Actor Elijah Canlas dabbles in hosting as a ‘Vibe’ jock

Inhabiting someone else’s life is familiar territory for Elijah Canlas. The Gawad Urian Best Actor, however, has also dabbled in other entertainment and creative areas such as hosting and recording music.

“Well, I started out as a host when I was younger,” said he in a recent virtual chat with The STAR. “My first on-cam gig was as an on-field reporter for Nickelodeon. That’s how I started before I entered into film and TV (acting).”

This resumed when TV5 and MQuest pitched to him the idea of being a “Vibe” jock early this year. His initial reaction was that he needed to think it over at that time since he was focused on his acting projects.

“Hindi ko po talaga siya kinonsider until narinig ko yung concept (I was not really considering it until I heard the concept behind the show),” added he. “The concept is an OPM (Original Pilipino Music) countdown show, and I’m a musician as well. I’m trying to get into the music industry, the music business, trying to learn more about it, trying to be more exposed to the OPM industry.”

“So, when the concept was presented and explained to me, medyo kinonsider ko na siya (I somewhat considered it). Then when I was talking to my management, my team about it, they told me it would be great, of course, to try something else, try something new,” continued he, also thinking that it was time for him to learn something different and that piqued his interest.

During the first few weeks of doing “Vibe,” Elijah would shuttle between appearing in the studio for taping and rehearsals, and acting on set. He had a busy schedule. But he was able to take a rest, and Elijah did enjoy the opportunities that came his way.

“I’d tried to ask certain people, hosts that I know, from different networks,” shared Elijah about preparing for the “Vibe” jock task. “Nagtatanong po ako kung paano ba dapat? (I asked about how things should be done), like ‘How do you do this?’”

He also got the chance to co-host the PMPC Star Awards for TV with Robi Domingo, whom he considered as an idol in hosting.

Robi told Elijah to “Just be yourself. Kalmahan mo lang sarili mo (stay calm), show grace under pressure and always listen.”

“I’m the type of guy who really does research on the guests,” described Elijah the host in him as one “who is really curious to learn from our guests and to hear about them kung ano yung proseso nila (what their artistic, creative process is like). It’s the personality that I imbibe as a host, someone who is just curious, who is just willing to learn always, and is open and has lots of questions. And honestly, I also get starstruck sometimes with the guests.”

As a musician, he plays the guitar, but his main instrument is the keyboard. Elijah studied piano during the early part of the pandemic and learned a little about classical piano for the film “Keys to the Heart” on Netflix. These days his tools are pen and notebook when writing songs. His genre is hip-hop and he is into rap. His recent single, Joseph K, is available on Spotify and it has a music video on YouTube.

“Well, I’m a big fan of hip-hop, even of the OPM scene,” said he. “I think hip-hop is the genre where you can exercise, you know, a lot of urgent poetry, mas urgent yung messaging ‘pag dating sa rap, be it political, social or personal. I’m enjoying it. So, as a fan, I’m enjoying writing poetry and rhymes.”

Writing this literature can be traced back to when he was younger and while doing certain projects. Elijah did rap in “Game Boys: The Movie” and “LSS (Last Song Syndrome).”

“Some filmmakers know that I really love to rap. So, I thought, why don’t I take this seriously? Ang music thing na ito?” said the University of the Philippines student, who also gets to promote his own music on “Vibe.” One of his songs also landed on the leaderboard. Elijah had the chance to perform it on the “Main Vibe” stage.

“Sobrang nakaka-proud (I’m so proud),” he said of being part of a show that champions Pinoy music and its emerging and established artists, as well as introduces them to the younger generation.

In terms of acting, Elijah appears in the full-length entry “Raging” and the short film “Water Sports” at the now-ongoing 21st Cinemalaya Philippine Independent Film Festival. He’s also one of the lead stars in the film “Salvageland.”

As a “Vibe” jock, he feels lucky to be part of the show since he is, like, in the front-row seat to watch the Pinoy music talent.

Please watch “Vibe” on weekdays at 4:45, weeknights at 11:30, and on Saturdays at 6:30 p.m. and Sundays, 6:45 p.m.