Elijah Canlas gained popularity and praises after portraying the lead character in the BL series Gameboys opposite Kokoy de Santos.
The male star effortlessly acted as a gay man named Cario in the series which made others question his sexuality in real life
In a Facebook Live, last August 7, talent manager and LGBTQ member Ogie Diaz questioned the 19-year-old celebrity if he really is a straight guy.
Canlas answered, “Well, straight po ako! Pero I mean… as a person sobrang open lang po talaga ako, especially as an artist na you know that there’s no one way to love.”
The Gameboys star implied that things may change in the future and said he is open to love regardless of gender.
“And I don’t know what will happen in the future kasi I’m living in ‘the now’, in the present. So I’m just a very open person and I’m open to loving whoever, whatever, pero straight po ako.”
When asked if he has ever had a guy crush, he responded, “Well, hindi pa po… hindi pa po.
“Pero, like kunyari, meron po kasing mga lalaki na talented, ang talino, guwaping talaga, like sa States po—si Timothee Chalamet,” he added.
Canlas explained that he just wanted to be like the foreign actor and denied having crushes.
“Alam n’yo po yung mukhang yon? Sana ganun ako, ganun ako kagaling umarte tapos ang talas pa ng jawline. Pero wala pa naman pong crush na yung crush-crush talaga.”
The male star surmised people started to have doubts about his sexuality following his portrayal in the hit BL series The Idea First Company. He then shared how he deals with these speculations.
“Opo. I mean, ako po, hindi ko naman po… hindi po ako masyadong mahilig magbasa ng comments kasi personally, ako po medyo may pagka-sensitive po ako.”
For Canlas, being questioned about his sexuality is like a compliment to his effective acting skills.
“Hindi nga po ako sanay sa… Mahiyain nga po akong tao and medyo private. Pero natuto na rin po akong magbasa sa criticism po ng ibang tao at marami po akong nakikitang pinagdududahan nga yung pagkalalaki ko which is for me is like the best compliment ever. Kasi ibig sabihin na-justify ko yung role, kaya wala din po akong masyadong problema do’n,” katwiran ng aktor.
Diaz then asked if he could develop feelings with someone of the same gender. Canlas said that he needs to be openminded and accepting of whatever changes that may happen.
“Hindi po ako nagsasara ng ano… Feeling ko po trabaho ko rin as an artist, as an actor, I need to be open-minded all the time. I need to be ready for anything which I don’t know what will happen in the next year, the next couple of years in my life, pero I need to be ready for anything that happens.
“And I need to be accepting and open to it as long as hindi po siya mali. Ang tao naman po may likas na sense kung ano yung tama, mali at mararamdaman ko naman po yon. Nandito rin po yung magulang ko, pamilya ko, mga kaibigan para i-guide din po ako sa tama. Pero open lang po talaga ako parati. Hindi po ako natatakot sa kung anumang puwedeng mangyari,” the actor said.
