Filipino singer Sofronio Vasquez becomes first Asian to win 'The Voice' USA
Filipino singer Sofronio Vasquez has been named the winner of season 26 of The Voice, making him the first Asian to win the title.
The Voice announced on Dec. 11 (Philippine time) that Vasquez, who was mentored by Michael Bublé, defeated finalists Danny Joseph (Team Reba), Jeremy Beloate (Team Snoop), Shye (Team Bublé), and Sydney Sterlace (Team Gwen).
"My Filipino brother, you are the hope of so many people... it has been such an unbelievable journey to be here with you," Bublé told Vasquez before he was named the winner.
Vasquez will take home the $100,000 (P5,801,950) cash prize and a record deal with Universal Music Group.
In a touching moment captured on video, Vasquez embraced his Bublé, before thanking his fans for their overwhelming support.
"To all the Filipinos out there, as Amerika, maraming, maraming salamat sa suporta nyo. To my hometown, Utica, New York, you guys are the best. Thank you so much. I can't wait to go home this evening and bring the trophy."
On Dec. 10, Vasquez made the rounds online following his outstanding performance of A Million Dreams in part one of The Voice's finale.
Before the finale, Bublé expressed his excitement, stating that if Sofronio wins, it is not just a victory for Filipinos but for Asians as well.
“What made me very emotional was just seeing, you know, like I realize that it's not just the Philippines. I realize that tomorrow, if Sofronio wins, it will be the first Asian to ever win this kind of singing competition in America,” Bublé told ABS-CBN's MJ Felipe in an interview.
“And so he's not just singing for Filipinos; he's singing for Malaysians and Indonesians and Chinese, I mean, there's a bunch of beautiful Asians all over America and the world who, you know, somebody that looks like them has a chance to, to be the winner of the biggest singing show in the world. I would love that for him.”
Sofronio, a four-chair turner in season 26 of The Voice, was a former contestant of It's Showtime's singing competition Tawag ng Tanghalan in 2019, finishing in third place.
During the blind audition, Sofronio performed I'm Goin' Down and picked Bublé as his coach.
Sofronio previously shared that if he were to win The Voice, he would use the prize money to bring his Filipina mother to the US to provide her with a "better life and future."
