Elijah Canlas On Honoring His Late Brother JM Through Advocacy And Sport

Two years have passed since Elijah Canlas lost his younger brother, JM. The grief remains, but so does the drive to honor his memory in the most meaningful way possible.

- By Nathalie M. Tomada

Through the KULIT (Kalinga, Unawa at Linang sa Isip at Taglay) Foundation—founded by Elijah and his family—their advocacy for mental health awareness continues to grow. And at the heart of their efforts includes the sport that brings their family together: badminton.

This March 29 to 30, they are set to hold the second JM Canlas Badminton Cup, a fundraising tournament that will help sustain their mission.

"The JM Canlas Badminton Cup is a fundraising tournament for KULIT Foundation, a non-profit organization that my family and I established in honor of my brother, JM Canlas."

"Kulit" also happened to be the family's term endearment for JM, who passed away in August 2023. The family didn't disclose the cause of the death then but issued a statement that he struggled with his mental health.

According to Elijah, the sports event aims to help break the stigma surrounding mental health in the Philippines, start conversations, provide much-needed support to adolescents struggling with their mental well-being, educate parents, not just the kids, about what mental health is through "seminars, workshops, art therapy and talks going around schools."

"So, the JM Badminton Cup is basically an event to raise funds for these initiatives," the young actor explained.

Their choice of sport was no coincidence—it was JM's passion.

"Badminton because si JM was a varsity player of badminton at La Salle Green Hills, and badminton is our family sport," Elijah said. "More than once a week, nagba-badminton kami bilang pamilya. Minsan kaming dalawa lang, minsan kaming lima, minsan kaming magkakapatid lang. Growing up, it has always been our passion aside from the arts to be sporty and athletic."

JM, he fondly recalled, was the best among them. "He was the best among us—sobrang passionate siya. He wanted to compete at the UAAP, to get into Ateneo or La Salle, and to represent them in tournaments," Elijah shared.