How is Drew Arellano as a dad?
Just like his wife Iya Villania, the Kapuso host in equally hands-on as a first-time dad.
Drew was one of the celebrity guests at the Babyflo booth during the recent 55th Philippine Pediatric Society Annual Convention last April 19.
PEP.ph (Philippine Entertainment Portal) had a chance to sit down with him to talk about his experiences as a dad to their one-year-old bundle of joy, Primo.
Drew began, “I’m a first-time father so, initially, it was a challenge for both Iya and I. But I guess experience is the best education.
“Of course, initially, we weren’t doing stuff right, but eventually we kinda adjusted.
“Because you keep doing it, parang napa-practice ka, nahahasa ka.
“Hopefully, parang nag-improve naman ako as a father.
“There’s nothing like a first for my son and myself.
“I think yun yung pinaka-importante dun in terms of learning from one another.
“It was a challenge at first.
“It’s still a challenge now, but it’s easier. It’s more fluid.”
Does seeing Primo remind him of how he used to be as a young toddler?
He admitted, “Makulit ako nung bata ako, I remember.
“I’m not sure e kasi di ko na maalala kung anong edad ko that time. Makulit din ako, I think.
“Feeling ko, well, makulit si Primo dahil makulit lang din lahat ng tao sa bahay.
“So, I think it's a playful environment. It’s just a happy environment.
“Hopefully, we’re doing something right. Hopefully, yung pag-mold sa personality niya ay maganda.”
FAST LEARNER. Unlike most parents who become too alarmed when their babies tend to get into precarious situations where they could get hurt, Drew and Iya seem to be more relaxed and welcome such incidents as learning experiences.
Between the two of them, he's actually the more jumpy parent.
He confessed, “Nagulat nga ako, e, actually. Kasi, initially, ako yung, 'Oh! Oh! Oh! Oh!'
“Siyempre, first baby, e.
“Pero si Iya was like, 'No, he has to learn.'
“So, whenever naiipit siya, ako yung, 'Oh, naiipit siya!'
“Kung maipit siya, alam na niya yung consequences, alam na niya yung pain and everything.
“True enough, medyo yung transition ni Bugoy [Primo] in learning became faster.
“Mas naging madali yung pagpapalaki.”
TIME MANAGEMENT. With his and Iya's hectic showbiz schedules, how do they manage their parenting duties?
Drew said, “Si Iya kasi has 24 Oras.
“Yun yung permanent schedule niya. E, now may Lip Sync [Battle Philippines] pa siya.
“But usually on a daily basis, aalis na 'yan ng bahay ng 5pm.
“So most of the time, kapag wala akong biyahe, biyahe ko lang naman two days a week, e.
“Ako nagpapatulog kay Primo. That’s very holy for us.
“Usually si Iya naman, kapag nandiyan siya sa bahay, pupunta sa CR with Primo or magpapaligo."
But when they're both at home, they do the tasks together.
“...As much as possible, kung nandun kami ni Iya, susubukan naming paliguan siya, both at the same time.
For first-time parents, getting their babies to sleep can be quite a challenge. Do Drew and Iya sing favorite lullabies to lull Primo to sleep?
Setting a routine helps the baby get used to it. In their case, they hum the jingle of the baby brand they're endorsing.
“When we sing it, parang alam na niya yun. Parang condition sa utak niya na it’s time to take a bath. 'Bath time, fun time,' you know.
“Parang whenever papatulugin ko na si Primo, kakanta na ako not as a singer, but yung [hums lullaby]. Automatic yun, gaganun na siya [acts like he's sleeping].
“Alam na niya, e. It’s conditioning. Automatic gagawin niya.
“Sometimes it comes fast, sometimes it takes a while, but he know whenever we sing something, gaganun siya.”