I AM not sure if today’s Internet generation of kids have the faintest idea about the Escalera brothers and their (mis)adventures. But I might be wrong. After Vic Sotto revealed last year that there are plans to revive this Filipino sitcom, news about their comeback was all over television this week, as they announced their participation in the upcoming Metro Manila Film Festival.

Who can’t forget the antics of comedy television’s famous trio? Iskul Bukol is about the lives of three students: Tito (Sotto) and Joey (De Leon) Escalera brothers and Vic (Sotto) Ungasis, a teacher’s pet who often attracts pretty girls in class. All are students of Wanbol University.

During a television interview, De Leon jokingly declares that usually movies produced for the MMFF bring along lessons in life. “Sa pelikulang eto, wala kayong ikakapulutan ng aral [In this movie, there are no lessons],” says De Leon, as the Sotto brothers tried to suppress a laugh.

Being part of a generation of kids who grew up watching reruns of Tagalog movies on television, Iskul Bukol offered respite from hours of melodrama during primetime.

Iskul Bukol has created characters like cafeteria operator Mang Temi (Bing Angeles), a name that plays on the word Filipino word “Itim” or dark-complexioned. Of course, who can’t forget Miss Tapia (Mely Tagasa), a professor at the Wanbol University who hates the Escalera brothers? Another is Redford (Redford White) who plays Mang Temi’s houseboy.

Recently, news that Richie D’ Horsie who plays one of the characters in Iskul Bukol, was bailed out from prison to play his old role was revealed. During one television interview, Vic Sotto said the group decided to give D’ Horsie another chance to reform and be part of a reunion of sorts of the original cast of the hit TV sitcom. D’ Horsie has been languishing in prison for an offense related to drugs.

Here’s the sitcom’s theme song, which is actually borrowed from Elvis Presley’s “All Shook Up,” which my dad would often jokingly sing, “Amoy Suka.”