Vic Ungasis is an archaeologist who has recovered the Kali of Humabon and is looking for a partner sword, the Kampilan of Lapu-Lapu, plus the Peseta, one of Judas Iscariot's 30 pieces of silver which reportedly gives the bearer immortality. Upon returning home, he reunites with the Escalera brothers, who have become successful real-estate developers. However, a Yakuza who has acquired the Kampilan wants the Peseta so it could be merged with the sword for unmatched power.
Many members of the show's original cast appear in the movie, aside from the three leads. They include Anthony Roquel, Mely Tagasa, Sharon Cuneta, Redford White, Ariel Villasanta, scriptwriter Bibeth Orteza, Kaye Torres and Richie D'Horsie. Vic Sotto said the decision to get Richie D'Horsie for the film was difficult, considering that he, Tito Sotto, and Joey de Leon have bailed him out several times in past years due to drug charges but he did not change his ways. The trio stressed that the latest bail, where they paid, will be his last chance to reform. Ritchie D'Horsie eventually appeared on set during the last shooting day on November 11, 2008. The character of Mang Tem-i was retired as Bing Angeles had died in 2001. The movie was dedicated to him and series producer Emmanuel "Boy" Gatus, who died in October 2008. Certain characters were introduced as an homage to past series characters. Joey de Leon's son, Keempee de Leon, plays Wympy, Joey Escalera's son by series character Patty Pulupot, a dancer at the Agogo Banana strip club. Gian Sotto, Tito Sotto's son, plays Gianni, Tito Escalera's son by Pulupot's colleague, Mercy Taga. Bubble Gang mainstay Mykah appears in a short scene as Mang Temi's daughter Temita.
Development
Vic Sotto first revealed during a 2007 episode of the GMA documentary show I-Witness that he wished to do a reunion movie with the surviving cast members of Iskul Bukol. He later said that after four straight Enteng Kabisote movies, it was high time that the comic trio got back together on the big screen. On July 2, 2008, Vic's film production company, M-ZET Films, submitted a script written by fellow cast member Bibeth Orteza, intended for the 2008 Metro Manila Film Festival. The entry entitled Vic Ungasis en the Escaleras was immediately approved by the MMFF jurors. The title was changed to Escalera and Ungasis: 20 Years After, which reunited the main characters for the first time since the original TV series. The movie's title was changed again to Iskul Bukol 20 Years After: Ungasis and Escaleras Adventure in order to gain strong audience recall, owing its large fanbase to people who grew up during the TV show's original run. Filming began in late September 2008. Vic Sotto, Ryan Agoncillo, and Jose Manalo joined the crew in shooting the foreign scenes in Cambodia from October 7 to October 14. The crew wrapped up production on November 11, 2008, when the movie's reunion scene was shot at the Sta. Catalina College in Manila.
Critical reception
The film gathered mixed reviews. On the positive side, Phillip Cu-Unjieng of the Philippine Star said the film appealed to young viewers because of the action-adventure element, while older fans of the show can relate to the characters that come back after a long time. On the negative side, Manila Times contributor Joey Ting said the film's comedic elements were rehashed staples of Tito, Vic, and Joey's usual skits. The review by Judith Juntilla of Business World criticized the film's concentration on action-adventure as a Iskul Bukol-oriented version of Enteng Kabisote's plots over the years, instead of focusing on what has happened to other Iskul Bukol characters in the past two decades beyond the film's reunion scene. The film eventually earned in earnings for the Metro Manila Film Festival and earned its Third Best Picture award, behind Ang Tanging Ina Nyong Lahat and top awardee, Baler.
