(From left) Sofronio Vasquez, Maris Racal, and Anthony Jennings. Images: Instagram/@sofroniovasquez, Screengrabs from YouTube/ABS-CBN News

Sofronio Vasquez made history as the first Filipino to win the 26th season of “The Voice USA,” as he bested four other finalists to bring home the championship title. His victory led to the celebration of Filipino-Americans and several OPM artists.

Meanwhile, Maris Racal and Anthony Jennings remain in the brunt of controversy after screenshots of their alleged intimate conversations continue to circulate on social media, with the onscreen partners apologizing for the scandal in separate video statements.

All these and more, as we look back at the biggest entertainment news from the week of December 6 to 12.

Sofronio Vasquez wins ‘The Voice USA’ season 26

Sofronio Vasquez. Image: Instagram/@sofroniovasquez

Sofronio Vasquez emerged as “The Voice” United States Season 26 winner, becoming the first-ever Filipino to have won the competition. He bested the remaining four finalists at the two-night finale held on Dec. 9 and 10 (Dec. 10 and 11 in the Philippines).

During the first part of the final round, Vasquez, who was under Team Michael Bublé, sang Sia’s “Unstoppable” and “A Million Dreams” from “The Greatest Showman.” He then shared the stage with Bublé for the second part, performing a duet of “Who’s Lovin’ You” by The Jackson 5.

Shye, another contestant from Team Bublé, came second to Vasquez, while Sydney Sterlace from Team Gwen Stefani placed third. Danny Joseph from Team Reba McEntire took the fourth place, while Jeremy Beloate from Team Snoop Dogg earned the fifth place.

Before the finals, Vasquez sang his heart out to Elvis Presley’s “If I Can Dream” during the “The Voice” United States live show. He also performed a duet with Beloate, singing “Every Breath You Take” with the songwriter himself, Sting, playing the bass.

Vasquez, who is an alum of the local singing competition “Tawag ng Tanghalan,” was also a four-chair turner during the competition’s blind auditions.

Sofronio Vasquez recalls Rey Valera’s advice

Sofronio Vasquez and Rey Valera. Image: Instagram/@sofroniovasquez; screengrab from YouTube/ABS-CBN Entertainment

After making history as the first Asian winner of “The Voice” United States, Sofronio Vasquez recounted the encouraging words he received from former “Tawag ng Tanghalan” head judge Rey Valera.

Vasquez looked back by sharing a video edit from Instagram user @juan.cellable, which shows the singer’s journey from being a contestant in the local singing competition to his “The Voice” US Season 26 win.

The more than three-minute clip, re-shared through Vasquez’s Instagram Stories on Dec. 12, begins with an excerpt of Valera’s advice to then-“Tawag ng Tanghalan” contestant Vasquez.

“You are your best friend. Ikaw ang mentor mo, sarili mo. Ikaw na rin ‘yung cheering squad mo,” Valera said. “At kung hindi ka man ngitian ng Lady Luck ngayon, I’m sure dahil ‘yon sa alam niya na ikaw ang gagawa ng sarili mong suwerte at hindi mo siya kailangan,” the veteran singer-songwriter continued. “Because ‘yung ganyang klaseng tao, you will always find your way.”

The video edit also used the song “A Million Dreams,” which was one of the tracks Vasquez performed during the final round.

“Thank you, Lord,” Vasquez captioned the post.

Maris Racal ‘embarrassed’ by convo with Anthony Jennings

Maris Racal (Photos screengrab from ABS-CBN video)

Maris Racal said she felt “embarrassed” and stripped of her dignity when her intimate conversations with Anthony Jennings were made public by the latter’s non-showbiz ex-girlfriend, Jamela Villanueva.

In a tearful admission via an ABS-CBN interview, Racal addressed Villanueva’s explosive publication of the actress’ exchange with Jennings, screenshots of which became the fodder for entertainment news and social media since.

“I’m truly, truly embarrassed. Dahil nakita lahat ng tao ‘yon without my consent, against my will,” she said. “I don’t know saan ako papunta. Yung dignidad ko, hindi ko na mahanap. Whenever I go out, whenever I walk, I feel like I’m a naked woman walking. Hindi ko alam na yung gagawin ko. I’m so embarrassed. And I’m sorry that you get to see that.”

Racal likewise apologized to the public for her “mistake” in hooking up with Jennings, a person supposedly committed to another, but at the same time the 27-year-old actress insisted that she thought his and Villanueva’s relationship was over when they started being romantically linked both on-screen and off-screen.

“I have so many things to say. Hindi ako makapaniwala na mapapahiya pala ako ng ganito sa buhay ko. So, to the public, I’m sorry that you got to see that very intimate side of me. Ganun talaga ako pag nagbigay ng pagmamahal. It was supposed to be private. I’m sad. I’m sad na nakita yun ang tao,” she said.

She further said that while Jennings misled her and made her believe that he was single, she also took full responsibility for her mistakes, sharing that she tried to reach out to Villanueva.

“I don’t want to play the victim here. Nagkamali rin talaga ako. And I want to say sorry to those people I have hurt. I reached out to Jam last November. I did not get a reply. I think that was last November. Because I wanted to know what’s up. So, I’m sorry,” she said.

Anthony Jennings sorry to Maris Racal, Jamela Villanueva

(From left) Maris Racal, Anthony Jennings, and Jamela Villanueva. Images: Screengrab from YouTube/ABS-CBN, Instagram/@jamelavillanueva

Anthony Jennings apologized to Maris Racal and his ex-girlfriend Jamela Villanueva for causing them pain, following the exposé of Jennings and Racal’s alleged affair on social media.

“Sa lahat ng mga nangyari noong nakaraang araw, sa lahat ng mga taong nasaktan ko especially po sina Maris tsaka si Jam, humihingi po ako ng tawad sa dalawang babae,” he said in a brief statement uploaded on ABS-CBN News’ YouTube channel on December 6.

“And sa lahat ng mga nadamay dito. ‘Yun lamang po. Sorry po ulit,” he added.

Jennings’ statement came hours after Racal shared her side of the story on the alleged affair, with the latter claiming that her “Incognito” leading man made her believe that he had already broken up with Villanueva when he started expressing his romantic feelings toward her.

The actress also apologized to Villanueva for the hurt she caused, saying she understood where the latter’s “pain and wrath” came from.

Villanueva, on the other hand, has yet to issue a statement since her exposé, as of press time.

Baring Maris, Anthony’s private convos have legal issues

(From left) Anthony Jennings and Maris Racal. Image: Shaira Luna via Netflix Philippines

The cheating allegations involving Maris Racal and Anthony Jennings made legal experts weigh in on the potential violations made by the latter’s non-showbiz ex-girlfriend, Jamela Villanueva, who publicized the intimate exchanges between the two stars.

A lawyer from the University of the Philippines Diliman, Jesus Falcis, emphasized on Facebook that “cheaters have human rights,” citing the National Privacy Commission (NPC) 2020 advisory.

“Even before screenshots of text or chat messages between Maris Racal and Anthony Jennings were leaked today, many people – especially those who were cheated on – have always asked me before about the legality of posting and sharing screenshots of private conversations. I have always told them there is such a thing as the right to privacy. Even cheaters have human rights,” Falcis wrote.

Falcis explained that persons sharing screenshots of any alleged affair expose themselves to cyber libel and data privacy violations.

“So even if you were the victim of cheating, by posting screenshots of any alleged affair, not only are you exposing yourself to cyberlibel charges but also to charges for violating data privacy – which is punishable by stiffer and harsher penalties than cyberlibel,” he stated.

The UP lawyer said that the victim could file a VAW (violence against women) case, instead of publicizing his or her proof.

“Well, you should still take screenshots as evidence of cheating or an affair (especially if you’re married). Then, what you should do instead of posting on social media is to file a VAW case – psychological violence caused by infidelity. And if you’re a public figure or celebrity, let the media report or cover it – then you’ll get the publicity you wanted anyway without the legal liabilities for cyber libel and data privacy,” he explained.

Meanwhile, attorney and film producer Joji Villanueva Alonso said that while Racal and Jennings did not commit any crime as they were not married to their respective partners, his former girlfriend violated two laws.

“Assuming that all the screenshots are legit, the fact remains that Maris and Anthony have committed NO crime. Their actions may be regarded as morally wrong, but they were never married to their respective partners,” she began in a now-deleted Facebook post.

“Jamela, on the other hand, has committed at least two crimes with her actions – cyber libel and violation of data privacy. She cannot hide her actions under the guise of ‘moving on.’ Yes, she may have experienced pain and betrayal, but this does NOT give her the license to violate the law. Nemo jus sibi dicere potest,” continued the lawyer.

Meanwhile, Senate President Francis “Chiz” Escudero was asked in a press conference if it’s a violation of privacy if one posts a private conversation between two persons.

“As a lawyer, I think, but again it’s an allegation that needs to be proven in court… Pero gumawa ng exception ang korte dito, puwedeng gawing ebidesiya sa criminal case, hindi sa civil case para patunayan ang inocence or guilt ng akusado, pero hindi sa isang civil case para mapagbayad o mabawi ano mang ari-arian,” he explained.

Jose Manalo engaged to Mergene Maranan

Jose Manalo and his longtime partner Mergene Maranan. Image: Instagram/@marananmergene

Jose Manalo and former EB Babes member Mergene Maranan are set to tie the knot soon after the latter said yes to the TV host’s marriage proposal.

The “Eat Bulaga” host popped the question at what appears to be a resort, as seen in a video on Maranan’s Instagram page on Dec. 6.

In the clip, Manalo held a microphone while singing Yeng Constantino’s “Ikaw.” He then walks from the dining hall to the pool area where a neon light signage that reads “Will you marry me?” suddenly lights up.

Maranan, who asked if the proposal was just a joke, walked toward Manalo and turned emotional. Manalo then asked the question, to which Maranan answered yes.

“The easiest YES I’ve ever said,” she captioned her post. She added the date 02/12/24, which apparently indicates when the proposal happened and also gave a closer look at her engagement ring in a separate post.

Manalo was previously married to Anna Lyn who died in January 2022. Jose has four children with Anna Lyn: Benj, Myki, Ai, and Niccolo.

PH sustains streak in Miss Intercontinental 2024

Miss Intercontinental 2024 Maria Cepero from Puerto Rico (left) and 2nd runner-up Alyssa Redondo from the Philippines. Image: Miss Intercontinental

The Philippines sustained its decade-long placement streak in the Miss Intercontinental pageant when Mutya ng Pilipinas Alyssa Redondo finished third in the recent staging of the international competition in Egypt.

The 23-year-old vocational nurse from California was proclaimed as second runner-up at the final competition held at the Sunrise Remal Resort in Sharm el Sheikh on Dec. 6 (Dec. 7 in Manila).

Her fellow Mutya ng Pilipinas queen Koreen Medina started the streak for the Philippines in the 2013 Miss Intercontinental pageant held in Germany, finishing as third runner-up.

Redondo earned a guaranteed slot in the Final 7 earlier in the competition when she received the “Power of Beauty” award. This was the same special title that the 2023 Miss Intercontinental Chatnalin Chotjirawarachat from Thailand won. The Filipino contender also took home the Best in Swimsuit award.

Puerto Rico’s Maria Cepero inherited the Miss Intercontinental crown from Chotjirawarachat, besting more than 50 delegates. She advanced to the final round of the contest by winning the People’s Choice award.

The new queen is the fourth winner from Puerto Rico. Elizabeth Robinson became the first Miss Intercontinental winner from the US territory when she won the title in 1986. She was followed by Maydelise Columna in 2010 and Heilymar Rosario Velasquez in 2016.

Venezuela’s Georgette Musrie Efesla held hands with Cepero during the final moments of the competition and was proclaimed first runner-up. Vietnam’s Bui Khanh Linh was the third runner-up.