The Lucky One

Drew Arellano Is Proof Positive That Thinking Happy Thoughts and Pursuing Your Passions Is the Way to Go.

- Maan D' Asis Pamaran

Aside from Bruno Mars, there is another guy who can legitimately use the hashtag “blessed” without getting flak—Drew Arellano. The GMA network host, triathlete, entrepreneur, husband to hottie Iya Villania, and new dad is definitely on a roll. This guy used the word “lucky” to describe himself several times in the course of the interview.

He arrives at the FHM photo shoot bright and chipper, especially for someone who has just come from a triathlon meet. While others would probably still be in bed groaning with pain, he was able to do ab crunches in front of the cam, and it was only after the shoot that he told staff that his feet were blistered from not wearing socks during the swim/bike/run race. “They will slow you down,” he explains.

Slowing down is not on his agenda anytime soon, especially since he now has more inspiration in his life, his son Primo.

What does it feel like to be a dad? 

Primo is such a bundle of joy. I don’t know how best to describe the feeling, but the house is always in a very good mood. I was there when Iya gave birth. It was funny; it was everything I expected it to be. Visually, you think it is not the most beautiful thing, but it actually was. I was just focused on the baby and not anything else. I was thinking the whole time, ‘oh my God, this is it!’ 

Some dads swap the abs for a dadbod when they start having kids. You don’t seem to be in any danger of that.