Elijah Canlas admits difficulty separating reel from real pain in ‘Footprint’

“Sakit for sure,” Canlas admitted in a conversation with radar Entertainment, noting that his brother wrote the script as his way of coping during the first year since the tragic loss of their youngest brother JM.

While the narrative is partially fictionalized, Canlas shared the heavy challenge of performing the material given his intimate connection to the story. “I know where these things are coming from as well, and I’m the one performing it, so ‘di ba parang paano mo isese-separate ‘yun? Ang hirap, pero at the end of the day, trabaho siya,” he explained.

Despite the emotional toll, the actor praised the piece’s unflinching honesty, describing it as “painful in the best way.”

“It’s sensitively tackled, it’s beautifully tackled, it’s haunting,” Canlas said. “And it’s just very, very truthful. Balls to the wall ‘yong pagka-explore sa grief.”

Stepping into the spotlight ultimately transformed into a therapeutic outlet for the actor. Canlas shared that during rehearsals and their recent opening night, he realized that performing the piece in front of hundreds of people was also his own way to cope. He noted that their parents, who attended the premiere, found a similar sense of emotional release.

Sending a message of solidarity, Canlas hopes the production resonates with others navigating their own dark times.

“Sa mga tao na who are going through it, kung mapanood n’yo man or hindi, sana nakatulong sa inyo, sana maging release din siya sa inyo,” he shared. “And I hope you guys keep fighting.”

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