This story was published on GMA News Online as well as Balita Pilipinas Ngayon, News to go and QRT.
“There’s always noise in this house,” said Catherine Malabanan while preparing the music sheets for her children and husband to follow during a family rehearsal of The Lord’s Prayer. She was referring to music.
Catherine’s daughter, Katrina Manaog, is the Filipino community’s current bet in The Voice Kids Netherlands. The singing sensation grew up in a musical family. She sings and plays the piano while sister Mikaela plays the violin. Father Jessie also taught her how to play the guitar but she admits she started out her singing career in front of the karaoke.
“We used to have a karaoke. My grandmother would sing and I would watch. Through it, I also learned how to sing,” recounted Katrina in flawless tagalog about her singing journey during an interview with GMA News.
The 12-year-old impressed all judges of The Voice Kids during the blind auditions on January 24 where she sang Whitney Houston’s “I Have Nothing”. She passed the second round of eliminations on February 7 when she beat two of her teammates in the battles round. She was then chosen to represent team Nick and Simon to the final round of The Voice Kids on February 21.
She learns a lot from coaches Nick and Simon she says especially when it comes to performing on stage. “I mostly learn how to perform, hold the mic and what they call staging,” she narrated.
But she is consistently looking for excellence in her craft, even at such a young age. Apart from her current coaches and two other teachers, she also trains under Nhelley dela Rosa, another Filipina who has made her mark in the Netherlands’ music industry.
Katrina admitted that she can’t imagine a life without music. “You can express your feelings with music,” she said.
She currently takes inspiration from Jessie J and even gave us a sample of the artist’s song during our visit.
One would think that it is her life’s dream to be a singer but actually, she would like to combine that dream with becoming a doctor. For this, she takes her studies seriously. “When you’re a doctor, you can help more people,” the future singing doctor explained.
Katrina will take to the stage once again this coming Friday, February 21 at 8:30 p.m. for The Voice Kids Netherlands. She admits that the other finalists are all exceptional and does not want to brag that she can win the competition but promised that she will give it her all. “I will try my very best,” she said.
Asked what she wants to do if she wins, she said she would love to have a “party with lots of food” and, with a twinkle in her eyes, “lots of singing”.
But even if she does not take home the trophy, a party is still a good idea according to father Jessie. “Win or lose, Katrina has already made us proud especially the Pinoys. Actually it was enough for us that she passed the blind auditions. Winning the battles, the sing-off and joining the finals is a big bonus for us. So even if she doesn’t get the first prize, a party is not a bad idea, besides, her birthday is coming up,” he told GMA News.
The final round of The Voice Kids Netherlands will air on RTL 4. Text votes will determine who among the six finalists will take home the trophy and recording contract. Katrina’s family has posted their call for text votes on Facebook including a video of Katrina thanking everyone for their support. The video is slowly getting viral on the Facebook accounts of Filipinos in the Netherlands.#