Kaori Oinuma and Aljon Mendoza expressed their gratitude to Boy Abunda for helping them to continue their studies as the award-winning TV host celebrated his birthday on ‘CIA with BA.’

The public service program hosted by Abunda alongside sibling senators Alan Peter and Pia Cayetano revealed on Sunday, Oct. 15, that two of today’s most in-demand young celebrities are Tito Boy’s scholars.

“I’m not very open about this. Actually, very rarely do I talk about my scholars,” said Abunda. “Ang kontrata ko lang sa kanila, ‘pag nakatapos ka, mangako ka sa akin na magpapaaral ka ng isa.’”

“Nabigyan din ako ng help, mula kay Tito Boy, na makapagpatuloy sa studies ko. Syempre parang ako, ‘Anong kailangan kong gawin, Tito Boy, para masuklian ko ‘yung help na ginawa ninyo sa’kin?’” Kaori said through her surprise video message for Abunda. “Ang sabi lang din ni Tito Boy, sana daw one day, kung ano ‘yung ginagawa niya sa’min ngayon, magawa rin namin sa ibang tao.”

For his part, Aljon said: “Sobrang laking pasasalamat ko po dahil tinulungan niyo po akong makabalik sa pag-aaral after four years. Hindi niyo po alam kung gaano kalaking bagay sa’kin ‘to at hindi ko po [ito] ite-take for granted ang binigay niyong blessing sa’kin. And I know, mas ibe-bless ka pa po ni Lord dahil napakabuti ng inyong puso. Maraming salamat po.

The former ‘Pinoy Big Brother: Otso’ housemates first met Abunda right after their reality show stint.

“Una ko pong nakilala si Tito Boy way back 2018, mga late December. Memorable para sa’kin na sinabi niya, ‘not knowing is the beginning of knowing.’ Sinabi niya, ‘importante [na] magtanong palagi ‘pag hindi mo alam,’” Aljon recalled. “One thing I love about Tito Boy is that he loves his mother so much. ‘Yon din ‘yung nakaka-relate ako sa kanya.”

“Mas lalo ko siyang nakilala nung nagkaroon kami ng workshop sa Rise [Artists Studios],” Kaori excitedly shared.

“Tito Boy, maraming-maraming salamat po na tinulungan niyo ‘kong maipagpatuloy ‘yung pag-aaral ko ngayon. And I promise na balang-araw, kapag okay na rin ako, makaka-help din ako ng ibang bata na makapagpatuloy ng pag-aaral,” she said. “Happy birthday, Tito Boy!”

In the same episode, Alan and Pia also surprised the co-host with the presence of Deborah Sun, an actress and a friend of Abunda.

Abunda’s actual birthday is on October 29. He has been doing the show along with the Cayetanos weekly since Feb. 5, 2023.

The program continues the legacy of Senator Rene Cayetano, the late father of the sibling senators. The senior Cayetano was a renowned lawyer who gained fame through his radio and TV program 'Compañero y Compañera,' which aired from 1997 to 2001.

Don’t miss ‘CIA with BA’ with Alan, Pia and Boy every Sunday, 11:30 p.m. on GMA7.