Martin, ka-text si Sofronio bago nanalo sa the Voice USA!

Alumnus sa Tawag Ng Tanghalan (It’s Showtime) ang bagong champion The Voice USA, si Sofronio Vasquez.

Yup, ang 32-anyos na Pinoy ang nagwagi sa ika-26 na season ng singing reality competition na The Voice USA noong Martes, Disyembre 10 (US time).

Si Sofronio ang sinasabing kauna-unahang Filipino at Asian na nanalo sa global singing competition.

Nakamit niya ang tagumpay sa kanyang emosyonal na pag-awit ng Unstoppable at  A Million Dreams ni Sia mula sa The Greatest Showman musical film.

Bago pa man i-announce bilang panalo, naging top video sa Facebook page ng The Voice’s ang kanyang finale performance ng A Million Dreams.

Si Michael Bublé ang coach niya, at nakakuha ng major votes ay nagwagi ng $100,000 cash prize at isang record deal sa Universal Music Group nina Taylor Swift, Alicia Keys, Harry Styles at Adele.

Sumabak nga siya sa Tawag ng Tanghalan (TNT) segment ng ABS-CBN noong 2019, kung saan narating niya ang semifinals at napunta bilang third placer.

Ni-release naman ng Misamis Oriental native ang mga kantang Bakit Hindi Ko Sinabi,   Bililhon, and Mahalaga.

Sumabak siya sa isang blind audition ng  The Voice USA, kung saan humarap ang upuan ang apat na judges (Snoop Dogg, Michael Bublé, Reba McEntire, at Gwen Stefani).

At nahingan ng reaction si Martin Nievera sa pagkapanalo kahapon ni Sofronio.

“Siyempre sobrang proud ‘di ba. Finally napapansin talaga na ang mga Pilipino for all our talents, whether it’s singing, whether in sports, pati beauty, napapansin na ang mga Filipino. Nakaka-happy talaga.

“Dati kasi it’s just a dream to make it internationally, it’s just a dream to be noticed in the US or anywhere else in the world. But now it’s happening,” umpisa niya.

“Not too many people know this, but I’ll just tell you now Sofronio and I have been texting each other during this semifinals, not just because I believe in his talent, not just because I believe in his cause, to be able to make it in this world today, you need more than just a good song and great voice, you need to have a calling and a purpose, and his purpose was to make his country proud.

“If there’s one thing I can relate to, that was my battle cry ever since I started in this business… I wanted to be that person, to make that stand in the world. And Sofronio Vasquez finally did, and he did it on Michael Buble team.

“Michael Buble if you don’t know is my kumpare. Sofronio and I were going back and forth, texting and he’s giving me backstories about things Michael hs been saying. No one knows that when his chair turned, the first thing he said, you’re Filipino, do you know Martin Nievera? Of course they edited it out because no one there knows who Martin Nievera is.

“But my point in this Sofronio’s purpose is to make this country proud and to put us all on the map — an unselfish move on his part because he’s not even yet in the business and he’s already thinking of someone bigger than himself. And I think that’s the reason why he deserves to be the champion of ‘The Voice USA.’ And I’m just so happy for him because he’s not just happy because his dream came true, he’s not the only the first Filipino, he’s the first Asian champion to ever set foot on that stage. So Sofronio Vasquez if you are watching, congratulations to you and on behalf of a grateful nation, maraming salamat.

“I’m sure Michael Buble gave all the great advice and I was texting him, telling him, of the million dreams you have, save one for yourself, cause I know you’re not dreaming for anyone else, except for your country the Philippines. But save one dream for yourself and you’re already a winner, these were the words I told him right before the competition and by God’s grace, he became the winner,” mahabang komento ni Martin na humarap sa ilang member of the press kahapon with Pops Fernandez para sa concert nila sa Valentine’s Day na Always and Forever.