A gentle and encouraging approach is what Regine Velasquez, Gary Valenciano, Juan Karlos, and Angeline Quinto applied as the panel of judges for the first season of Idol Kids Philippines.
During the media conference for the idol search show, the four judges shared what kind of mentors they aim to be for the young contestants.
For Asia’s Songbird Regine Velasquez, she admitted it was difficult to balance her role as a judge, a mother, and a seasoned performer.
“It’s kinda hard to, being a mom. It’s hard to balance being a judge and trying to correct them and also trying to be sensitive, kasi hindi mo naman mga anak iyon. You need to kind of balance it,” Regine shared.
She pointed out that young kids may struggle to process critique due to their short attention span, saying, “Their span of attention is so short. It’s so short but they absorb so when they hear an information, they don’t know what to do with that information. I feel like they just absorb it and put it somewhere in their brain.”
Despite this, Regine makes a conscious effort to help them understand the feedback they receive, especially when it comes to technical terms.
“As far as judging is concerned, ‘yung correcting namin kailangan doon sa level nila, doon sa language na maiintindihan nila, doon sa emotions na kaya nilang i-digest,” she stated. “We need to be more sensitive especially ‘yung words na gagamitin. Doon ako nahihirapan, sa pagpili ng mga words na gagamitin ko para maiintindihan, because like I’ve said, iba ‘yung level ng understanding pa nila pati emotionally. And then at the same time, you also hope na ‘yung message na sinasabi mo, makarating. “
Having joined contests in her younger years, Regine understands the complexity of being on both sides.
“It’s actually hard. Well, to begin with, bilang galing ako sa contest, mahirap na talagang maging judge especially nang tumanda ako kasi siyempre mayroon na akong nalalaman na mga technical terms. So nagtatalo ‘yung isip ko kasi mga bata, and I have this urge na concerned ka rin na you want them to learn, gusto mong i-correct,” she expressed.
Power Diva Angeline Quinto shared that her own experience in singing contests greatly influenced her approach. Like Regine, she also has a soft spot for children being a mother herself.
“Sa pagiging judge sa Idol Kids Philippines, alam niyo sa totoo lang, kahit before po medyo nagdadalawang isip ako na tumanggap ng trabaho na ganito, kasi dahil nanggaling ako ng mga singing contests, parang hindi ko kayang magsabi ng ‘no’ sa mga contestants. Lalo pa ngayon na mga bata at siyempre, may dalawang anak na rin po ako,” Angeline admitted.
While she empathizes with the contestants, she also understands that constructive criticism — including rejections — are part of what hones an artist to be better.
She prepared emotionally for the role, knowing she would face many tearful moments, saying: “Medyo (malambot) ‘yung puso ko ‘pag may umiiyak na bata at matanda. So bilang nanay, nahihirapan ako na mag-no, pero dahil sa mga napagdaanan ko before… Ang dami ko ring no na natanggap noon, at lahat ng ‘no’ na iyon, ang laking tulong kung nasaan man ako ngayon.”
Angeline takes her role seriously, believing that she was placed in it for a reason: to help kids to achieve their dreams.
“Medyo mahirap, pero alam ko may purpose kung bakit po ako napunta rito ngayon and ‘yun ‘yung lagi kong iniisip sa lahat ng mga batang nag-aaudition na nakakaharap namin: isa kami sa mga tutulong para mas maabot nila yung mga pangarap nila,” she said.
Being the youngest judge on the panel, chart-topping singer-songwriter Juan Karlos takes on a big brother role. He believes his relaxed, humorous style helps ease the contestants’ nervousness.
“The way I talk to them na parang binabato lang ng biro. Sila naman, most of them come in na talagang nanginginig (sa kaba). Mas more kuya approach ‘yung ginawa ko with the kids,” Juan Karlos said.
Despite his lighthearted demeanor, Juan Karlos admitted that judging kids is much harder than judging adults.
“With adults, at least you can be transparent and you can talk to them and just tell them everything outright what you think. But with kids, you have to wrap it in a way wherein the whole thing does not become traumatic to them, especially pag nag-no ka sa kanila,” he admitted.
Juan Karlos also encouraged their contestants to continue pursuing their dreams, regardless of what their verdict was. It can be recalled that Juan Karlos placed third when he joined The Voice Kids, and even though he didn’t get the top spot, he didn‘t let that hold him back from making his mark as an artist.
“I kind of, also, sometimes with the other kids, when we say no to them, I’m able to use myself as an example na parang ‘Just because we say no now doesn’t mean this is the end of the road for you’,” he said.
Meanwhile, Mr. Pure Energy Gary Valenciano shared that he has his personal technique when it comes to talking with kids, bringing to the table his being a father and grandfather.
“Yung gagamitin ko ‘yung mga salita na bagay doon sa kung ano ‘yung hilig nilang gawin maliban sa pagkanta. So, for example, mahilig mag-basketball, eh kung medyo sumablay (sa audition), parang ‘Di ba sa basketball, kailangan mag-shoot? Kailangan ‘pag winning shot, kailangan pumasok iyon.’ They can understand kasi they can relate,” Gary shared.
He noted that using analogies help kids better understand both approval and rejection from them.
“They can associate it doon sa kung ano man ang kanilang ginagawa. That’s how I try to do it, but it’s not easy. Because more than being hopefuls, these are children and they’re developing. So sometimes, when you say ‘no’, di natin alam kung anong magiging effect,” he said.
Gary also noted how rejection can also be a valuable learning experience. It can serve as motivation to do better, and to cherish that ‘yes’ when it does happen.
“Pero I think na in a way, kailangan din matuto ‘yung mga kabataan na minsan, when you lose, when somebody says no, mas lalong ka pang, mas lalong binibigyan ng halaga ‘pag nakatanggap ka ng konting panalo sa buhay. When you receive a yes or a win in life, you treasure that because you know how it is to lose, then you’ll work harder and harder to only get better and better,” he said.
Gary emphasized that he hopes for the kids’ growth: “Naniniwala ako, kahit na nag-no kami sa ilan sa mga batang sumali, alam ko na maybe this is just a stepping stone - meaning, it’s a step higher. Hanggang do’n muna sila. Then the next contest they join, it’s another step higher. They may not win, but they’re going upward. And I’m hopeful na in the course of time, makikita natin ‘yong ilan sa mga sumali ngayon na hindi nakatanggap ng yes (soon) tanggap na tanggap na rin sila ng taong-bayan."
Idol Kids Philippines premieres its first two episodes on June 28 (Saturday) and June 29 (Sunday) from 7:15 PM to 8:30 PM on Kapamilya Channel, A2Z, and Kapamilya Online Live (KOL) every Saturday, and from 8:00 PM to 9:15 PM every Saturday and 8:15 PM to 9:30 PM every Sunday on TV5.