As ZEEN sits down with Christian Bables, Elijah Canlas, and Iñigo Pascual, the conversation spends surprisingly little time on material riches. There are the expected detours, of course—billion-peso hypotheticals, dream mansions perched by the sea, and the possibility of producing a sequel with unlimited funding.

Yet, whenever the discussion threatens to settle into fantasy, the trio pulls it back to something grounded. Under their lens, wealth becomes community, success becomes self-expression, and visibility becomes responsibility.

Redefining Riches

Asked what being rich truly means, Iñigo answers first. “I think for me, being rich is having the people you love with you.”

Elijah expands on the idea, viewing wealth as a multifaceted spectrum. “Rich in many ways. Rich in terms of spirituality, wisdom. Pero I’d go with Iñigo’s definition na being rich with friends and family and loved ones that you can cherish for the rest of your life.” Christian, meanwhile, laughs and simply nods in agreement.

What begins as a conversation about financial wealth transforms into an exploration of value—but the kind revealed through relationships, identity, and the ways we choose to move through the world.

Beyond the Spectacle

As three actors whose careers have frequently intersected with themes of representation, visibility, and self-expression, they view advocacy through a similarly nuanced lens. When the topic turns toward drag, for instance, none of them reduce it to mere aesthetics. For Christian, drag is fundamentally tied to confidence and expression. Elijah pushes the definition further: “It’s an art form na kasi,” Elijah notes. 

“There’s a lot of creativity that’s put into it. May purpose din eh. It’s not just self-expression. Sometimes other people go as far as political commentaries and social commentaries.”

As drag continues to occupy a more visible place in mainstream culture, conversations surrounding it often get trapped in the spectacle—the makeup, the performance, the transformation. Yet Elijah’s response acknowledges its deeper cultural history, refusing to separate the art form’s creativity from the political struggles of the communities that shaped it.

Mirroring Identity and Allyship

Asked which role altered his trajectory the most, Christian immediately names Barbs from the acclaimed film Die Beautiful.

“Si Barbs, ang dami niyang doors na binuksan for me. Ang totoo, siya ‘yung naghatid sa akin mula doon sa mga dreams ko,” he shares. Nearly a decade after the film’s release, Christian still speaks of the character with palpable gratitude. 

For Iñigo, the conversation around identity takes a more personal turn. Growing up between cultures while navigating the expectations of one of the country’s most recognizable surnames could easily have been a narrative about pressure. Instead, he describes a life anchored by acceptance.

“I’ve always accepted and loved everyone for being human.” His perspective highlights a vital truth: while discussions about identity often focus on the struggle, a strong, accepting support system can make the journey of self-discovery feel safe from the start.

Where Christian speaks from the perspective of representation and Iñigo from acceptance, Elijah consistently grounds the conversation in active allyship. When asked what the public needs to understand about supporting the LGBTQIA+ community, he focuses heavily on the urgency of safe spaces.

“We all co-exist in this world,” Elijah underscores. 

“Dapat gawin natin ‘tong space, safe space for everybody. Being outcasted and feeling like you don’t belong, it never feels good. And you wouldn’t want your brothers and sisters from the LGBT community to feel that.”

He acknowledges that while queer artists and creators continue to brilliantly reshape the local cultural landscape, visibility does not automatically equal systemic safety. As he succinctly puts it: “Malayo na, pero malayo pa.”

The True Definition of Value

By the end of the conversation, the hypothetical billions, coastal mansions, and material riches have completely faded into the background. What remains on the table is a rich dialogue about expression, belonging, and the environments that allow individuals to evolve.

Beneath the talk of drag, acting, and representation lies a shared belief among the three: the most meaningful forms of wealth are rarely the most visible ones. Instead, true wealth emerges through the people who stay, the spaces that welcome us, and the ultimate luxury of existing as ourselves—without ever needing to earn the right to do so.