In an interview with Bianca Gonzalez for “Paano BaTo? The Podcast,” award-winning actor Elijah Canlas, opened up about his complex journey in the entertainment industry. Known for his breakthrough roles in “Kalel 15” and “Gameboys,” Elijah admitted that his relationship with acting wasn’t always love at first sight.
Elijah's story began in 2014 with his first acting project, but it didn’t ignite the passion one might expect. In fact, younger Elijah despised it. Reflecting on that time, he confessed, "I hated it, I hated acting, I hated anything that had to do with it. I hated theater. I hated just doing this in general." It was this intense dislike that led him to quit acting altogether, leaving the spotlight to figure out his path after several rejections.
He initially wanted to pursue filmmaking, preferring to stay behind the camera rather than in front of it. Elijah’s passion for storytelling found its way to directing, but a pivotal moment changed everything. After watching Dwayne Baltazar’s ‘Gusto Kita With All My Hypothalamus,” Elijah felt a shift. This led him to reach out to indie film producer Ferdinand Lapuz, but the answer was a surprising "no" due to Elijah's age at the time. However, as fate would have it, directors Jun Lana and Percival Intalan were starting their own talent management and took Elijah under their wing.
One fateful meeting with director Jun Lana gave Elijah the break he wasn’t expecting. Jun mentioned a movie project that was meant for him, which Elijah quickly realized he had already auditioned for four years prior. "I auditioned for that project back in 2014. Sinabi niya para sa'kin 'yon," he shared, still in disbelief. That project was “Kalel 15,” one of the films that would later define his career.
As he took on more roles, particularly the indie films he admired, Elijah slowly rekindled his love for acting. “Gameboys,” his breakout role during the pandemic, brought him mainstream success, but it was “Kalel 15” that made him fall in love with acting again. "I always grow whenever I do characters," he said, recognizing how the process of embodying different people allowed him to evolve both personally and professionally.
Acting wasn’t always a smooth ride. Elijah revealed that he started acting when he was 12, studying theater for four years, but consistently faced rejection in his auditions. He recalled the grueling commutes from Cavite to Manila, to Quezon City and Makati, with his mom by his side, only to be dismissed within minutes at auditions.
When Bianca asked if he feared burnout again, Elijah’s answer was surprising. "Even if it's not something I initially wanted to do, I always find the silver lining within it," he said. For him, it's the people he works with that make all the difference. "If I'm working with great people, no matter what I do, I'm good."
Despite his success, Elijah hasn’t abandoned his dreams of directing but for now, he’s grateful for the opportunities that have come his way, embracing each new project with a newfound sense of purpose and appreciation.
Elijah’s journey is a reminder that passion isn’t always immediate. Sometimes, it takes time, rejection, and a little bit of fate to find the path meant for you. As Elijah continues to shine on screen, his story of resilience and rediscovery serves as an inspiration to anyone questioning their purpose—because sometimes, the answer is just around the corner.
*Left photo credit to Elijah Canlas FB