On December 10, The Voice Season 26 crowned its winner. Sofronio Vasquez from the team of Michael Bublé took home the huge cash prize of $100,000 and a record deal. He is a 32-year-old Filipino singer who has given some of the best performances this season.

Before joining the show, Sofronio auditioned for a few other singing competitions but never got accepted. He auditioned for The Voice of the Phillippines, American Idols, and 5 more shows but was never able to get in.

In an interview, after he won, Sofronio reflected upon these rejections and offered gratitude for becoming the new champion of one of America’s biggest singing competitions.

The Voice Season 26 winner Sofronio Vasquez reflects upon his past rejections and his journey on the show

In his blind auditions of The Voice, Sofronio achieved a four-chair turn, which means not only was he accepted by the coaches but also that he had the choice to pick any of the four teams. When Sofronio was asked about the difference between this show’s audition and its Filiphino spin-off (where he got rejected), he said,

“The only difference is the experience. Joining The Voice Philippines back then was just an idea of me doing like, “Oh, I want to audition because it’s The Voice and it’s famous in America.” Of course, it’s famous in the Philippines, too. [I auditioned] without having to use the real core and the real story from my heart.”

He further added what changed for him in all the years between the two auditions,

“But having to be rejected many, many times. Having to go through difficult adversities in life, I guess that’s the answer of me being redirected after 10 years through The Voice in the U.S. and I finally got the chair turn. It’s the best redemption that I could ever imagine.”

He also remembered his blind auditions and revealed why he almost didn’t pick coach Michael,

“I was thinking, ‘What if I pick him and I cannot express myself because I’m always intimidated?’ I felt like that wouldn’t work, but when the time came that he was pitching his ideas, I was really in shock that he was very Filipino. He has so much Filipino, they call them “very Pinoy.”

Then he shared about the final moments he shared with Shye on the stage of the show before his name was announced by Carson Daly,

At that moment, if you could read our lips, I can clearly remember that I said, “Shye, I think you’re the winner.” She’s just like, “No, you’re the winner.” So, I just replied, “We are all winners. Team Bublé all the way.” We always say that. Team Bublé all the way.””

“I did the wrap party, which Snoop Dogg hosted. It was an awesome experience. I got to meet people that I didn’t know who worked for the show.”

Sofronio shares about the wrap party Snoop Dogg threw for everyone after the show ended.