Jerom Canlas dedicates Cinemalaya film Huling Palabas to late brother JM
Jerom Canlas, the creative producer and assistant director of the Cinemalaya 19 full-length entry Huling Palabas, dedicated the movie to his younger brother, JM, who passed on last Aug. 3.
During the gala night and screening of Huling Palabas last Wednesday at the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC), Jerom announced he was presenting the film in memory of his late brother.
“Like what you will see in the film, the characters of Andoy and Pido… I also know somebody who is very close to me. (He was) 17 years old who recently passed on, just last week. He is my brother JM,” he shared.
“He wasn’t able to watch the film. While we (were) doing this film, lagi po siyang sumisilip kapag nanood po ako ng edits and online viewing,” Jerom recalled. “He would ask me if pwede ko bang ipanood sa kanya. But I would tell him na sa gala screening na pero hindi po siya umabot.”
“I am telling you (audience) this because I want to share that if you know someone or someone close to you who is struggling with their mental health, please contact a professional or seek professional health para maiwasan po at umagapay po sa kanila,” he continued.
“I am dedicating this film to Jamile Matthew Madiclum Canlas, my youngest brother,” Jerom stated.
Jerom and Huling Palabas director Ryan Machado were batchmates in Jun Lana’s CinePanulat Screenwriting Lab in 2019. They became friends and decided to work together on Huling Palabas.
After the film showing, The STAR had a brief chat with Jerom, where he talked more about his sibling. “He showed his support to me for the film. (JM) and direk Ryan are also friends,” Jerom told this paper. “He was also friends with our friends, naming magkakapatid because he was also part of the industry.”
Jerom furthered how JM was almost cast for the lead role as Andoy. “In fact, he was supposed to be Andoy originally. We wanted him to audition but tumangkad siya bigla eh, naging 6’2 siya. So, hindi na bagay for the role. Sayang.”
“But he was there when we did stage reading for the fundraising. He was observing. He was also a minor sponsor,” Jerom added.
Jerom was overall satisfied with how Huling Palabas had turned out. “Actually, step by step, I was there doing the iterations. Talagang kami ni Ryan yung umuupo. Ako yung kasama niya lagi.”
“Unfortunately, it was the first time that I saw the last cut. Kasi nung galing ako sa sound post (production), while we (were) editing the sound, that night my brother died. When I got home, (I received the sad news). So, I wasn’t able to see the final cut because clutched kami when this was sent to me.”
“It’s still fresh but we’re just pushing through with our family,” said Jerom on the demise of JM. “We are all present here (screening). We wanted to come, actually hindi na dapat, but we wanted to come because may dedication for JM. And of course, I worked on this film for a long time, with direk Ryan, so we wanted to (show) support.”
On what he missed most about JM, he shared, “Yung kakulitan niya. Everything… It’s really tough. Everything about him. I miss him every day, every second of the day. Walang akong ibang iniisip but him. Kahit yung masasama, kahit yung mabuti, everything. We really missed him.”
Moreover, Jerom’s other brother, award-winning actor Elijah, also participated in the film. He did stage reading during the fundraising event. Elijah and girlfriend Miles Ocampo were present during the gala night and film screening.
Elijah declined to comment about JM but he was proud of his older brother’s achievement. “I really loved the movie and I’m so proud of the whole team,” he declared. “My kuya is the creative producer as well and also a director. I know what he went through in terms of the filmmaking process. The director of the film, direk Ryan Machado, is my professor at UP Manila.”
“We really helped out to finish this film, especially during the post-production. They needed help, so we held stage readings and (asked) volunteer actors to help the fundraising. So, of course, I lent my participation to the film,” he shared.
“But other than that, hands down ako sa buong cast and crew. It’s something new, it’s a fresh take on a story and I’m so happy to see a movie like this at Cinemalaya.”
Elijah took part in last year’s Cinemalaya entry Blue Room and he hoped to participate again next year. “Let’s see (in the) 20th year of Cinemalaya next year, I hope to be part of that. I had the chance to be part of this year sana eh kaso nagka-conflict with scheduling. Sayang. But next year I’m hoping to be part of it again.” He also extended his congratulations to Cinemalaya for staging a successful event.
Elijah is currently filming the ABS-CBN series Senior High and the Philippine adaptation of South Korea’s Keys to the Heart.
(If you or someone you know need/s help, call the National Center for Mental Health Crisis Hotline through the following hotlines: toll-free Luzon-wide landline [1553]; for mobile, dial 0917-8998727; 0966-3514518, or 0908-6392672.)
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