Through banter and laughter, Elijah Canlas and Xyriel Manabat talk about holding everything they’ve learned from RoxChie, each other, and ‘High Street’ close to heart.
Related: 9 RoxChie Moments From Senior High and High Street That Have Kept Us Glued To Our Screens
What makes an onscreen tandem work—romantic or otherwise?
Powerhouse Gen Z actors Elijah Canlas and Xyriel Manabat may be saying goodbye to their High Street characters Archie Aguerro and Roxy Cristobal, and subsequently to the popular onscreen pairing of RoxChie—with a much-awaited happy ending, no less—but they will forever carry the lessons they’ve learned and the respect and admiration they have for each other with them as they go on with their careers.
From teen drama Senior High to its sequel, mystery thriller High Street, RoxChie as a tandem has gained a pretty large and committed following due to the actors’ chemistry and excellent acting chops, as well as the enemies-to-lovers storyline. Elijah and Xyriel, fond of their characters and passionate about telling compelling stories, portray the couple skillfully and with plenty of heart. No wonder they’ve earned themselves a following.
NYLON Manila sat down with Elijah Canlas and Xyriel Manabat to talk about RoxChie and High Street, their connection to the characters they play, and the dedication with which they approach their craft. Honest, eloquent, and humble, the two actors reflect on the journey they’ve had together and the journeys they want to take, excited for what comes next.
THE LONG ROAD
In the mystery drama thriller High Street, Elijah Canlas portrays Archie Aguerro, a former spoiled rich kid turned ex-convict on a path of redemption. Xyriel Manabat plays Roxy Cristobal, #1 Archie-hater turned weary working mother, who has been taking care of her and Archie’s son Riley. Riley was conceived after Archie and Roxy spent a vulnerable night together in Senior High, but Roxy was forced to become a single mother after Archie suddenly disappears.
After a five year time jump, and having spent the first part of High Street in prison, Archie comes back to Roxy’s life ready to take responsibility and seeking forgiveness and redemption. Though they eventually get their happy ending, the road to a happy family was long and arduous.
“Bitin,” they say of how they felt about closing the chapter on RoxChie. Elijah continues, “Bitin talaga, even for us, yung time together ni Roxy and Archie.”
“Sobrang dami pang potential,” Xyriel adds. At the beginning of the series, Roxy and Archie’s storyline was slow to develop given Elijah’s role in Batang Quiapo keeping him booked and busy. The actors admitted that they wanted more—a sentiment shared by their fans (who they are eternally grateful for and are always amazed by).
“We know our characters,” they say. “And we just want what’s best for them.”
If the actor had the chance to take Archie’s arc even further, he would have the character prove himself even more to Roxy and their son that he was a fit father. And Xyriel tacks on how wonderful it would have been to tap into the life of Roxy even more, explore her struggles as a single, teenage, working mom. But carrying on roles and tandems from one show to another is rare, and they enjoyed the time they spent with such interesting characters.
“At the end of the day,” Elijah says. “We’re grateful that we got to continue our characters’ stories, kasi napamahal din talaga sa’min si Roxie at si Archie.”
THE ART OF CONNECTION
Roxy and Archie’s growth as individuals and as a couple from one show to another, one episode to another, is perhaps one of the more rewarding things to witness on screen (besides that insane slap when Archie reappears in Roxy’s life). Though they’ve faced their fair share of challenges, with Roxy being a single mother and Archie being imprisoned, they deserved their happy ending.
You don’t have to be an actor to know that a character onscreen is complex—shaped and molded by its creator, its portrayer, its environment and the people in it, and even by the audiences watching. The more you can relate, empathize, and understand a character, the more you connect with them, regardless of how much you approve of their actions.
And even if both Elijah and Xyriel, and the community that was formed through RoxChie’s love story, wanted more out of their story, there’s no denying the impact they’ve had on people. RoxChie was received very well by audiences despite how volatile, combative, and frustrating their relationship was—which is a stark difference from Elijah and Xyriel’s friendship.
“Sanay [mga tao] na meron na agad na tinginan, may spark,” Xyriel observes. “Sa’min, wala.” In typical enemies-to-lovers fashion, RoxChie began with the two characters ready to scratch each other’s eyes out. But as time went on, as they both brought their walls down, as their love for each other shone through, both audiences and the characters’ portrayers grew more endeared to the two.
Elijah loved his character even more after seeing how people understood how complex Archie was. The role of Archie Aguerro was prime real estate for character development, and his arc from mean-spirited bully (Elijah calls him “evil” but also, correctly, a product of his environment) to caring family man was well-executed, largely due to Elijah’s ability to act his socks off.
Xyriel, meanwhile, masterfully played a young woman who had to grow up real fast when she got pregnant. Harried, stressed over finances and being a good mother, and doing it all practically on her own, Roxy went through a lot. Though some people viewed Roxy as tough on Archie when he came back, you can’t really blame her. You sympathize with her struggles and understand her resentment. The actress nails every intense scene.
“I think part of why people connected to [RoxChie], aside from the fact na unpredictable yung team-up, committed lang talaga kami sa mga binibigay sa’min,” Elijah says. There’s still an aspect of having fun with the role and the relationship as they played off each other and explored the many emotions and reactions of Roxy and Archie. “Whatever it is, we’re having fun with it. Sineseryoso namin, for sure, but nangingibabaw yung [aspect of] having fun with it.”
THE JOURNEYS TAKEN
Though Elijah and Xyriel have had different career trajectories, they approach their work with the same passion, dedication, and respect for the craft. They just want to push each other, surprise each other, and put the very best of themselves into their work. Elijah was trained for theater, taking lessons in the Philippine High School for the Arts. The actor brought his emotional intensity and range to the set of both shows, becoming a fan favorite despite Archie’s initial demeanor.
“Kaya niya mag-lead ng scene,” Xyriel praises the actor. “Pero kaya ka rin niyang i-guide.”
Xyriel Manabat, on the other hand, started out on television much younger, acting in shows like Agua Bendita. In 2017, she took a hiatus to focus on her personal life and studies, and came back an even stronger actress as Roxy in Senior High. From the breakup scene with Tim (Zaijan Jaranilla) to confronting Archie about his disappearance, she was quick to remind everyone exactly why she’s one of the best actresses of her generation.
“Xyriel is very observant,” Elijah notes. “Two things you learn in acting classes: an actor observes, and an actor listens. And that’s what Xyriel does.”
The two actors never miss an opportunity to praise each other, even after they joke around. “We care for each other, genuinely,” Elijah adds. Challenging each other, while respecting each other’s talent and skill, in an environment where they thrive creatively, brings out the very best in each of them.
THE ROAD AHEAD
Asked what he would say to dreamers who want to pursue a similar path to his and Xyriel’s, Elijah reveals the one truth he holds close to heart. “Be kind,” he says. “Be kind to yourself, be kind to everyone around you. The work will follow. Just respect the job, respect yourself and everybody around you.”
Xyriel’s career as a child actor, hiatus, and comeback have allowed her to explore different things and learn a wide array of lessons along the way. But she values humility in herself and in others above all. “Your talent will lead you somewhere, but your humility will take you [far],” she says. Though the bubbly, charming Xyriel can get along with anyone, she shares, she can’t stand people without humility.
Both actors seem to take their own advice. The warm, good-natured Elijah and modest, delightful Xyriel turn praise and pressure into pushes to do better. They’re thankful when they’re praised as some of the best actors of their generation, but they don’t let it get to their heads. “I’m a perfectionist,” Xyriel says. “Na-aappreciate ko naman, pero hindi ko pa siya talaga ma-claim for myself.”
“Embrace it!” Elijah urges her. But for himself, he holds a similar sentiment. The pressure is real, he remarks, and he takes it day by day, project by project. “I’m only as good as my last work,” he adds. “And there’s always room for improvement.”
Though there are no plans as of yet to reunite on a project (and trust us, they want to), Elijah and Xyriel remain grateful for the opportunity to work together. The two actors are already set to work on other projects—some already in the works before High Street came to an end—but wherever they go, they go with grace, true love for the craft, and a whole lot of heart.
Creative and Art Direction GELO QUIJENCIO
Photography ABBY CHUA and KYLA AMADORA
Editor-in-Chief MAGGIE BATACAN
Managing Editor RAFAEL BAUTISTA
Brand Associate BIANCA LAO
Special thanks to DREAMSCAPE ENTERTAINMENT, STAR MAGIC, & CORNERSTONE ENTERTAINMENT
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