MANILA, Philippines – It has been two years since Elijah Canlas lost his sibling, JM. Despite the enduring sorrow, he remains committed to commemorating his brother’s legacy through significant actions. With this aim, Elijah and his relatives established the KULIT (Kalinga, Unawa at Linang sa Isip at Taglay) Foundation. This organization keeps expanding its mission to raise consciousness about mental health issues. Central to these initiatives is a game cherished by their family: badminton.

On March 29 to 30, they plan to host the second JM Canlas Badminton Cup, a charitable competition aimed at supporting their ongoing efforts.

The JM Canlas Badminton Tournament is an event organized to raise funds for the KULIT Foundation, a nonprofit entity that my family and I set up in memory of my sibling,JM Canlas.

On March 29th and 30th, Elijah Canlas along with his family will be hosting the second annual JM Canlas Badminton Cup aimed at raising money for their mental health efforts. The actor-musician shares, “We created the JM Canlas Badminton Cup as a fundraiser for KULIT Foundation, which we founded in memory of my late sibling, JM Canlas.”

“Kulit” was also the affectionate nickname used within the family for JM, who sadly passed away in August 2023. At that time, the family chose not to reveal the reason behind his passing but did share a statement indicating that he had been battling mental health issues.

Elijah says that the sports event seeks to address the stigma related to mental health in the Philippines, kickstart discussions, offer essential assistance to teenagers dealing with their psychological wellness, and inform both children and parents about mental health via “workshops, seminars, art therapy sessions, and talks held across various educational institutions.”

During the Berlinale Festival in Berlin, Elijah encounters Oscar-winning director Bong Joon-ho of ‘Parasite’.

“So, essentially, the JM Badminton Cup is an event aimed at raising money for these projects,” the young actor clarified.

It wasn’t by chance that they chose this particular sport — JM had always been passionate about it.

Badminton because Si JM was part of the varsity team for badminton at La Salle Green Hills, and badminton is our family sport,” Elijah explained. “We play as a family more than once a week. Sometimes just the two of us, sometimes all five of us, and occasionally only the siblings. Throughout our upbringing, apart from being into the arts, we have always had a passion for staying active and fit…

JM, as he fondly remembered, stood out from the rest. “He was the best of us all — incredibly passionate,” Elijah said. JM had dreams of competing in the UAAP, getting accepted into either Ateneo or La Salle, and representing one of these schools in various tournaments.”

Ang alala na natitira sa kanya para samin ay tungkol sa badminton, ang larong paborito niya.

Elijah described losing JM as “the most heartbreaking” event their family has endured, an outcome nobody anticipated. The sorrow still lingers.

“We’re handling this one day at a time. Certainly, the sorrow is still present,” Elijah confessed.

Since what occurred was unforeseen. I believe those who have lost somebody they truly loved would mention that grief never fully disappears — it remains with you always. The crux lies in how you navigate through it, and continue with your daily life regardless.

Anong paraan mong susgagamitin ang ginhawaing iyon? Kakilabutan ka kaya o sisikapin mong gamiting ito bilang inspirasyon?

For the Canlas clan, this prompted them to take action.

“The JM Canlas Badminton Cup and the KULIT Foundation are our ways of coping with that sorrow,” Elijah stated.

From way back, we’ve always been keen on assisting folks through charitable activities. Then, after what occurred with my brother, we realized we had no time to spare. Unfortunately, this unfortunate event made us realize that helping others is truly what we want to do—reach out to even more individuals. Thus, this is how we’re directing our sorrow.

Elijah and his family, through their group, have come across people who support their cause.

Actually, mental health isn’t truly considered or seriously discussed among people as being an integral part of healthcare. It’s crucial to recognize it as a significant issue.

Sa pamamagitan ng organizasyon, sila ay nakakapoot sa ilang tao dahil sa kaniláng seriusong kaso, lalo na ang mga balita na ‘oo nga, mas panghinao ito ngayon higit pa sa lahat, ” lalo na para sa kasalukuyang henerasyon.

Given the easy access people have to information and everything related to it, I hope individuals also get informed about mental health.

When questioned about maintaining his mental health, Elijah shared with The STAR, “I keep myself occupied through my work… particularly by filmmaking or creating music, which has taught me much about myself. Even the characters I’ve played have provided insights into people as a whole.”

So, that’s how I take care of my mental well-being. Besides this, getting proper rest is crucial and often overlooked. Sleep is undervalued too. Similarly, prayer doesn’t get enough credit. These activities form part of my daily routine, emphasizing the significance of rest and prayers particularly. Additionally, sharing moments with my family and close friends greatly supports my mental health.

Following the death of his sibling, he has intensified his efforts in championing mental health causes.

“Indeed, long before all these events, mental health has always been one of my causes. At the age of 17, just like him, I was diagnosed with severe depression. I too had gone through similar struggles,” he shared.

I had to be hospitalized because I was on medication. This isn’t something many people discuss openly. Even celebrities who have been through similar situations—nag-me-meds they say, underwent psychiatric care, were admitted to hospitals too—but due to the stigma surrounding mental health issues, it can be really tough to open up about such experiences.

Ang bagay ay hindi naman siya pinapahintulutan na dapat talagang diskuhan ngayon, pero ang layunin namin ay para maalis yung stigma at tamadla dahil sa pakikipagusapan. Pag-aaral pa rin kasi sila bago magkaroon ng diagnosis kapag pumupunta ka kay doktor o psikologo. Kaya tulungan mo ang sarili mong makipagbalita sa mga taong maluob kita.

These days, he mentioned that an increasing number of individuals have reached out to him, his parents, or his older brother, all eager to share their experiences. “It seems as though people are drawn to someone who can comprehend what they’re going through since it’s difficult to express these feelings with words.”

It’s difficult to express exactly what your family is experiencing. As long as we remain open about it, keep discussing it, and avoid being judgmental, more lives can be saved.

Reflecting back, Elijah recounted how his younger sibling had made a difference in many people’s lives.

When he was still with us, he assisted numerous individuals. Unexpectedly, during his wake, many approached us saying thatJMhad aided themwith theirmentalhealth issues. It came as a surprise thathehelpedso manypeople, yetstruggledto helphimself.

But apart from that, what we want to celebrate through his memory is the fact that he assisted numerous individuals, and we will continue assisting others in his honor and for his name. We hope to be successful in this.

For Elijah, keeping alive the memory of JM involves integrating his presence into all facets of daily living.

“I feel like he hasn’t really left. It seems as though his presence will forever stay with me. His memories will remain etched in my heart. From here onwards, whatever I pursue—be it my profession, individual projects, or this organization—all of these efforts will be dedicated to him,” he stated.