Nearly a decade ago, Sofronio Vasquez took a shot at The Voice of the Philippines, but walked away with zero chair turns. Fast forward to Tuesday night, the 32-year-old Filipino singer made history as the first Filipino and Asian to win a U.S.-based singing competition, snagging the crown for The Voice, season 26. With $100,000 in his pocket and a shiny new record deal, Vasquez’s incredible journey is a triumphant testament of resilience, grit, and an unstoppable love for music.

From dentistry to destiny

Vasquez’s childhood in the Philippines was marked by poverty. Growing up without a bed or indoor plumbing, he learned to find joy in life’s simplest pleasures. Music, he says, was the cornerstone of his happiness. Singing alongside his father, who he fondly calls his first coach, Vasquez developed an early love for music. However, despite his family’s musical inclinations, he didn’t initially view himself as particularly talented. Instead, he pursued a career in dentistry, completing his board exams and practicing in the Philippines.

However, tragedy struck in 2018 when Vasquez’s father died from kidney failure. This loss became a turning point in his life. Driven by a desire to honor his father’s memory and fulfill his own dreams, Vasquez decided to compete in the Philippines’ Tawag ng Tanghalan singing contest on ABS-CBN’s TV show It’s Showtime in 2019, where he reached the semifinals and finished in third place. In 2023, Vasquez moved to the United States to seriously pursue a career in music. He settled in Utica, New York, where he worked as a dental assistant while participating in local music events. He even competed at the legendary Apollo Theater and gained significant attention online with viral covers of “That’s What Friends Are For” (9.5 million views on Facebook) and “Nothing’s Gonna Change My Love for You” (one million views on TikTok). These milestones signaled that his dreams were within reach.

A voice to remember

Vasquez’s big break came when he auditioned for The Voice. Singing Mary J. Blige’s “I’m Going Down” during the blind auditions, all four judges (Snoop Dogg, Michael Bublé, Reba McEntire, and Gwen Stefani) turned their chairs, and Vasquez ultimately chose Canadian crooner Bublé as his coach. This decision proved pivotal.

“I want to start by saying salamat (thank you in Tagalog) because the relationship I’ve had with the Philippines for so many years makes me love you even more,” Bublé tearfully expressed after Vasquez’s blind audition. “I can’t imagine how proud you’re going to make them. There is something that is so inherently beautiful about music for you. I got goosebumps.”

Throughout the competition, Vasquez displayed great emotional depth and versatility in genre alongside his powerful voice. His highlights include his covers of Elvis Presley’s “If I Can Dream” in the playoffs and Roy Orbison’s “Crying” during the top eight round, which earned him a standing ovation.

During Tuesday’s season finale, Vasquez wowed audiences and judges alike with his heartfelt performances of Sia’s “Unstoppable” and “A Million Dreams” from The Greatest Showman, garnering the majority of votes from viewers. His authenticity, powerful voice, and emotional connection to his songs resonated with them, earning him the top prize—a $100,000 cash award and a recording contract with Universal Music Group. His victory also marks Bublé’s first win as a coach on The Voice.

“There is a whole country watching this like a Super Bowl, no joke,” Bublé tells NBC. “And what’s more interesting is that it wasn’t just the Philippines. It was Indonesia, Singapore, Malaysia, people in China. There were people everywhere that saw themselves in this kid and it’s very cool. He can’t believe it. He’s having a hard time grasping it.”

Shye Roberts, Vasquez’s teammate on Team Bublé, secured second place in the final vote. Rounding out the top five were Sydney Sterlace from Team Gwen in third, Danny Joseph from Team Reba in fourth, and Jeremy Beloate from Team Snoop in fifth.

A soulful future ahead

As Vasquez embraces the opportunities his win has opened up, Bublé has hinted at a soulful path for the singer, envisioning a sound that blends pop with touches of gospel and soul, drawing comparisons to artists like Bruno Mars and Adele. He emphasizes the importance of artistic growth and self-discovery, a journey he believes Vasquez is just beginning

With his record deal, Vasquez aims to create music that reflects his journey and inspires others to pursue their dreams. As he wrote on Instagram after his victory, “Dreams really do come true,” and “Believe that you can, and manifest it with your whole heart.”