VP/Xclusives | A Poet’s Love: The Language of Elijah Canlas

In the name of love, we have always believed that actions speak louder than words. What delight can one find in the sweetest of words if matched with the bland taste of acts? But this seems to undermine the power of an affection etched in the curated rhymes and depth of the metaphors offered to a muse painted with words—a power that not only gives world to one but creates another, and a force that speaks right to the soul. And that exactly is the power of a poet’s love—the language of Elijah Canlas.

We have seen Elijah step into different characters and tell us countless stories of varying narratives in films and shows. But two years ago, he introduced a side of himself that offered another depth of authenticity engraved in the lowercase letters of his name in the music industry: elijah. Although it may appear subtle and a little more laid-back to some, elijah is a daring poet who unfolds metaphors and paints images with rhymes to the beats and rhythms that resound. “I feel like I’m baring myself naked in front of everybody. Writing [my stories] down sa paper and sa music, it’s scary and daunting, but at the same time, fulfilling,” he reveals when I asked him about elijah.

Even though the genesis of elijah seems to have just taken place two years ago, the poet in him has always manifested through the writings he did in his room growing up. Inside the pages of his journals and papers, he wrote everything, pacifying the chaos of the invincible creative force in him and translating the amount of love he has for others, until it became the language that his heart and tongue speak—the very love of a poet.

Translating the Love From Page One

Poets hold the power to immortalize stories, experiences, and all the emotions they feel at a certain moment in their lives through their writings, and so did Elijah Canlas. He has a collection of all his poems, songs, and journal entries where memories from the past dwell in the vivid vision of his imagery. One thing is for sure: every word speaks of the love that Elijah has for himself and others.

As we spoke about his early days of exploring his passion for writing, Elijah shared an interesting fact about the first pages of his journals. “You know what, sa lahat ng journals na sinulatan ko noong bata ako, even sa notebooks ko now, the first page, I would leave it empty and write ‘Bubuti rin ang lahat.'” During those days, these words served as Elijah’s affirmation of self-love and hope for a better tomorrow for himself, who by that time struggled with silent battles against severe depression. True enough, better days came for Elijah. The words he committed to the first pages of his journals now serve as a testament to his conquest.

On the other hand, the battleground against the struggles on mental health continued to challenge their family, following the tragic passing of his brother JM two years ago. “He fought a very good fight. Nilabanan niya lahat ng struggles. At the end, nanalo lang ‘yong darkness na nakikita niya,” Elijah shares. And the grief they felt at that time fueled a great realization of their purpose in life as a family—to speak and to save.

“Parang nabigyan ako [and] my family ng different purpose in life. Initially, even just a day after he passed away, gusto na agad namin magkaroon ng organization to help save lives and more kids who are struggling with their mental health kasi ‘yon ang mga regrets namin. Feeling namin, it’s not too late para makabawi kay JM.”
-Elijah Canlas

Realizing the words he etched on page one of his journals, the poet mastered the art of translating that love to a powerful movement that gave birth to JM Canlas Badminton Cup, which just celebrated its second year. More than a recreational activity, a sport that their family loved, and a game that JM played as a varsity, it is a campaign that champions the causes for mental health. “In honor of his memory, we chose this way to raise funds, so we could start programs, go around schools and campuses around the country, and spearhead ‘yong initiative ng KULIT Organization,” Elijah narrates.

This translation of love for his brother continues to create a clear statement on the need to address the issues of mental health, especially in a society where the stigma surrounding the conversation kills. “Grabe pa rin ‘yong stigma around it, grabe pa rin ‘yong judgment, grabe pa rin ‘yong shallow perspective when it comes to it. Kaya gusto namin, seryosohin siya ng mga tao because we are losing lives as we speak, and it’s really a serious issue that we need to address now.”

Elijah Canlas also recognizes the significance of seeking professional help for mental health. On the other hand, he also believes that such remains a privilege to many, which their movement aims to address through raising funds to make therapies and education on mental health more accessible. He sees the weight that this conversation holds as it involves lives and dreams at stake.

“Mental health is real. We need to save lives, and it’s urgent. It’s really urgent.”
-Elijah Canlas

Elijah always goes back to the words he would keep on writing on page one of his journal, “Bubuti rin ang lahat,” constantly claiming its power and translating the love it holds to fuel a movement in the present that saves. The power of the poet’s words truly transcends the capacity to express; it creates a change, inspires people, and breaks the long-standing stigma on conversations that truly matter. And as someone who also found his salvation on the words from page one of his own journals, Elijah Canlas translates the love even deeper to people who may share a similar story.

“Bubuti rin ang lahat. This, too, shall pass. Everything, one way or another, will pass. Life will go on, and the people who matter are the people who love you and care for you. They will stick around if it’s true. If they believe in you, they will stick around. Even if wala nga e. Even if you think you’re alone, I swear to God, you’re not! There will always be someone or something that will give you purpose in this life. We’re put on this earth for a reason: to coexist.”
-Elijah Canlas

Love Language: The Musings of elijah

From page one of his journals, Elijah continued to be true to the poet within him, immortalizing the strong force of love for himself and others on countless blank pages. He consistently creates his own world through his writings, turning experiences, emotions, and even struggles into art forms. Little did he know, the pieces he once inked on the paper would later become the masterpieces that elijah would share with the world and even spark inspiration among others to speak the poet’s language.

As we talked about forms of love, Elijah immediately remembered a moment in his life when he realized that kindness is the “simplest but most powerful form of love.” He learned this from an artist-to-artist conversation with the late actor Eddie Garcia—a lesson he still carries to this day.

“[Eddie Garcia] was giving me tips on how to last in this industry: one is to not be late; two is to study your script; and the third is to be kind—that was his last one. Noong una, parang iniisip ko na he would give me tips on acting or whatever, but he said, ‘Be kind. Don’t be late.”
-Elijah Canlas

But what really is the language that the heart of Elijah and the tongue of the poet speak in the name of love, I asked. “Words of affirmation, for sure. Ako, I love literature. I write songs, I write poems, I write journal entries, or whatever. Mahilig akong magsulat, so kapag nasasabi ko ‘yong mga thoughts ko, either I’d say it or write it, or kapag nakatanggap ako ng compliment, it really means the world to me,” he reveals. Truly, a poet’s love lies in the powerful depths of words, inking an immortal ode to whom he offers them—the muses.

Listening to the masterpieces elijah has already shared with the world, such as “kilala kita” and “asar talo,” he made clear that sometimes a poet’s muse is the poet himself. These songs reveal stories of Elijah Canlas as elijah—the real him, far from the characters and masks he would wear as an actor. The narratives of these songs unfold real-life experiences and emotions of elijah immortalized in words that speak to the souls who find similarity and inspiration in his journey.

“Sa music, it’s all me, you know, like I’m using my real name, I’m writing all my songs on my own, and they are really fragments of myself in different times of my life.“
-Elijah Canlas

Beyond himself, a poet looks at the bigger world around him to seek a muse to grace the universe he will create. And with the strong force of love from within, the poet found a muse in Miles Ocampo, to whom he wrote “loved song” back when their relationship was just starting. When I asked him about the story behind this masterpiece, he revealed the sweeter side of elijah, saying this piece was his monthsary gift for Miles. And then he kept on telling stories behind the song with a different level of excitement, explaining why Elijah revealed something for the first time.

“Ito, first time ko ‘to masasabi: I was hoping for better communication between the both of us—parang mas expressive lang when there’s a problem, I’m here. Hindi mo kailangang matakot magsabi sa akin o humingi ng tulong, and all—assurance.”
-Elijah Canlas

With lines like “Baby, don’t worry about the worry. When things get scary, you can call me,” loved song mirrors the affection of the poet behind these curated rhymes for the muse he wanted to give assurance and comfort amidst the chaos of the world around. It manifests the genuine language of Elijah’s love, creating a safer universe where only the poet and his muse exist.

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Love through Rhymes and Rhythms

Stories are told, and so are the poet’s words, but sometimes their rhymes are recited to the rhythms that follow the beats of their hearts. As elijah continued to pen masterpieces, he also discovered its beauty in the realm of music through the form of rapping, which ironically he found uninteresting in his younger years. “I hated rap growing up a, kasi di ko masyadong naiintidihan. Pero noong high school ako, nagkaroon ako ng different appreciation for it noong napakinggan ko ‘yong music ni Kendrick Lamar,” he reveals. With a heart that also beats for the beauty of films, the cinematic energy and poetry of “good kid, M.a.a.d city” awaken another passion in him.

What seemed to be his baptism in the world of rapping led him to a path of exploration in the diverse and vibrant landscape of the Original Pinoy Music rap. He found a community where elijah truly belongs. “We have so much talent here in the Philippines; so many great lyricists, rappers, musicians, producers, so parang it’s also an exciting industry to be a part of,” Elijah Canlas utters with enthusiasm for the world that he consistently traverses in the present. “Itong music, I’m still learning. Alam kong bago pa lang ako, so my eyes and ears are open, and I’m here to learn.”

“Expect me na no censors! Nothing holding me back! I could get very immature in this EP or very petty, but I can also be very introspective. Different talaga siya but it’s all me.”
-Elijah Canlas

While the upcoming EP promises a braver face of elijah, its significance for the poet himself is anchored to a personal narrative and memories as it tells stories inspired by his experiences two years ago. He finds every song close to his heart, revealing that his late brother even heard of this love through the rhymes and rhythms on his first gig.

“These songs mean everything to me, and I personally went through kung anoman ‘yong song na ‘yon. I believe in them.”
-Elijah Canlas

His songs speak beyond the creative force that continues to push elijah to pen words that connect to the heart of anyone who dares to read and to listen; it tells the depth of his stories, emotions, and experiences submerged in the metaphors of his masterpieces. His upcoming EP is a collection of fragments that form a mirror reflecting the most authentic version of himself.

Elijah is indeed a poet, a muse, and a storyteller that the world needs to hear. As he curates rhymes, speaks through the rhythms, and immortalizes the depths of his affection, Elijah Canlas will continue to speak the language of a poet’s love.

Photographer | Kean Nobleza
Brooch | Chanel

Stylists
MESMYRRHIZED:
Myyrh Lao To
Josh Galang
Carlie Lajara

Special Thanks
Cornerstone Entertainment:
President | Erickson Raymundo
Vice President | Jeff Vadillo
AVP for Music/Ad & Promo Head | Caress Caballero
Ad & Promo Assistant | Mika Severa
Elijah Canlas’ Handler | Gian Carlos
Elijah Canlas’ Road Manager | Sherina Agoncillo

Cornerstone Music
Island Records