Elijah Canlas has joined the cast of 'FPJ's Batang Quiapo.' MJ Felipe, ABS-CBN

MANILA -- For weeks now, we’ve been hearing rumors about the reconciliation between Elijah Canlas and Miles Ocampo.

When we visited Canlas in Tanay, Rizal at the set of his primetime action series "Batang Quiapo," we really planned to ask him for clarifications if the rumors are indeed true. But to our surprise, the Kapamilya actor hinted that it could actually be true.

Elijah Canlas confirms breakup with Miles Ocampo

Asked if finding love again is part of his personal goals for 2024, he replied: “Looking for love? What if love pa?”

Surprised by his own answer, he quickly clarified and said, “There's always love within us right? There's always love within us... and I have so much love to give, you know."

“Honestly I have so much love to give. So much love inside of me and I'm willing to give it to anyone who's willing to accept.”

Canlas said he and Ocampo are friends again and back to communicating. In fact after the interview, he had to quickly message Ocampo about how he answered the question.

We had to clear it one more time and asked if they just got back together?

“We’re friends. You’ll be the first to know,” he replied with the biggest smile on his face.

Back in November 2023, Canlas confirmed that he and Ocampo have called it quits a couple of months back, saying he "went through a rough patch and personal problems" as the reason for the breakup.

Joining ‘Batang Quiapo’ 

Fresh from his stint in the successful series "Senior High," Canlas is one of the newest additions to the growing cast of the primetime action series "FPJ's Batang Quiapo."

But the new project comes with some new challenges.

Canlas plays the role of Pablo Caballero, the grandson of Don Facundo (Jaime Fabregas) and Senyora Bettina (Tessie Tomas). He was introduced as the apparent heir of the Caballeros but shows disinterest and stubborness in handling the family’s businesses.

But Canlas revealed to ABS-CBN News, “Honestly there was a different role offered to me. It’s a type of role na I’ve done before kaya I really thought hard about it even if I wanted to join ‘Batang Quiapo’ so much. Kasi ang dami kong nababalitaan eh, the experience about being part of the show, sa shoot, ang ganyan-ganyan. Nung una we were hesitant pa. And we were so honored kasi Kuya Coco thought of a role for me ito nga si Pablo Caballero.”

When he sat down with Martin, they talked about where his character and the story will lead to. “And nung nakwento 'yung trajectory nung role, game na agad. Yes na agad,” Canlas said.

Challenge accepted

Being in an action-themed project is nothing new to Canlas, who played a boxer before in "Suntok sa Buwan."

“For the past months, we’ve been doing workshops. Up to now, it’s still ongoing, stunt training, gun training, even acting workshops kasi may different formula 'yung style of acting here sa ‘Batang Quiapo’ and we had to learn that.”

He was made aware that, like other actors in the series, he has the sole responsibility of building his character from scratch.

“Sobrang nanibago, pero it was fun. It was something new for me. Something challenging. Something that I have never done before, this style of acting. This type of show,” he said.

He also had to physicalize his new character and make it far from his previous role in "Senior High" as Archie Aguerro.

“Ang isa sa major concern ng lahat was how to make this different from my last show ‘Senior High’, where I played a high school student. Pero here I’m playing someone na mas threatening, mas matured guy. Si Pablo may bigote. 'Direk, papatubo ako ha ng bigote.' Sabi niya, ‘Kaya mo ba?’ I hope pasado sa mga manonood.”

Busy year

So far in the series, Canlas has been sharing the screen and scenes with top-caliber actors such as Tomas, Fabregas, Tommy Abuel and Christopher de Leon who gave him a thumbs-up in one of the scenes that they did.

But the young Kapamilya actor is looking forward to the day that he will share the screen with Martin.

“I was just telling him nung motorcade nung nakaraan, ‘Kuya Coco, kailan tayo magkaka-eksena?’ Nung sinabi ko nga sa kanya na gusto ko ma-experience sabi niya, ‘Sure ka na ba?’ Sabi ko ‘oo naman!’”

Canlas is booked and busy this year. Aside from "Batang Quiapo," he will start filming the biopic "EDJOP: The Edgar Jopson Story" with Jodi Sta. Maria and Cedrick Juan, about the Martial Law activist with Canlas in the title role.

He is also set to release his own music. Canlas, it turns out, is a big fan of R&B and hip-hop music and he is set to come out with his own tracks before the year ends. 

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