA 7, where she starred in its youth-oriented show Click and appeared in shows such as Bubble Gang, Walang Hanggan and S.O.P. Gigsters. “There’s a whole new generation of artists na. There are new friends to make, there are new places and faces I have to familiarize myself with. It’s gonna be a huge change. I guess change is the only permanent (thing) in this world. It’s nice to make new friends. It’s nice to be back.”
According to manager Arnold Vegafria, Iya’s transfer to the Kapuso network was because the latter’s contract with ABS-CBN ended already.
Iya will be seen first as Kapuso star in Sunday All Stars this coming Sunday.
On working with husband Drew Arellano and her decision to transfer to the Kapuso network:
“I hope we’ll have a show together; so we get to work together,” she says. “I wouldn’t say he’s a huge part as to why I decided to come back. But of course, he knows all about this. When we were negotiating and I was coming to terms with coming back here, of course, siya talaga yung kausap ko.”
On TV assignments that Iya would do:
“No specific titles just yet. In terms of what I’ll be doing, yes may mga naka-line-up na. I love dancing and sports. I really wouldn’t mind getting rough and dirty,” she says. Given her varied interests that also include singing and acting, Iya will make a perfect lifestyle show host on GMA News TV or a variety show host on GMA 7. If ever she does a teleserye, Iya says she would love to work with Rafael Rosell and Dennis Trillo, whom she co-starred in the movie Pamahiin. “I’m game for anyone,” she adds.
On parting with ABS-CBN and missing ASAP:
“It was sad,” she says. “(Doing ASAP) is definitely something I will immensely miss. That was my family for 10 years. And that’s where I made real friends na kahit sa labas ng work nagkikita pa rin kami. It’s just a routine. It was a routine that I was happy with. Every Friday and Saturday, I learned my dances. Every June, come my birthday, I would have a buwis buhay number. These were the things I got used to doing and I was happy doing. Yun lang, just to break that routine.”