'Iskul Bukol' welcomes its newest Kaibigan student, Criza Taa!

August 21, 2022

Time to ring the bell and head back to school as IBC 13's longest-running, top-rating and award-winning weekend curriculum-based sitcom "Iskul Bukol," currently topbilled by the Kaibigan network's homegrown talent and Comedy Princess Joyce Abestano as Joyce Escalera as the high school classmate of Diliman High School, brings back veteran comedians and TV hosts Tito Sotto, Vic Sotto and Joey de Leon as a special guest for the grand reunion of the sitcom; and officially welcomes multi-talented teen actress Criza Taa as the newest Kaibigan student of Diliman High School, beginning with the safe opening of School Year (S.Y.) 2022-2023 in this back-to-school episode this Saturday (August 27) where the first day of classes attends as students and teachers are wearing face masks and alcohols while they invited to join the sitcom to observe health protocols.

***Tito, Vic, Joey***

For Tito, Vic and Joey, known as the legendary comic trio TVJ, considered as three pillars of comedy in the Philippine entertainment industry as their current Kapuso stars and the main hosts of the longest-running noontime variety show “Eat Bulaga” on GMA. returns to the sitcom for this very special episode.

Back in the late 70s and 80s, it was centered around student life in the fictional Wanbol University where Escalera brothers Tito and his half-brother Joey, and Vic Ungasis (Vic Sotto) in the original sitcom (produced by Our Own Little Way Productions, with the late executive producer Emmanuel "Boy" Gatus and directed by Bert de Leon), which capitalized the fame of the TVJ trio nationwide as comedians, while Miss Tapia (the late Mely Tagaga) was a crush on him. From 1999 to 2000, Joey was reprised via “Back to Iskul Bukol” (produced by Vintage Television (VTV) for IBC) as the sequel to the original sitcom, together with Mely and Bing Angeles are the only cast members from the original series to return, where Joey Escalera aka Professor Joey Escalera was an English literature professor who decides to go back to his old school to teach and wreak havoc like in the old days. In 2007, an “Iskul Bukol” mini-reunion was celebrated on June 30 in “Eat Bulaga” of GMA via its “Bulagaan” portion, with Tito, Vic, Joey and Mely appeared and reprised their roles from the sitcom.

For their movie for TVJ in “Iskul Bukol the Movie” (1978), “Iskul Bukol Freshmen” (1980), “The Best of Iskul Bukol: The Movie” (1987), and “Iskul Bukol: 20 Years After (Ungasis and Escaleras Adventure)” (2008).

In which, IBC 13 was the home network of the iconic shows where Joey starred such as “OK Lang” (1973-1975), “Iskul Bukol” (1978-1988), the longest-running gag show “T.O.D.A.S. (Television’s Outrageous Delightful All-Star Show)” (1980-1988), “The Sharon Cuneta Show” (1986-1988), “TVJ: Television's Jesters” (1990), and “Back to Iskul Bukol” (1999-2000), which was his last project from the network.

Prior to him, Tito, Vic and Joey was a special guest in March 4, 2017. In 2019, Joey visited IBC 13 and gusted in the documentary special “The Original No. 1: IBC 13's Legacy to Philippine Television,” where the network was glad that he visited the Broadcast City complex.

And now, while the ‘re-re-re-reformatted’ “Iskul Bukol” (produced by IBC and the Department of Education (DepEd)) kept the current K-12 basic education curriculum and its distance learning format for a secondary level (junior-senior high school students and teachers) with the setting of Diliman High School (with DepEd permit) because of its distance learning program to educate and empower the Filipino youth and learners, according to Hexilon G. Alvarez, IBC President and CEO and Vice-President Sara Duterte, DepEd secretary.

They reprised it again as their iconic characters Tito and Joey Escalera, and Vic Ungasis as a special guest, whose meets Tonton (Tonton Gutierrez) as a friend and reunited again with Big J (Jimmy Santos), the only member of the cast from the original one) in the weekend top-rating and award-winning phenomenal curriculum-based sitcom.

***Criza Taa: From Pinoy Big Brother, Kadenang Ginto, Wild Little Love, Rated Marriel, He's into Her and now, Iskul Bukol.***

On the other hand, teen actress known for her popular TV shows, reality TV shows, and movies. Now...HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT!

17-year-old Criza is the new role of Criza Belibet, a newest student of Diliman High School who claims that she is Joyce (Joyce Abestano) and Basti (Basti Gonzales)’s friend. She is pursuing her high school studies as she is only 17 years old. Though she is popular and an emerging super actress but still she has not talked about her school anywhere.

Taa was recounted her showbiz journey from her stint as part of the Star Dreamers of Teens Batch 1 and one of the housemates in "Pinoy Big Brother Otso" ("Apo of the Eye of Quezon City") to the role of Roxanne in ABS-CBN's teleserye "Kadenang Ginto" and "Wild Little Love"; her role Criza in PTV's very own news sitcom “Rated Marriel” and another is Naih Marchessa in the iWantTFC series itself “He's Into Her” for two seasons with Donny Pangilinan (currently Marriel's partner in the news sitcom) and Belle Mariano, and now she's ready back to school in IBC's "Iskul Bukol," a show that caters to our learners and teen televiewers for junior and senior high school (Grades 7 to 12) students/learners, like the K-12 basic education curriculum and its distance learning format for a secondary level (junior-senior high school students and teachers), as a newest member because of her acting skills.

Meantime, the Philippine education department directed public and private schools nationwide (elementary and secondary) to shift to full face-to-face (F2F) learning by November this year after distance and blended learning. In-person classes will resume regardless of COVID-19 alert levels (Alert Levels 1 and 2), with classes opening on August 22. Like this one, the COVID-19 vaccination and booster shots for kids and teens prepares for the resumption of in-person classes at the same time and the relaxation of other safety protocols, according to President President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr.

“I will be the return of our children to full face-to-face classes after two years of online learning due to the pandemic,” Joyce said. Sge said that it was always his belief that learning is "more effective inside classrooms where students fully interact with their teachers and fellow students."

More than a usual other schools remain online, this school year marks a new beginning as students gradually return to school to see their classmates, friends, and teachers in person after more than two years. Whether a student will attend face-to-face classes or learn from home, a desktop or laptop is essential for schoolwork.

As one of the top-rating programs in the Kaibigan network, Tito, Vic and Joey showed the sitcom to visit their public high school Diliman High School to meet their classmates and teachers in our back-to-school; and Criza is the newest Kaibigan and the newest student of Diliman High School, the public high school with DepEd permit and bring back in-person classes, including hand washing facilities and proper ventilation, at full capacity for every students and their parents welcome the new school year.

She is now enrolled in the public high school in Capitol Hills Drive, Quezon City, in line with the opening of School Year 2022-2023 in August 22.

Before the first day at Diliman High School, Joyce (Joyce Abestano) who wears a school uniform with school ID, make-up and wears her face mask, including cologne, lipstick and most of all, alcohol spray. At breakfast, Joyce is very excited because of Tonton who puts some baon (Magnolia milk and Regent Pandan Cake) in the backpack with juicer because Joyce is ready for the first day of school.

As the first day of school at Diliman High School, Joyce uses her cellphone for her social media with her message to her classmates and friends, including Patrick (Patrick Destura) and Basti (Basti Gonzales). At the principal's office, Principal Mr. Fu (Mr. Fu) very excited that Ma'am Maxene (Maxene Magalona) meets Joyce at the first day of school. Then, Joyce and her teacher meets Tito (Sotto), Vic (Sotto) and Joey (Joey de Leon) at the hallway.

During the first day of class, the flag ceremony comes in where Joyce joined her classmates and a teacher moves the hands, plus the accompaniment is played, everyone will stand tall. At the classroom of Diliman High School, Joyce is very proud because of the first day of class and Ma'am Maxene who greets their classmates, and introduce Criza (Taa), a new school girl student who has just transferred to school.

Will Joyce find out that she learned with Criza? Find out and experience the fun in learning with Joyce in this back-to-school episode of “Iskul Bukol”, this Saturday (August 27) at 7:00PM after “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?” on IBC 13, with a replay on Sunday at 9:00PM on IBC Plus and live streaming on IBC TV 13 Facebook page. For more updates, log on to IBC.com.ph, follow @iskulbukolibc on Twitter, and “like” the show’s official Facebook page at Facebook.com/iskulbukolibc. “Iskul Bukol” will also be available live and on-demand on the streaming service IBC Video.

***Welcome to Iskul Bukol, Criza!***

**WATCH:** Why Criza decided to study at Diliman High School through IBC 13's very own Iskul Bukol

### Iskul Bukol from original sitcom to curriculum-based sitcom

Josélito "Tito" Escalera (Tito Sotto) / Easy Balidosa (Sam Y.G.) = Joyce Escalera (Joyce Abestano)
Josémari "Joey" Escalera (Joey de Leon) / Chill Balidosa (Alwyn Uytingco) = Patrick Loyzaga (Patrick Destura)
Victorio "Vic" Ungasis (Vic Sotto) / Rude Valentino (Fred Lo) = Basti Ungasis (Basti Gonzales)
Liwayway Gawgaw Tapia, a.k.a., Miss Tapia (Mely Tagasa) / Bongbong Bing (Joel Saracho) = Maxene Gonzaga aka Ma'am Maxene (Maxene Magalona)
Artemis Batongbuhay, a.k.a., Mang Tem-i (Bing Angeles) = Anita "Aning" Francia aka Aling Aning (Tess Antonio)
Tonette Macho (Anthony Roquel) / Wacky Roque (Keempee de Leon) = Dexie Laxamana (Dexie Diaz)
Aling Jacoba or Inang (Dely Atay-Atayan) = Pauleen Jacoba-Ungasis (Pauleen Luna)
Sharon Escalera (Sharon Cuneta) = Raniaah Escalera (Raniaah Padilla)
Viviana "Bibeth" Belibet (Bibeth Orteza) = Criza Belibet (Criza Taa)
Richie "Kabayo" (Richie Reyes) = Zymic Miguel (Zymic Jaranilla)
Mary (Mary Massab) = Maxene Racal (Maxene Montalbo)
Joey Anson (Joey Albert) = Kurt de Guzman (Kurt Phillip Espiritu)
Kaye Flores (Kaye Torres) = Mianne Gaviola (Mianne Fajardo)
Redford (Redford White) / Jimmy "Big J" (Jimmy Santos) = Petronilio "Pet" Jacobo (Lao Rodriguez)
Perfecto "Pekto" Pangkista (Ariel Villasanta) = Sajj Solizar (Sajj Geronimo)
Don José Escalera (Rod Navarro) = Tonton Escalera (Tonton Gutierrez)
New flavor:
Bettina Tagasa aka Ma'am Bettina (Bettina Carlos)
Aling Karen Loyzaga (Karen delos Reyes)
Jimmy "Big J" Racal (Jimmy Santos)
Ma'am Luane Varga (Luane Dy)
**congrats IBC!** may bagong episode ng Iskul Bukol! Mas kwela na!

Siguradong namiss ng karamihan ang excitement at fun in school! Kaya naman sa nalalapit na face-to-face classes this August, salubungin natin ang Saya sa Balik-Eskwela! 📕

Ang paboritong trio ng bansa at dekada nang sanggang-dikit na magbibigay ng dagdag kaalaman at saya, magbabalik na Kaibigan! The Philippines' favorite trio... Tito, Vic and Joey are back for this back-to-school episode of Iskul Bukol.

HELLO KLASMEYTS! Mga Kaibigan, ano ba ang paborito mong gawin sa school at bakit? #WorldStudentsDay