Bamboo says being a male coach in 'The Voice Kids' is difficult

MANILA, Philippines- Bamboo Manalac admits that it was more difficult to deal with kids contestants for the talent search show “The Voice Kids” edition.

“Mahirap talaga, it's a lot harder this time,” Bamboo admits in a recent interview. “Lalo sa Blinds (audition) kasi we're looking for perfection. Kasi expectation ko 'yong pinili nilang kanta hindi sila ang pumili, pinili 'yon ng magulang nila. So you have to carefully listen.”

The contestants for this season are between eight years old and 14 years old, and Bamboo described their voice as “raw” since they are still developing their vocal range.

“All of them can sing, talent-wise that's no question,” he comments. “But the question there is hindi pa sila buo, e, hindi pa sila luto. They're raw talents, children.

“So it's up to me to guide them, to tell them na, 'medyo di ka bagay sa ganitong genre, siguro ito.' So I've done that to some of the artists so hopefully I can do the same.”

Meanwhile, joining Bamboo as coaches for the kids edition are Lea Salonga and Sarah Geronimo, sans Apl d Ap who will back on the adults edition.

With two girls up against to, Bamboo admits that it was harder for him to convince the kids to choose him as their coach.

“I think there's some aspect talaga na... some children talaga feel a lot closer to the girls,” he said with a laugh. “Their inclination will always be with girls, especially with girls who also try to pick girls.

“The way I present myself is different like, I can tell them I recorded this and that, but that doesn't go to their head sometimes, you know. So I present myself as a person, na it's gonna be fun, na it's gonna be dynamic. So at some level yes, but that makes it challenging and fun at the same time.”

Bamboo says his goal for this edition is to ensure that  winner “comes from Team Kawayan (Bamboo).”