The small kid with big dreams

After singing the first line of Aegis’ Halik, nine-year-old Lyca Gairanod made the day of coach Sarah Geronimo. So began her journey to becoming the first grand champion of The Voice Kids.

Even before she captivated the hearts of televiewers, Lyca’s teaser video instantly went viral. The small girl from Cavite, whose powerful voice and cheerful personality, endeared herself to millions of Filipinos here and abroad.

To date, the teaser video on The Voice Kids’ YouTube channel has already enjoyed 2.38 million views. And her full blind auditions video on the same site has already 1.46 million views or a total of about 3.84 million views.

It came as no surprise then that Lyca topped the semi-finals round and then the grand finals last Sunday.

“Thanks to Jesus. Thanks to everyone who made me win. Mama, we are no longer poor... We are going to buy a house,” said a teary Lyca in an interview with ABS-CBNNews.com right after her victory was announced, before quickly adding, “We will buy whatever my siblings want.”

Coach Sarah’s bet led the public voting based on the Power Ballad, Upbeat Song and Special Performance with a Celebrity Guest rounds and took home P1M, a one-year recording contract with MCA Universal, house and lot, a home appliance showcase, a musical instrument showcase and P1M worth of trust fund.

During the July 26 show, Lyca impressed the coaches and the audience with her rendition of Regine Velasquez’s Narito Ako and Carly Rae Jepsen’s Call Me Maybe.

Coach Sarah then praised Lyca for her ability to connect with the audience and the story of whatever song she’s performing, her willingness to be taught and her ability to listen.

But what really brought the house down last July 27 was Lyca’s version of Basang Basa sa Ulan, which she performed with Aegis and earned a standing ovation from coaches Lea Salonga, Bamboo and the audience at Resorts World Manila.

“Lyca, hindi lang pang-grand finals ang performance mo, kung ‘di pang-concert mo!” said coach Sarah.

As she fought through the Battle Rounds, Sing-Offs and Live Semi-Finals, Lyca was dubbed the “little superstar” after she was likened by coach Lea to Nora Aunor.

Lyca, a small kid with big dreams, became known for her heartfelt performances and humble background as a daughter of a fisherman who sometimes helps her mother scavenge junk to sell. Lyca also previously revealed that she would perform for her neighbors in exchange for cash or food.

Her mother, Maria Nessel, said her daughter’s cash prize would most likely go to her education. She said, “Whatever she wants to do (with the prizes). I will send her to school. That’s actually the only thing she wants, that someday she would be able to speak English so she understands everything. I want her to finish college.”

“I didn’t think her name was going to be called. I didn’t want to listen. Then her name was called. I don’t know what to do. I’m so happy. This is her dream for us,” said Marie Nessel.

Team Sarah’s Darren Espanto, meanwhile, came in second in the public voting, while Team Bamboo’s Juan Karlos Labajo and Team Lea’s Darlene Vibares placed third and fourth, respectively.

The star-studded finale, hosted by Luis Manzano and Alex Gonzaga, also featured performances from Darren and Martin Nievera, Juan Karlos and Gary Valenciano, and Darlene and Lani Misalucha. It was opened by a lively performance from the Final Four young artists, the three coaches, and The Voice of the Philippines Season 1 grand winner Mitoy Yonting and finalists Klarisse de Guzman, Myk Perez and Janice Javier.

Since its pilot, The Voice Kids has consistently ranked as the most watched program in the country. The first night of its finale last Saturday (July 26) scored an all-time high national TV rating of 37.7 percent for the program, while the Sunday show hit 37.2 percent, according to data from Kantar Media.

With so much support for The Voice Kids, viewers are already anticipating for The Voice of the Philippines season 2.