Coach Sharon Cuneta looks back on her first ‘The Voice PH’ experience

MANILA, Philippines – It’s a week before the finals and The Voice Kids coach Sharon Cuneta says she’s nervous.

It’s a natural feeling for anyone in a competition, all the more for Sharon, who’s a coach on the show for the first time.

Sharon joined Bamboo Manalac and Lea Salonga – both of whom have been on all the seasons of The Voice of theh Philippines and The Voice Kids Philippines – to replace coach Sarah Geronimo.

“I’m nervous because they’re all good, and they’re all deserving,” explained Sharon at the end of the semifinals on Sunday, August 21. The public voted for each of the coaches’ Top 3 representative, and each was announced on Sunday.

“Justin and Joshua are very – yung performances nila very heartwarming din, at saka yung background stories nila. Tapos may talento, may dating, so patas-patas lang ‘yan,” Sharon said further.

(Justin and Joshua are very – their performances are very heartwarming too, and their background stories as well. And they have talent, they have good stage presence, so they’re all tied.)

“Everyone is talented, but let’s pray that – I pray that the Lord finds favor in Antonetthe,” she said about her bet, Antonetthe Tismo.

Letting loose

When told that she was getting great feedback from the show’s audience, Sharon said that she wasn’t expecting it. “I’m just being myself. Sabi nila, ‘Kalog pala ‘to,’ sabi ko, ‘Bat di nila alam ganon ako?'”

(I’m just being myself. They said, ‘[I didn’t know] She’s quirky,’ I said, ‘Why didn’t they know I’m like that?’)

Sharon said that her late mom, Elaine, had been around for her previous shows, which is why she couldn’t really let loose. Elaine died in 2014.

“All the years that I had a musical talk show, parang sabi ni mommy, ‘Magtino ka, ‘wag mo ako bigyan ng kahihiyan.’ So laging naba-backburner yung kakalogan ko. And now, parang you know, I’m 50, I’ve earned it. So now, mas cute pala kasi mas natutuwa sila.”

(All the years that I had a musical talk show, mommy said, ‘Be well-behaved, don’t give me any reason for embarrassment.’ So my wackiness was always put on the backburner. And now, you know, I’m 50, I’ve earned it. So now, I’m cuter because people are amused by it, apparently.)

Fears on ‘The Voice’

Among Sharon’s fears about being on The Voice Kids was that she’d have nothing to contribute, she said.

But The Voice Philippines staples Lea and Bamboo are happy with her, said Sharon, and the feeling is mutual.

“I just love Lea, I love Bamboo, I adore being in the show, and I love working with them. Kasi total growth and parehong super magaling, so parang walang dehado sa mga contestants (because there is total growth and they’re both very good, so none of the contestants are at a disadvantage).”

Would she be willing to be a coach again on regular version of The Voice of Philippines next season?

“I have no problem with that. It’s gonna be another new experience for me, sakali (if ever), kasi (because) it won’t be kids anymore, it will be the regular The Voice, so let’s see. I probably won’t cry as much,” she answered with a laugh.

The Voice Kids Philippines season 3 finale will air live on Saturday and Sunday, August 27 and 28. The live shows will take place at the Newport Performing Arts Theatre at Resorts World Manila. – Rappler.com