Bamboo Mañalac admits he has to work harder at convincing kids to join his team on The Voice Kids.
In an interview with members of the entertainment media, the head of Camp Kawayan said this season is more challenging because he’s the lone male coach in the group.
The other two coaches are Lea Salonga and Sarah Geronimo.
“As a male [coach] in the competition, it’s really hard, e,” he admits.
“Last time, you sold yourself as an artist or as a producer, whatever.
“Ito, there’s an aspect na children talaga… I feel I need to get a lot of closer to them, especially girls.
“Girls will always try to pick girls.
“So, the way I sold myself is different lang talaga.
“I can talk about my records but it goes over their head sometimes.
“So, I try myself as a person, I try to be funny.
“It’s just a different dynamic lang for children.”
Unlike the last season, Bamboo says he did not think about the technicality of the singing talent of kids during the blind auditions.
“I try not to measure them up as adults,” he explained. “When the [blind auditions] started naririnig mo bata talaga, e.
“Mahirap sabihin na kailangan i-level sa adults. Hindi, e, they are children, they are raw talents.”
He adds, “I think it’s more heart this time around, e.
“I think it’s more heart na to think there’s something special to this particular child that I can use or that I can build on.
“‘Yon ang maganda, e, to be a mentor to a young talent. It’s a gift that I’m nurturing the child.”
The rock singer also stresses, "Heart and mind have to go...
“It has to go hand in hand kasi nga po, ‘yong children ‘yong technicality nila hindi mo na iniisip ‘yon.
“Dapat ‘yong expectations mo with children, whose talents are raw, is different.”
Find out who among the child hopefuls will pick Bamboo to be their coach as The Voice Kids premieres this Saturday, May 24, on ABS-CBN.