Elijah Canlas takes on taboo topic of male abuse in Cinemalaya 2025 entry 'Raging'

Elijah Canlas said that his Cinemalaya 2025 film “Raging,” directed by Ryan Machado, hits close to home with its story about male abuse.

- By NATHALIE TOMADA

Directed by Ryan Machado (center), 'Raging' is set in Romblon and told entirely in the Sibuyanon dialect. Apart from Elijah, it also stars Ron Angeles (left)

“Madami din siyang themes, madaming mga topics na pinaglalaban yung ‘Raging’... but at its core, inmy character at least, it’s about male-to-male abuse also, which is barely talked about. It’s a taboo subject because, I guess, mga kalalakihan, ganun talaga... Hindi nata-tackle masyado yung male-to-male abuse in cinema,” he told The STAR in a recent one-on-one interview.

Apart from saying yes to the director, who was also his teacher at the University of the Philippines, the actor felt it was important to tell this story because of the personal experiences of people close to him.

“My brother was very outspoken about it. He’s also the assistant director of this film, si Kuya Jerome (Canlas). He’s very outspoken about his experience with male-to-male abuse, na naabuso siya ng isang professor namin dati,” the 25-year-old actor further said.