Jona is Voice Teens champ

Jona Marie Soquite, the youngest artist among the four finalists, belted I Believe I Can Fly Sunday night and won the hearts of Filipino viewers to become the first grand champion of ABS-CBN’s reality singing competition The Voice Teens with 44.78 percent of the total combined text and online votes.

Jona, who was the grand finalist of Team Sarah and dubbed as the Tabing Ilog Sweetheart of Davao, was a runaway winner by capturing almost half of the total public votes.  She was followed by Isabela Vinzon of Kamp Kawayan with 22.42 percent, Mica Becerro of Team Lea with 17.79 percent, and Jeremy Glinoga of Team Sharon with 15.01 percent.

The 14-year-old singer, who endured online bashing during the competition, tearfully said after she was named the winner, “Nababasa ko po sa comments na ayaw nila ako sa kumpetisyon na ‘to, pero sa nakita ko po ngayon, halos kalahati (ng voters) ang naniwala sa akin. Sobrang saya ko po na naipakita ko sa kanila ang tunay na Jona. Maraming maraming salamat po sa lahat,” she said.

When asked what she would do with her prizes, she said, “Para po sa pamilya ko, lalo na po iyong bahay namin. Iyon po ang pinakaimportante. Delikado po ngayon sa tinitirhan namin kasi tabi po kami ng ilog. Kaya nagpapasalamat talaga ako kay Lord dahil ako ang pinagkalooban niya ng ganitong title.”

As the grand champion, Jona won a fashion package, P1M cash, and P1M trust fund from H&M, a business package from Snack Attack, dental services from Dental Harmony, P2M worth of life insurance from SunLife, a recording and management contract with MCA, and a P2M-worth house from Camella.

Second placer Isabela Vinzon performs Rise Up

Moved by her powerful and emotionally charged performance, coach Sarah Geronimo praised Jona for her determination, humility and willingness to listen.

“Discipline and humility are the traits of a true champion.  And I believe you possess these traits,” she said.

The road to success for Jona was not easy. Her father Jonathan recalled that Jona had failed the auditions in past seasons of The Voice. 

“She would go home crying until she passed the auditions in The Voice Teens,” he said in an interview during the show.  “I saw her determination to fulfill her dreams.”

During the final showdown of The Voice Teens last Saturday, Jona sang Better Days with Sarah in the duet round with the coaches and showed her versatility in singing Lady Gaga’s Just Dance in the upbeat performance round.

Third placer Mica Becerro sings Time to Say Goodbye

Jona was a four-chair turner during the blind auditions where she sang Anak ng Pasig. Sarah was the first to turn just few seconds into the song. She said The Voice would be her 16th competition since she began training under her dad at a young age of seven.

Her performance struck a chord with her coach Sarah, who said, “noong narinig ko siyang kumanta ng Anak ng Pasig, grabe yung power. Buong-buo ang boses at alam mong galing sa puso ang pagkanta niya. Kung dati, magaling siya na storyteller, ngayon ay ipinakita niya na she is a total performer. Hindi siya natatakot mag-try ng iba’t ibang genre.”

Isabela impressed viewers when she sang Kapayapaan with coach Bamboo, Despacito and Rise Up. Mica wowed the audiences when she sang The Prayer with coach Lea Salonga, Diva Dance and Time to Say Goodbye. Jeremy swooned the crowd with his rendition of I’ll Never Love This Way Again with coach Sharon Cuneta, Superstition and Dahil Mahal na Mahal Kita.

The Voice Teens topped all programs with national TV ratings of 38.2 percent and 40.3 percent covering urban and rural homes across the country last Saturday and Sunday, based on Kantar Media data.

The Champion’s Night also gathered the grand champions of The Voice Kids Lyca Gairanod, Elha Nympha and Joshua Oliveros in a special number with Janno Gibbs and Kuh Ledesma.