The critically acclaimed Filipino film Sunshine boasts of a strong cast, including Elijah Canlas.
During his media day, Elijah shared how he immediately said yes to the project.
“It’s an advocacy that I really believed in also. So when it was offered, it was an immediate yes despite yung role nga. Honestly, sometimes when the project is really strong, I just wanna be part of it. Masabi ko lang, parte ako ng pelikula na ito, masaya na ako. And Sunshine is one of those projects, you know. And Maris (Racal) was really amazing in it. Jennica (Garcia) was amazing. The whole cast was amazing. Papa P (Piolo Pascual) was amazing in it. So, I'm just grateful and I feel blessed to be part of a movie that says so much,” he said.
Elijah also shared that they had hoped the film would at least be screened locally, despite its serious themes and subject matter.
“Ang daming pinaglalaban. And I think it's starting a conversation. I think it was successful. When we screened it nung February sa Berlin. Ang hope lang namin lahat ng tanong ay mapalalabas na ba ito sa Pinas? Lahat kami parang hindi namin nga alam kung mapapalabas ba namin siya because of the topic. Dahil yung censorship war dito minsan, medyo strict sila talaga. But thankfully, nabigyan ng nationwide release ng R16 rating,” he recalled.
The award-winning actor also expressed his gratitude to everyone who supported the film.
“Thankful ako sa Filipino audience na sumuporta ng sariling atin. Alam mo yun, thankful na dumayo talaga yung mga tao sa cinemas just to support this film. Kahit wala sila masyadong alam about it aside from the cast maybe and gymnast or whatever. Pero they supported it. And it's not the usual Filipino hit. Pero successful yung Sunshine,” Elijah expressed.
Elijah also shared how he played with his character Miggy who got Sunshine pregnant.
“I tried to make him more human. Kasi siyempre, when you read a character like that, ang daling sabihin na, Ay, ano 'to parang nang-iwan sa ere, ganyan-ganyan. But, siya, he's a kid, you know? How will you deal with something like that? Tapos, si Piolo Pascual, tatay mo, di ba? Mababatukan ka doon. And pastor pa siya doon,” he added.
He even looked back on his viral ad-lib during one of the film’s standout moments.
“I was trying to channel that energy, yung kinakabahan and wanting to say the right things for his father and also for Sunshine, right? So, dalawang tao yung pini-please niya. Tapos yung amen is something na feeling ko magugustuhan ng pastor na tatay na agree ako sa'yo. So, amen. Kahit sa Berlin, tumawa yung mga tao. Kaya ang masasabi ko, pwede na talaga ako mag-comedy pero walang naniniwala,” Elijah jested.
Aside from Sunshine, Elijah has also recently appeared in the comeback season of Maalaala Mo Kaya, where he portrayed Sofronio Vasquez.