He combines the boyish allure of a matinee idol and the sweltering hunky appeal of a young macho man. There is more to Drew, however, than his physical gifts, his fab face and bodacious body.
Unlike the slew of fledgling, bright-eyed wannabes in the showtown, Drew actually has a good head on his shoulders. He is sensible and sensitive. He is glib and gregarious.
That’s because Drew has had a rich and full life even before he joined tinseltown. Prior to clinching his big breaks in the popular TV ads for Sunsilk and GSM Blue, Drew graduated with a degree in Marketing Management from De La Salle University, worked in the US for six months, and moved back to Manila and signed up with an advertising firm (J. Romero as an account manager) for a year.
On top of all this, he has also put up and is now running two businesses: Cue Masters International, an import company that brings in cue sticks from abroad, and Cocoon, a family-owned spa and salon in Alexandria Condominium.
On top of all this, he also acts as part-time PA (production assistant) for his dad, the popular radio commentator Antonio Arellano or Atty. Aga, whenever the latter flies to Hong Kong to give free legal advice to OFWs.
Think of Drew as the thinking woman’s hunk. Needless to say, all these experiences have more than primed Drew for life in the spotlight. "I will take it one step at a time," he says of joining the showbiz. "In this kind of industry, you don’t have a specific timetable. Everything’s uncertain. I’m taking it as it is."
His being open-minded, he acknowledges, would be a big help in his newfound career as model-slash-actor. His one-year stint in the advertising world undoubtedly yielded a treasure trove of lessons. "Showbiz is somewhat similar to advertising, but I admit that the rules are very different. It’s a totally different ballgame. But I’m always open to trying new things. I can adapt in whatever environment I find myself in," he says.
He owns up, however, that this new showbiz adventure is quite daunting. "Probably, I’ll just look at it as a challenge," he continues. "It is somewhat scary and exciting at the same time." But Drew is not the type to shy away from a mighty challenge.
The sportsman in Drew seems to thrive in adversity and crisis. A highly disciplined fitness buff who works out (for two to three hours) in the gym every day, Drew is seriously into basketball, running, swimming, golf, billiards and table tennis.
He says that sports has taught him a lot of life lessons. "First of all, in basketball, you learn to work harmoniously," he volunteers. "That applies in business, in family, even in romantic relationships. You have to work hand-in-hand to be able to achieve your goal – whether it’s winning a game or having a successful relationship."
The importance of discipline is another lesson from sports. "Working out and eating properly entail a lot of sacrifice," he owns up. "But because I want to reach a certain goal, I am willing to give up a lot of things, like eating crispy pata and lechon! Sports has taught me the real meaning of perseverance. Of determination."
This finely tuned tenacity Drew now puts to good use in his new field of endeavor, showbiz. "I really don’t know how I can explain how I overcame my being camera shy," he remarks. "Back in school, I never took part in plays. I think it’s because of my one-year stay in the advertising world. I think I gained confidence because of advertising. It’s like I was no longer so ignorant of the system, of the business."
He considers advertising his biggest passion in life. "I see myself working behind the camera in the future," he shares. "My biggest dream is to build my own advertising agency. As first step toward that big dream, a few friends and I are planning to put up a small graphic design studio."
Before he fulfills that big dream, he has decided to venture into show business in true Drew passion. To hone his acting chops, and upon the advice of his road manager, Jet Valle of Backroom, he has taken up soap opera watching every night. He hopes to emulate the likes of John Lloyd Cruz and Jericho Rosales in the acting department. Truth be told: Jericho’s onscreen persona is one that he would like to have someday.
"He is the boy-next-door and he seems to impress a lot of people," Drew elaborates. "He’s very witty. Very smart also. And he also in couch with his emotions. He could express his feelings freely." He also looks up to soap diva Eula Valdez. "I find her hot!" While we are on the subject of sizzling TV babes, Drew singles out Angela Velez and Aubrey Miles as the sexiest stars in his list.
"I’ll be lying if I say that I don’t go for looks," he says candidly. "But I also go for simplicity and sense of humor. I want a girl who can be my best friend." And yet one more query begs to be answered, every pretty young miss who yearns to be his "best buddy" would like to know: What is the real Drew like?
"What you see is what you get," he quips.