How Sofronio Vasquez’s ‘unique Pinoy style’ made him stand out
Sofronio Vasquez, the first Filipino and Asian to win the grand championship of the prestigious talent search “The Voice USA,” has been in Manila since Jan. 5. One of his first stops was Malacañang, where he made a courtesy call on President Marcos and first lady Liza Araneta-Marcos.
In this interview before his two-week Philippine homecoming, the New York-based singer described meeting President Marcos and performing for him as a dream come true. “I feel goosebumps just thinking about it,” Vasquez said. “Receiving communication from the Office of the President was such an honor. I also got a message from Sen. Manny Pacquiao asking, ‘When are you coming home? Let’s have coffee.’”
The Marcoses expressed their gratitude, thanking Vasquez for “making Filipinos famous.” During the meeting, he performed two songs: “Imagine” by The Beatles, one of the President’s favorites, and “A Million Dreams” from the film “The Greatest Showman.” Vasquez was accompanied by his family during the visit.
The singer expressed his eagerness to personally thank Filipinos for their overwhelming support during the competition. “I want to do interviews back home,” he said during a podcast appearance on “Meet the Press,” which first streamed on Jan. 11. “A concert might not happen during this trip, but it’s in the planning stages.”
In Manila, Vasquez plans to indulge in kare-kare, a dish he greatly misses, and spend quality time with his mother in their home in Antipolo. “Even though NBC staff members will be flying with me, I just want to sleep beside my mama,” he said.
Grateful
When asked if he felt overwhelmed by all the attention, Vasquez said he didn’t. “I started out as a fanboy. I’ve watched every season of ‘The Voice.’ I know every winner since the first season and all the songs they performed. I’m just grateful. I’ve read comments in forums saying, ‘Sofronio is the true example of what the Pinoy is like. His outfits all look like they came from Baguio.’ To me, that’s a compliment. I want people to feel my gratitude without overdoing it.”
Reflecting on his journey, Vasquez admitted that he never imagined making it past the blind auditions. “I wasn’t confident, but I was hopeful. I took things one round at a time. Each announcement day had me weak in the knees,” he said.
As a believer in Filipino superstitions, Vasquez revealed that he would slip coins into his shoes and stomp three times before performances for good luck. “My wardrobe assistant once found a coin in my shoe and asked, ‘Sofronio, what’s this?’ I said, ‘Just leave it there!’” he recalled, laughing.
He credited “The Voice” for transforming him into a better performer. “It allowed me to collaborate with talented people and study the songs I performed. All my versions were very Pinoy,” he said, citing his inspirations from iconic Filipino singers like Regine Velasquez and Lani Misalucha.
“What also gave me confidence was my vocal coach’s advice: ‘You don’t have to be perfect. In this business, perfection is boring.’ From that point on, I embraced my flaws,” Vasquez said. “Aligning with your true self is key. My unique Pinoy style helped me stand out in a competition that leaned heavily on country and rap music.”
Vasquez also acknowledged his coach, Michael Bublé, who played a vital role in his journey. Asked to talk about how special their bond was, Vasquez said Bublé was very hands-on, even volunteering to give Vasquez his personal number. “Watching over us after rehearsal was no longer part of his job. He was like a father to us. He would ask, ‘What are you doing today?’ ‘Why are you still awake?’ ‘You have to rest because you will perform tomorrow. You have to be at peace.’”
When the season ended, Vasquez said he was surprised to receive a message from the Canadian singer saying, “Hey, buddy! What’s next for you? This is not just a win for you. This is for everybody, so you have to work.’ I was like, ‘Pwede bang holidays muna?’ (Can I enjoy the holidays first?)”
Eager to give back
Understanding the power his platform now holds, Vasquez is eager to give back to the industry. “I’ve always dreamed of organizing a convention for amateur singers,” he said. “It would be free and offer vocal training, songwriting workshops, and even a talent database. This could become a network to discover and support Filipino singers who could represent us globally. With so much talent in the Philippines, all they need is a chance.”
He also reflected on the support he received from ABS-CBN’s “Tawag ng Tanghalan,” where he first joined as a contestant, and GMA 7, which holds the franchise of “The Voice” in the Philippines. “I heard GMA 7 is planning a homecoming for me. They’ve been very kind and supportive. It’s overwhelming how much recognition I’ve received from everyone,” he said.
Despite his success, Vasquez remains grounded. A graduate of the Doctor of Dental Medicine program in Ozamiz City, Misamis Occidental, he still plans to pursue a career in dentistry. “I came to Manila to review (for the board). I was riding a jeepney when I saw a poster for a ‘Tawag ng Tanghalan’ audition. I joined the next day and never got back to studying,” he recalled.
Later, Vasquez moved to the United States to explore international dental programs and worked as a dental assistant. “I was working to build my credentials when I received a random email about auditions for ‘The Voice.’ The rest is history,” he said.
