In January, we talked with Sofronio Vasquez online, fresh from his historic win at The Voice US Season 26. At the time, he experienced a distinctly Filipino homecoming—warm, full of heart and sincerity, a hero’s welcome.

Among his stops then was a visit to ABS-CBN, where he had many memories as a “Tawag Ng Tanghalan” contestant on the noontime show It’s Showtime. We chatted via Zoom while he was in Star Magic head Lauren Dyogi’s office. A little over a month later, he was back on the premises of ABS-CBN not as a guest or a visitor but as a full-fledged Kapamilya and a Star Magic artist.

A few days ago, Sofronio also announced his concert tour this year, which will have stops in North America, the UAE, and Australia.

Sofronio has come a long way, thanks to his voice and passion for achieving his dreams. But no matter how far he’s come, nothing beats the feeling of being home. And in his new home, a new family is excited to welcome him as he embarks on a new adventure in his career.

The Voice US Season 26 winner Sofronio Vasquez is officially a Star Magic artist, marking his launch into a whole new universe where he can reach for more stars. We can all look forward to his series of concerts and endorsements, among other things the network and his new management are planning and working on with him.

Before he skyrockets further into stardom, we take a moment to find inspiration from his life and career. Let these quotes from Sofronio remind us all of what makes one truly a winner—it’s that winners never quit and that they are oftentimes those who’ve encountered obstacles but chose to keep going. One’s definition of winning also varies. For Sofronio, the opportunity to step onstage and sing from the depths of his heart is a winning moment in itself.

“Appreciate life in its simplest form. As a family, we value simplicity.“

Coming from a humble family background in Mindanao, Sofronio has come to appreciate the simplest joys in life. As a kid, he enjoyed playing outside, recalling candidly, “’Yung natural na pagiging squatter na bata. Kumbaga, when you go out, minsan nga hindi pa nga po ako nakakapag-underwear at naka-tsinelas lang, tumatakbo-takbo. And then kapag tumataas ’yung tubig, tumatalon kami sa dagat.”

Connecting happy memories with living in humble circumstances may be preposterous to some. But then again, happiness and the feelings of joy and contentment vary from person to person. For Sofronio, happiness means being with his family, and he feels blessed enough to have one that’s loving and supportive.

“Sing your heart out… At the end of the day, it’s just you and the music. Music moves us all.“

Music has been part of Sofronio’s life ever since he was a kid. His father’s love for music rubbed off on him. “Namulat ako sa pagmamahal sa music when makikita ko si Papa na kumakanta-kanta, kasi Papa really sings,” he told Metro.Style. Imagine a traditional Filipino family where karaoke is a staple—that picture rings true for Sofronio’s family. He was also active in extracurricular activities in school, reinforcing the growing passion for music that he was nurturing then. “Alam mo naman kapag public school ka nag-aaral, minsan lahat ng mga estudyante maglalabanan ng per section. Kumbaga namulat rin ako ng maaga sa ambition. And that ambition is music,” he shared.

Singing is a rewarding, fulfilling hobby or profession. But there comes a point when the art of singing goes way beyond self-expression and self-fulfillment—it becomes a performance where it’s no longer just about the voice but also the facial expressions, the rhythmic movements of the body, and the emotions conveyed. During his time as a Kumu livestreamer at the height of the pandemic, when it was extra challenging to perform, Sofronio realized that every performance matters. It’s so easy to scroll up and down to skip a creator’s content on social media, so he knew he wouldn’t catch people’s attention and make an impact if he performed with zero sincerity. For Sofronio, singing must come from the heart because that’s the best way to a listener’s or viewer’s heart.

In an interview back in 2021, when Sofronio won the Metro Man x Kumu cover campaign, he reflected, “Nagugulat lang talaga ako kasi hindi naman ako iyakin na tao, pero there are just some reasons na nagpapaiyak sa akin... Every line na kinakanta ko, naalala ko lang lahat ng mga nangyari, ’yung overwhelming support, ’yung paniniwala nila sa sa’kin, grabe talaga. Ang sarap palang maka-touch ng hearts through music.“

“I always go for manifestation. I manifested winning The Voice US every day.“

They say “If you can think it, you can do it.“ If you think you’ll win and tell yourself that repeatedly, winning is not far from happening. Enter a competition or an endeavor with a winner’s mindset, underscored by a healthy mix of confidence and positivity. Sure, there may be some percentage of luck in that equation, but believing in yourself takes up a more significant portion of the pie chart.

“Na-manifest ko ’yun every day. Naririnig ko sa sarili ko, ‘The winner of The Voice Season 26 is Sofronio,‘” he revealed.

“Before I was announced the winner, I already won before I won.“

When asked about his favorite song that he performed on The Voice, Sofronio said that more than his winning song, “A Million Dreams,“ it was his duet with coach Michael Bublé, The Miracle’s “Who’s Lovin’ You.“ It was this moment that made him feel he was already a winner.

“Kasi pangarap kong makakanta and pangarap kong magkaroon ng moment with him,“ Sofronio said. “And, from the blind auditions, sinabi niya, you and me to the top tapos nangyari. Grabe. Grabe talaga.“ Sometimes the steps along the way make for winning moments, and the title, award, medal, or trophy serves as the cherry on top.

“It really pays to be humble. They inspired me, and I inspired them. I want to keep that cycle. Be humble always.“

One thing about fame is that it can easily get to one’s head. But humility is something Sofronio always reminds himself of. One humbling moment he had recently was when he returned to the Philippines after winning The Voice US and performing on It’s Showtime‘s stage, where he once stood as a “Tawag Ng Tanghalan“ finalist.

“It gave me a whole definition of humility… Me being so emotional on that stage is just a representation of me being grateful na, finally, ‘yung pinaghirapan mo, na-recognize ka nila, and na-inspire mo sila,“ Sofronio said. “Naisip ko din naman na sobrang na-inspire ako by them being so inspired by me. So, kumbaga, ano lang siya, chain. Na-inspire nila ako, na-inspire ko sila.“

With the recognition and attention he’s been getting, he said, “Totoo, honestly, itong atensyon na nangyayari sa’kin, ang bilis makapagpalaki ng ulo.“ So, it is important to him that he surrounds himself with people who have the best intentions for him and will ground him. Sofronio added, “Sinasabi ko nga ito always, if you see me on street or if you see me somewhere and you felt na medyo yumayabang na ako, please remind me, kasi ayoko maging ganu’n.“

“We have to learn every time… I am always open to learning.“

One must always make room for improvement, learning, and growth. Every day can be a chance to learn something new. Others may think winning a prestigious competition such as The Voice US is already the peak. It is a peak, yes, but life is a continuous process of learning that allows one to retain momentum. When one puts a stop to learning, things can spiral down quickly. And Sofronio knows this. Learning excites his competitive spirit.

“I need to practice more. I need to learn more,“ he remarked. How can we learn? By listening. During The Voice, his coach Michael Bublé taught him how to edit, telling him, “It doesn’t mean you can, you should,“ as he referred to song choices. Because he listened to his coach’s suggestions, he eventually landed the top spot in the competition. This willingness and openness to learn will especially come in handy as Sofronio gears up for upcoming projects, where being collaborative is key.

“Kung pagalitan mo ako, at nagkamali man ako, thank you,“ he said, showing his appreciation for constructive criticism.

“As cliché as it sounds, never stop until you reach that goal.“

And because learning continues, new goals are inevitable. Besides, Sofronio is not one to rest on his laurels, too. As someone who has joined many competitions, which didn’t always end with him as the winner, he has learned to keep going. He always looks forward to his next goal, whether he passes something with flying colors or not. As Aaliyah’s “Try Again“ lyrics go, “If at first you don’t succeed, then dust yourself off and try again.“ Sofronio also embraces the same outlook. There is no harm in trying or trying again. He was courageous enough to take one more bold step, so look where his feet and voice had taken him.