ISANG mahaba at emosyunal na open letter ang isinulat ng aktor na si Elijah Canlas para sa namayapa niyang kapatid na si JM na pumanaw nitong August 3, 2023. Sa sulat ni Elijah, na ibinahagi niya sa social media, ay binalikan niya ang panahon kung kailan niya nakita ang bunsong kapatid sa kauna-unahang pagkakataon. “I remember the first time I saw you, JM. Mom had chicken pox when she gave birth to you that’s why kuya Jerom and I weren’t able to meet you as soon as possible,” panimula ng aktor sa mahaba niyang post. “But I was there when mom and dad first brought you home. They had to run some quick errands so they left you with me and the maid at home. I was home early since I was still in pre-school,” pag-alala pa niya. Iyon daw ang unang beses na nagka-bonding silang magkapatid. “Our parents told me, ‘Kuya ka na! Alagaan mo kapatid mo.’ I vividly remember walking slowly to your room. You were on the bed sleeping,” pagbabalik-tanaw pa ni Elijah. “I was excited but shy. As I laid beside you, I just started to be mesmerized. Kuya na ako,” pagpapatuloy niya. “Ayaw kong mainitan ka so I turned the fan up. That accidentally woke you up but you didn’t really cry yet. You just looked at me. Perhaps waiting for me to introduce myself. So I did. I kept talking to you like you would understand me. You were just staring at me until our parents arrived.”
Kuwento pa ng aktor, habang lumalaki si JM ay nakitaan na niya ito ng husay sa maraming bagay. “Growing up, you always outshone kuya and I. At 4 years old, you already joined us onstage performing in school musicals. You’re everyone’s baby boy. You’d also compete in Math quiz bees and win,” sabi niya patungkol kay JM. “You starred in Team Yey! – giving joy and inspiration to your generation. You weren’t really formally trained in acting like us but, oh boy, did you excel whenever you’re onstage or onscreen (watch ‘Unconditional’ on Netflix to know what I mean). Mapa-Cinemalaya or Virgin Labfest pa iyan,” papuri pa niya sa nakababatang kapatid.
“You also remained to be the go-to-guy for our country’s dubbing industry even as your voice changed over time (he dubbed ‘Coco’, ‘Stranger Things’, ‘Home Alone’, ‘Extraction’, ‘Little Einsteins’, among many more.) I remember being in awe as I watched you dub that ‘Wednesday’show recently and telling you how great you are at what you do.” Bukod sa voice acting, may ibubuga rin daw ang youngest brother nila ni Jerom when it comes to music noong nabubuhay pa ito. “You taught yourself how to play guitar and the piano. You wrote songs and you played it for us. We’d be jamming together as a family on your facebook live because you love singing,” saad ni Elijah.
“You always had a knack with gaming and technology. We’d always run to you whenever we needed help with that techie stuff,” dagdag pa niya. Kaya naman ganu’n na lang daw siya ka-proud sa pagkakaroon ng kapatid na gaya ni JM. “I can go on and on about your achievements and success at your very young age. But most importantly to me, you’re the best little brother anyone can ever ask for. I am so so proud of you, JM. Iba ka,” sabi pa ni Elijah sa open letter niya. Sa 17 years ng buhay ni JM ay naging source of joy daw ito ng kanilang pamilya. “We call you kulit because you talked and moved nonstop when you were younger. You always know how to make us smile and laugh up until you grew older,” saad pa niya.
Aware din daw ang kapatid sa mga isyung panlipunan. “You manage to make all the people I introduce e to you feel comfortable and impressed — no matter what their SOGIE is; no matter how old or young. Everyone is important to you. You care for everything and everyone. You help and fight for the oppressed every chance you can. You always stand for what is right and just. You have the kindest and warmest heart. Everyone I know whom you’ve met loves you. You always end up being everyone’s favorite. Because you’re JM! The most intelligent, selfless, funniest, reliable, talented, and empathetic person. You really are the best of all of us,” pahayag pa ni Elijah.
Wala rin daw salitang puwedeng makapag-describe sa nakababata niyang kapatid. “I’ve been struggling to write ‘cause I don’t think anything will be enough to honor you. I always thought you deserved the best. That you deserved the world. But I realized that you are far too beautiful for this world, JM. We do not deserve you. This world does not deserve you,” aniya pa. Ngayong nasa kabilang buhay na si JM, huwag daw itong mag-alala dahil wala silang galit o tampo rito maliban lang sa labis na pangungulila dito. “Don’t worry about us. None of us are mad. We understand you completely. We just miss you, kulit. I miss you so f_ck_ng much,” sabi niya.
