Elijah Canlas. Canlas/Instagram 

Elijah Canlas leads the pilot episode for the comeback season of "Maalaala Mo Kaya" (MMK), and he considers the experience as a full circle moment. 

According to Canlas, his last acting gig prior to the pandemic was for an MMK episode.

"MMK, It was about Taal. We did the taping but it never got to air. So it is a full-circle moment for me," he recalled in an interview during the roundtable discussion for MMK in Quezon City. 

Canlas will portray "The Voice" season 26 champion Sofronio Vasquez in an episode that chronicles his struggles both on and off the stage.

"I was getting to know his temperament as a person without a camera. All I could do is research appearances na meron niya. Kahit Kumu live niya before the pandemic, research," he explained. 

While honored to be handpicked by Vasquez for the role, the actor admitted feeling equally pressured—especially by the challenge of singing to bring the story to life.

He, however, was able to pull it off thanks to singing champ himself. 

"Siya vocal coach ko," Canlas enthused. "Before I accepted it, I asked if okay lang I can't sing like him na biritero. When I read the script may 2 songs, kinaya naman. Pumasok sa range."

The pilot episode is also a full circle moment for Romnick Sarmenta, who was described by MMK host Charo Santos-Concio as their "lucky charm."

Sarmenta, who portrayed a rebellious son in the very first episode of the Philippines' longest-running drama anthology, now returns to the pilot of the limited series—this time as the father of Vasquez.

"Thank you for starting the series. And now the limited series, it is with you again," Santos-Concio told Sarmenta. 

The limited series of MMK will be back on April 24 on iWantTFC. It  will also be shown on A2Z and Kapamilya Online (Live) and Kapamilya Channel after 48 hours. 

Another celebrity teased to be featured on the season is BINI's Sheena.

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