MANILA, Philippines – Lea Salonga has sound advice for kids aspiring to be like her.

“We need more kid singers who sound like children. Why make them sing the songs of Celine, Mariah and Beyonce, when they clearly lack the life experience to pull off those songs? I cringe at the sound of 10-year-olds singing about lost loves,” she says. “Pwede ba? ‘Big Spender’ shouldn’t be sung by [minors].”

Lea says there are some songs by the same singers that’s okay for kids, like Mariah’s “Hero.” But that is more of an exception.

She recalls: “My mom was very particular about the material I performed until I was 14. Kids need to be guided by their parents.”

If she were a judge in “Pinoy Idol,” how would she pick the winner? “I would critique song selection as [much] as the performance. It’s important to choose material that plays to one’s strengths, not highlight one’s weaknesses. Song and singer have to be a perfect fit. Intonation is another thing I would look for. I don’t like people going flat … sharp kaya ko pang pagtiyagaan.”

With her unlimited savoir faire, Lea’s more than qualified to choose even a “World & Universe Idol.”

Original ‘Bad Boys’

The original “Bad Boys” of local cinema, Robin Padilla and comics maverick Carlo J. Caparas, join forces in “Joaquin Bordado,” premiering tonight on GMA 7’s telebabad block. Binoe plays a sales agent cum police asset-assassin whose tattoos come alive to undertake the mission of fighting evil.

I remember Binoe telling me interesting stories behind his many tattoos in real life. The bracelet-like tattoo on his wrist symbolized his Aztec links, he said, while the name Sharon on his chest is for Sharon Stone and Sharon Cuneta. He also has a tattoo of his wife’s name, Liezl, etc. That controversial “Binoe episode” dans ma vie remains tattooed on my mind.

‘Good Times’ on TV

DJ Mo Twister’s controversial radio program, “Good Times” takes its antics to the TV screens, premiering Feb. 26, 11 p.m. on Studio 23. Mo’s irrepressible team includes Mojo Jojo, Andi Manzano and Grace Lee. It’s a strange mix, where “Lifestyle” meets “Jack Ass.” How different will it be from the radio show?

“It won’t exactly be a talk show, but a magazine show about interesting persons, places,” says Mo. “It will have the same chemistry and humor that people have become accustomed to hearing from us. No script, so conversation is free-wheeling.”

Mo’s phenomenal rise is directly proportional to the number of detractors he has attracted, but that doesn’t daunt him.

“When you have an edgy show, the audience is sure to be split down the middle,” he says. “I consider it a personal challenge to make people who dislike me change their views.”

Chances are, you wouldn’t switch channels whether you like his style or not. He’s broken the mold of DJs being better heard than seen!

‘January Babies’

Star Magic started 2008 in a festive mood, throwing a press con cum party for “January Babies” Melissa Ricks, Gemma Fritzgerald, Celine Lim, JR Siaboc, Jason Abalos, Panky Trinidad, Mikee Lee, Fraz Yap, EJ Jallorina, Kian Kazemi and Ronnie Liang.

Jason admits that the girl closest to him now is Melissa Ricks. Has his definition of love changed now that he’s famous? “Till now, I’m still not sure what love is,” muses Jason. “So I’m not jumping into a relationship just for the heck of it.” Will Melissa teach him the ABC of love?

Loveless on V-day

Nina may be loveless this V-day but she will still spread l’amour via her “My Simple heart” concert on Feb. 14 at One Esplanade, SM Mall of Asia 9 p.m., with guest Wency Cornejo.

What’s her most romantic V-day? Nina recalls: “I was surprised on the eve with my room full of Ecuadorian roses, a heart and butterfly made out of petals on my bed.”

Her song for herself these days is Gabrielle’s “Out of Reach.” After her split-up with Nyoy Volante, is her heart unreachable to Cupid?

KC in ‘MMK’

KC Concepcion will show her acting prowess for the first time in “MMK” on Feb. 15. She portrays a girl who endures a reversal of fortune. She prepared for the role by taking an acting workshop under Malou de Guzman. She wanted to give every scene her undivided attention, so press people were not allowed to visit the set. The “Parisienne” in KC must have been muttering “Laissez moi tranquille!” Her MMK performance is bound to be “di malilimutan.”

E-mail wateringholeshangrila@yahoo.com.