Drew Arellano says he and Iya Villania 'really prayed' to have a daughter: 'What a blessing'

Drew Arellano said he and Iya Villania didn’t plan to have four kids, but they were "really praying" to have a daughter.

On the latest episode of “Surprise Guest with Pia Arcangel,” Drew said if Leon, their second child, had been a girl, “that would have been it.”

“Primo and Leon, okay na, but well, naging lalaki so parang let's try another one,” he said.

According to the Kapuso host, he and Iya are very vocal about family planning, but Alana and Astro came to their lives unexpectedly during the pandemic.

“We just like didn't say na parang no, we don't want the 4th one, so parang kusang nangyari na lang din,” he said.

“Duday and Astro happened during the pandemic, so what a blessing,” he added.

Drew said they waited and prayed for a baby girl, so Iya giving birth to Alana during the pandemic was an answered prayer.

“After Leon talagang we were really praying for a girl to the point na it was the only kid na hindi namin inalam ang gender, not until na lumabas na,” he said.

Drew also said having a baby girl hits differently for him as a father.

“I don't really get you know when my guy friends would say na parang ‘pare, iba talaga ‘yung lambing ng girl towards the dads’,” he said.

“And then 'yun nga, two years in parang I totally get it now, totally get it now na parang papa, parang ang hirap pagalitan,” he added.

Iya and Drew tied the knot in 2014. They have four children: Primo, Leon, Alana, and Astro. —Hermes Tunac/JCB, GMA Integrated News