Andres Jose Garchitorena Yllana Jr. know professionally as Anjo Yllana, is a Filipino actor-comedian, television host and politician.
Career
Yllana started in show business in 1984 with talent manager the late Douglas Quijano. He then auditioned for the teen TV variety show That's Entertainment after attempting a career as a professional basketball player. He started with support roles in both comedy and drama. He was nominated by different award-giving bodies as Best Supporting Actor in the movie Itanong Mo sa Buwan, starring opposite Jaclyn Jose and directed by Chito S. Roño.
His turning point in show business came in 1991, when he was given the role of Dino Tengco, the mentally disabled son of the crazy politician couple Barbara and Anding Tengco in the ABS-CBN satirical sitcom Abangan Ang Susunod Na Kabanata. He was awarded Best Comedy Actor by Star Awards in 1992 for his efforts. He was subsequently launched as a solo comedian and had several successful comedy films to his name, among them Dino, Abangan ang Susunod Na... (his launching movie), Pempe ni Sara at Pen (with Kris Aquino and Vandolph) and Milyonaryong Mini (with John Estrada and Sheryl Cruz). He also became part of the sitcoms Ober da Bakod (GMA Network) and Palibhasa Lalake (ABS-CBN). His stint in the latter sitcom cost him his role in Ober da Bakod after he decided to become an exclusive ABS-CBN talent.
After Abangan Ang Susunod Na Kabanata ended its run, Anjo turned to TV directing via the GMA Network sitcom M.U.? which starred his brother Jomari Yllana as well as Gelli de Belen. Soon after, in 1999, he moved to GMA Network after ending his contract with ABS-CBN and started hosting the long-running noontime show Eat Bulaga! His former comic tandem with Janno Gibbs in Ober da Bakod was revived via Beh Bote Nga (1999-2003) and Nuts Entertainment (2003-2007). They also appeared together in Eat Bulaga! until Janno resigned from the show to start acting in GMA soap operas. His last solo TV show was Cool Center where he formed a hilarious tandem with Eugene Domingo from 2008 to 2009.
In 2020, Anjo finally resigned from the show "Eat Bulaga" after 21 years due to the COVID-19 pandemic. With no other shows from his former network GMA-7, Yllana accepted Net25's offer as the lead host of the UHF network's first noontime comedy variety program, "Happy Time". with co hosts former Dabarkads host & comedian Kitkat and former That's Entertainment mainstay and former Dabarkads host comedian Janno Gibbs. The show also served as the reunion of Anjo & Janno tandem since "Ober Da Bakod", "Beh Bote Nga", "Nuts Entertainment" & "Eat Bulaga". As of 2021, Anjo was cancelled/terminated in the show due to bullying (again) incident with new hosts.
Political career
Yllana started ventured into politics in 1998 when he ran and won as city councilor of the lone district of Parañaque. He was reelected in 2001 and served for a total of two terms before seeking higher office. In 2004, he ran and won the Vice Mayoralty race in the same city. In 2007, he lost in his bid for reelection to Gustavo Tambunting. In 2010, he ran once again for vice mayor under the banner of Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino and as the running mate of Eduardo Zialcita, but lost.[1]
In 2013, he ran for city councilor, this time in the newly created 5th district of Quezon City, which includes his home barangay Fairview. He was successfully reelected in 2016.
Yllana then transferred to Tinambac, Camarines Sur and on October 4, 2021, he filed his certificate of candidacy to run for representative of the province's 4th district in 2022.[2] However, he withdrew from the race in November 2021,[3] citing his health following his diagnosis with COVID-19 and money issues.[4] He was reportedly substituted by comedian and former San Jose Mayor Tony Chavez,[3] who would then go on to lose the race to incumbent Arnie Fuentebella.
