No stopping Fil-Dutch girl in The Voice Kids

Twelve-year old Katrina Manaog is not taking any chances. The Filipina singing sensation of Netherlands has not stopped practicing in preparation for her biggest battle on Friday.

Wearing the ABS-CBN "Tulong Na, Tabang Na" shirt, there is no stopping this young petite Filipina. She is the youngest among the six finalists in the 2014 "The Voice Kids" which will be held tomorrow night, early Saturday morning in Manila.

"Hindi po ako kinakabahan, pero magaling po silang lahat kaya I'll try my best po," Manaog said.

Incidentally, Manaog is the only Asian and the shortest among the finalists that include three Dutch nationals, a Moroccan and an Iranian.

The final round will be crucial for Manaog as the grand winner will be decided by text vote.

The parents of Manaog appealed for support.

"Sana suportahan nyo po yung laban ni Katrina bilang Pilipino. Naniniwala po kaming mag asawa na, in a way, magbibigay siya ng pride sa ating mga Pilipino," said her father, Jess.

The highly-rated program will be shown on RTL channel 4 in the Netherlands.

The young Manaog learned to sing at the age of three. She learned to play the piano at age 8, and at 10 years old, earned to play the guitar.

"Happy po ako na only Filipino po ako dito kasi I will make the Filipinos in Holland proud," the girl said.

During her blind audition, Manaog received a rare standing ovation from the live audience with her rendition of "I Have Nothing" by Whitney Houston.

The grand winner of the talent search will receive a study grant, a recording contract and Europe concert tour.

"I hope you would vote for me on Friday kasi I would do my best po," she said.

But whatever fate awaits her, Manaog has one modest dream-- to perform before a huge Filipino audience in her home country.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Dutch-Pinay wows judges in Holland's The Voice Kids

NETHERLANDS - Twelve-year-old Filipino-Dutch girl Katrina Manaog made it to the second round of The Voice Kids in the Netherlands.

After battling it out with teammates Bodine Hilhorst and Marlies Venderbos in a trio performance of Rihanna’s popular song "Unfaithful", Manaog was chosen by three judges Nick Schilder, Simon Keizer and Angela Groothuizen. This meant she qualified for the next round of the competition.



Although another judge Marco Borsato did not choose her, he compared Manaog's singing prowess like that of hurricane Katrina's whirlwind.

Manaog, who is part of Nick and Simon's team, was chosen during the sing off to represent the team, together with Isabel Provoost, in the final battle to be held on February 21, 2014.

“I still haven’t fully realized it yet (that I won) but probably when I am already in bed. I am going to prepare and practice a lot (for the finals),” said Manaog during the post-battle interview.

Right from her very first performance, Manaog already impressed the judges. She nailed the blind audition with flying colors with her rendition of Whitney Houston’s hit "I Have Nothing". All four judges turned their chairs around and praised her performance. She also got a standing ovation from the audience.




Schilder remarked that Manaog is very talented and possess an enormous voice for a girl of such a young age.

“In this sort of auditions, particularly in this exceptional audition, I am very grateful that I am sitting in this chair. Thank you for that. What’s more exceptional is that, you sang the most difficult parts effortlessly. But the easier part, there something went wrong. And those parts where we would like to help you,” said Schilder’s duo Keizer, talking to Manaog after her performance at the blind audition.

Manaog lives in Zaandam, the Netherlands and takes up lessons at Jozien van Dorst Vocal Academy. She plays the piano and has taught herself how to play the guitar.

The recent demise of her grandfather this February has made Manaog very sad, but she told her mother that he will be very proud of her.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com