Ching Arellano

Born Francis Anthony A. Arellano on June 6, 1960, in Mary Johnston Hospital, Manila. Grew up in Malabon, Metro Manila.

Ching Arellano, a theater actor who appeared in numerous films and TV shows in the past three decades. He started his acting career in 1977 at the University of the Philippines Diliman where he took up AB Theater Arts and was an active member of the UP Repertory Company under the tutelage of theater director Professor Behn Cervantes. After college, he continued his career in theater at the Philippine Educational Theater Association (PETA). In 1988, he started appearing on television via the political satire comedy "Sic O'Clock News" playing various roles, notably the character of former president Fidel V. Ramos. "Sic O'Clock News" was written by Jobart Bartolome and Amado Lacuesta under the direction of Marilou Diaz-Abaya. Shortly after, also in 1988, Arellano joined the Philippines' longest-running children show, Batibot as resident jeepney driver and all-around handyman "Kuya Ching."

He was married to writer Che Vista-Arellano. Kuya Ching had a nephew named Drew Arellano who's also an actor and TV host.

Arellano died of heart failure on Saturday, 12 February 2011. He was 50 years old. In 2008, Arellano was diagnosed by a heart specialist as to have had a heart afflicted with atrial fibrillation, in his case, a congenital condition. He was cremated on February 16, 2011 at the Eternal Gardens, Balintawak in Quezon City.