Iskul Bukol

infobox Television
show_name = Iskul Bukol


caption =
rating =
format = situational comedy
runtime =
creator =
director =
starring = Tito Sotto, Vic Sotto, and Joey de Leon, et al
country = Philippines
production house =
network = IBC 13
first_aired = 1977
last_aired = 1989
num_seasons = 3
num_episodes =
imdb_id = 0452086

Iskul Bukol is a defunct Philippine situational comedy show that was aired on the IBC 13 network in the 1977 through 1989. It stars Filipino comedy actors Tito Sotto, Vic Sotto, and Joey de Leon. The show centered on the fictional "Wanbol University." The show's theme song, also titled "Iskul Bukol", is sung to the tune of Elvis Presley's "All Shook Up."

Main characters

*Tito Escalera (Tito Sotto) - One half of the Escalera brothers, who plots harebrained schemes in every episode.
*Joey Escalera (Joey De Leon) - The other Escalera sibling. Miss Tapia has a crush on him.
*Vic Ungasis (Vic Sotto) - the good-looking and smart teacher's pet with a chick-magnet personality. The Escaleras often pick on him during class.
*Miss Tapia (Mely Tagasa) - Wanbol University's resident professor who often gets on the Escalera brothers' nerves.
*Mang Temi (Bing Angeles) - the dark-complexioned operator of the university's cafeteria. His name is a play on the Filipino word "itim" (black or dark), rearranged the 70's Filipino way, "Tim-i" or "Tem-i," in the same manner as words in the vernacular are rearranged. Example: bath = ligo = go-li.
*Tonette Macho (Anthony Roquel) - the gay student who plays as bestfriend of the fairest girl in class. He is also the nemesis of the Escalera Brothers.
*Inang (Dely Atay-Atayan) - Vic's mother from the town of Tiaong, Quezon. Famous for her term of endearment "Bunsooyy!" whenever addressing Vic. The root word "bunso" is Tagalog for youngest child.
*Joey Anson (Joey Albert) - a student whom Vic likes.

Back to Iskul Bukol

Back to Iskul Bukol is the 1999 TV sequel to the original Iskul Bukol series. De Leon is the only member of the original cast to return. He plays an English Literature professor who decides to go back to his old school to teach and wreak havoc like in the old days. Things could not get any worse when he finds out that one his students, Ludwig von Tapia (Jeffrey Tam), is actually Miss Tapia's love child. The series also starred Val Sotto, Marissa Sanchez, Ruby Rodriguez, Patricia Javier, Gian Sotto, Maui Taylor, and Katya Santos. The show ran for two seasons.

Iskul Bukol's Influence

In the GMA-TV documentaries show I-Witness, presenter Jay Taruc revisited Iskul Bukol and the Philippines’ comedy trio (Tito, Vic, and Joey) in a 2007 retrospective episode titled "Wanbol University", and discovered that TVJ merchandise is still a hit at present time. [The Philippine Star column BARBwire by BARBS G. ATIENZA dated November 24, 2007, titled On Finding a Good Story to Tell]

Iskul Bukol 20 Years After (Adventures of Vic Ungasis and the Escalera Brothers)

It was revealed by Vic Sotto during the I-Witness documentary that he wishes to do a reunion movie with the surviving cast members of Iskul Bukol, particularly his co-hosts, Tito Sotto and Joey de Leon. On July 2, 2008, Vic's film production company, M-ZET Films, submitted a script written by fellow cast member Bibeth Orteza, [cite news|url=http://showbizandstyle.inquirer.net/entertainment/entertainment/view_article.php?article_id=146017|title=Animated flick makes it to MMFF ‘08 |last=San Diego|first=Bayani|date=2008-07-02|publisher=Philippine Daily Inquirer|accessdate=2008-08-17] intended for the 2008 Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF). The entry entitled "Vic Ungasis en the Escaleras" was immediately approved by the MMFF jurors. The title has since been changed to "Escalera and Ungasis: 20 Years After," which will chronicle the events that transpired in the two decades since the TV series, when the Escalera brothers and Ungasis have graduated from "Wanbol University". Tagasa already agreed to reprise her role as Miss Tapia while other actors will be cast for Tonette Macho and Mang Temy. Anthony Roquel, who plays Tonette Macho, has retired from acting and is now part of GMA-7's production staff while Bing Angeles (Mang Temy) passed away in 2001.

The movie's title was changed again to "Iskul Bukol: 20 Years After" in order to gain strong audience recall, owing its large fanbase to people who grew up in the '70s and '80s watching the TV show. Below is the confirmed cast members of the movie, which was already touted as the biggest movie of the triumvirate.

Cast of Characters

* Tito Sotto as Tito Escalera
* Vic Sotto as Vic Ungasis
* Joey de Leon as Joey Escalera
* Mely Tagasa as Miss Tapia
* Ryan Agoncillo as Cambodian tour guide
* Keempee de Leon
* Pauleen Luna
* Mark Herras
* Dennis Trillo
* Gian Sotto
* Oyo Sotto
* Jimmy Santos
* Jose Manalo
* Francine Prieto
* Gardo Versoza
* Bianca King
* Jong Hilario
* Krista Ranillo
* Benjie Paras
* Joko Diaz
* Nicole Uysiengsu
* Mykah
* Val Sotto
* Richie D'Horsie
* Kaye Torres
* Robert Villar
* Redford White
* Bibeth Orteza
* Carlene Aguilar
* Wally Bayola
* Joonee Gamboa
* Jackie Woo
* Derek Dee
* Leo Martinez
* Levi Ignacio
* Mary Massab
* EB Babes

Special Participation in the Movie

* Sharon Cuneta
* Sen. Bong Revilla
* Manny Pacquiao

Iskul Bukol Mini-Reunion in 2007

A Iskul Bukol mini-reunion was celebrated on June 30, 2007 in the GMA-TV show Eat Bulaga!'s Bulagaan portion. Mely Tagasa, Tito Sotto, Joey de Leon and Vic Sotto appeared, reprising their roles from Iskul Bukol.

References