Director Darryl Yap has voiced his support for children who join talent shows with the goal of helping their families, saying there’s nothing wrong with young contestants dreaming of improving life for their loved ones.
Yap’s statement follows comments from singer Juan Karlos “JK” Labajo, a judge on the upcoming season of Idol Kids Philippines, who said it saddens him when kids feel pressured to compete due to financial struggles.
Taking to Facebook on June 27, Yap defended the motivations of these young hopefuls. “Why should we shame a child for wanting to succeed to support their family?” he wrote in Filipino. “That’s their dream—to lift up their parents. Why diminish that?”
He added that for many Filipinos, family is at the center of one’s ambitions, which he considers admirable, not tragic. Yap also pointed out the irony of talent shows offering millions in prize money and showcasing contestants’ struggles in emotional video segments, yet reacting negatively when a child openly says they want to help their family.
“You dramatize their hardship in VTRs, their homes without electricity, their tattered clothes—then get sad when the child says they want to join to end poverty?” Yap asked.
While he didn’t directly name Labajo, Yap suggested that if people want kids to compete free from such motivations, maybe they should launch shows in upscale communities like “Bel-Air Got Talent” or “Forbes Park Idol.”
Labajo had earlier expressed his concerns during a press event, saying it breaks his heart to hear very young contestants talk about easing their family’s burdens. “Kids should just be kids,” he said. “They deserve to play and have fun.”
Despite their differing views, both figures appear united in one belief: childhood dreams should be respected and protected—whatever form they take.