Drew Arellano and Iya Villania pose with Conan Altatis at the "Home Foodie" Season 3 blog conference at San Miguel Purefoods Culinary Center, Pasig City, Philippines on May 8, 2017. (Photo : Yibada/Conviron Altatis)
Iya Villania, 30, is returning as host of "Home Foodie." During the blog conference for the third season of the cooking show, I got to talk to her about a topic that is not commonly discussed, postpartum depression.
"Don't feel bad," Villania said, speaking directly to mothers experiencing postpartum depression. "It's real and it happens."
Studies show that first-time mothers are more likely to experience postpartum depression than other new mothers. It is also reported that the risk is greatest during their first three months of motherhood.
People, particularly mothers, do not talk about post-partum depression as much possibly because they do not want to emphasize that it really happens, Villania pointed out. She reminded mothers who are suffering from it that it is just a phase and it will pass.
Villania herself is a first-time mother. On Aug. 30, 2016, she gave birth to Antonion Primo Arellano, her first child with her husband, Drew Arellano, 37, who is her "Home Foodie" Season 3 co-host.
After a 10-year relationship, Drew and Villania got married in Meditation Point, Kawayan Cove in Nasugbu, Batangas on Jan. 31, 2014.
In 2015, Drew hosted "Home Foodie" Season 1, which featured celebrity chefs Llena Tan-Arenas, Rene Cruz and RJ Garcia. They all returned in the second season in 2016 with Villania added as a host.
Born and raised in Sydney, Australia, Villania used to be a member of an Australian motivational band is called IRON AND CLAY, which addressed issues in schools and churches such as bullying, drunk driving and low self-esteem. She went to high school in the Philippines, particularly in Colegio San Agustin in Makati, where she graduated in March 2004.
Villania went on to study psychology at De La Salle University-Manila. She graduated on Dec. 16, 2008. Here is the video of the "Home Foodie" host giving a message to mothers experiencing postpartum depression:
