Rock icon Bamboo Mañalac opened the show with a performance of “Ulan.” And just like the rain, his presence and talent bring us a lot feels.
He’s the hottest rocker in the Philippines, according to Vice Ganda, who was able to watch him in different events and saw the audiences go wild everytime. “’Pag lumalabas ka na, pinakamalakas na sigawan kay Bamboo kahit kasabay niya ‘yung ibang malalaki sa ABS. Iba ‘yung tili kay Bamboo,” said the Unkabogable Star.
Bamboo would downplay the praises, “I don’t even know what we’re talking about. But I guess, ‘pag lumalabas ako I just have fun, I am myself and I love what I do.”
Then they talked about his natural twang, which he credits to his Filipino-American roots. He shared that his mom is a Fil-Am and that he was born here but travelled back-and-forth Philippines and San Francisco, California when he was young.
The “The Voice of the Philippines” coach revealed that music is not his first passion. He was more into sports like soccer as a kid.
He went on to recall the first song he learned which is a Nat King Cole track, then, he sang his favorite hit from the American singer, “The Christmas Song.”
When praised for his beautiful vibrato, he said, “It’s funny you say that kasi nung nag-uumpisa akong kumanta, ‘yun ang pinapatanggal nila sa akin.” Vice reacted, “Why? Ang ganda kaya!” Bamboo replied, “That’s what I said. Thank you very much. I take pride in that.”
Check out this throwback video from Gandang Gabi Vice.