Kapamilya actor Elijah Canlas marked the third death anniversary of his younger brother, JM Canlas, earlier this week. In a series of Instagram Stories, he expressed how much he misses his younger brother and how he still feels the lingering pain from his death.
JM passed away at the age of 17. The family publicly announced the news on social media.
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“It is with the heaviest heart and deep sorrow that our family announces the death of our bunso, Jamile Matthew Madiclum Canlas, earlier this morning. He was 17. JM, as he was known to many, was a talented actor, athlete, musician, singer, debater, and gamer. He was always a proud Filipino with a bias and compassion for the poor and oppressed. But most of all, JM will forever be remembered as an incredible young man, son, brother, grandson, nephew, cousin, student, and friend," the post read.
Elijah shared several photos of himself with his younger brother from their trips together.
“It’s been 3 years. I miss you every single day, JM. I don’t think the pain will ever change. We just try to get stronger day by day to carry on. I love you more than anything,” he wrote.
“It sucks here without you, JM,” he added.
Friends of the Kapamilya actor comforted him in the reply section of his Instagram Stories. His fans sent heartwarming messages on various social media platforms and assured him that they are there to support him.
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In a previous interview with PUSH ABS-CBN, Elijah opened up about how much he misses his brother and wished he had told him more often how proud he was of him.
“I'm just so proud of him. Siyempre, yun yung regrets. I wish I did let him know kung gaano ako proud sa kaniya, how much I love him, how much I care for him. Pero, I know that he knows up there, and I know that he knew, even when he was still here, how much I love him and how proud he made our family,” Elijah expressed.
The family of JM has since then established KULIT, The JM Canlas Organization, which aims to “promote awareness and remove the stigma on mental health in Filipino households, foster care-based safe spaces for Filipino youth, and provide the needed psychological aid to Filipino children and teenagers—all to prevent another loss of a young, precious life from suicide.”