COS shirt, CHARRIOL bracelet. Photographed by Regine David for the August 2024 Issue of Vogue Man Philippines
From theater as a child to his breakout film roles, Elijah Canlas’s acting journey is fueled by a passion to tell stories with meaning.
Elijah Canlas has always been surrounded by stories. Growing up in Cavite, he and his brothers immersed themselves in school theater, performing in musicals and plays. “We weren’t forced,” he recalls with a laugh, “but it was just something we loved to do.”
This early exposure to acting led him to the Philippine High School for the Arts, where he underwent four years of intensive theater training at the base of Mt. Makiling. “We lived [there] with no internet, just studying theater and arts every day,” he shares. But the rigors of constant study eventually led to burnout, and Elijah stepped away from acting for a time.
In 2018, he was given the opportunity to star in his first lead role in the film titled Kalel, 15, which allowed the budding actor to rekindle his love for the craft. “Acting wasn’t really in the cards because the [entertainment] industry here is based on connections, and I had none,” he admits. With this, Elijah found his footing, discovering that acting was not just a profession, but a therapeutic journey through his characterizations.
Despite the emotional complexity of the roles he often undertakes, the actor finds solace in the art, noting that the process he takes to humanize his parts is what calms him. “I make my characters human. I imagine their lives, their likes and dislikes, as if they were real people I know,” he explains. In some way, Elijah ended up treating each character like a friend, which allowed him to really embody characters such as Paciano Mercado in the historical film GomBurZa, or in his villainous role as Pablo Caballero in FPJ’s Batang Quiapo.
But throughout his extensive portfolio of films, he’s learned to balance preparation with spontaneity. A pivotal moment came while filming About Us But Not About Us, which was a picture that was entirely shot within the backdrop of a small restaurant. Here, his director advised him to shed his over-preparedness for a more natural performance. “It was a slap in the face, but it taught me to adjust and be in the moment,” he says.
“More than the awards, it’s that I’m still here,” the 23-year-old says. “Awards are affirmations, but art is subjective. For me, it’s about enjoying the process and expanding my worldview with each character.” He says he just wants people to see that he takes his craft seriously. “Acting isn’t just about fame or money; it’s about telling stories and justifying the characters.”
Outside of acting, Elijah has explored music, releasing hip-hop singles under Island Records and UMG. “I’m just having fun with it,” he says, enjoying the creative freedom that music offers without the pressure he feels in acting and filmmaking.
Ultimately, regardless of what creative pursuit he is working on, the young man wants for people to “remember me as a kind person. And in terms of my work, I want them to see that I took my craft seriously and told important stories.”
By GABRIEL YAP. Photographs by REGINE DAVID. Vogue Man Editor: DANYL GENECIRAN. Stylist: Neil de Guzman. Makeup: Bea Mocorro. Hair: JA Feliciano. Actors: Elijah Canlas, Cedrick Juan, Kelvin Miranda. Producer: Anz Hizon. Photographer’s Assistant: Akira Watanabe. Stylist’s Assistant: Marga Bautista. Shot on location at Balara Content Studio.
