Sofronio Vasquez: Filipino 4-Chair Turner on The Voice S26

Another Filipino has made it to The Voice! During the blind auditions of the American singing reality competition’s 26th season, Sofronio Vasquez had barely delivered the fourth word of Mary J. Blige’s “I’m Goin’ Down” when Snoop Dogg slammed his red button. Michael Bublé, Reba McEntire, and Gwen Stefani swiftly followed suit. By the 20-second mark of Sofronio’s 90-second performance, he was face-to-face with all of the show’s coaches.

The four internationally celebrated artists lauded Sofronio with their praises, but it was all lost on him. “They said a lot more than what was shown in the blind auditions video clip. They were throwing jokes at me, but nothing registered,” he recalled in a mix of Filipino and English. “Once the door to the stage opened, I went on autopilot. I was so nervous, I walked out like a robot; I couldn’t feel my feet. I had to grip my mic with both hands to keep them from shaking, then I just surrendered, ‘Lord, it’s all up to You.’ From the moment I started singing, I couldn’t remember anything. I wasn’t aware that the coaches had turned, I don’t even remember finishing the song!” he revealed during our video call. Earning a four-chair turn was unreal for the 31-year-old Mindanao native. He had been in this scenario before, but the ending was completely different then.

Ten years ago, Sofronio tried his luck in the Philippine franchise of The Voice, but none of the coaches turned for him. It was his first attempt at joining singing competitions. He had slimmed down by 70 kilos and felt there would be more acceptance for him. “You know how in the Philippines we have this norm that if you don’t look good, it will be difficult for you to get in,” he quipped. He was quite the late bloomer, only getting into the game after graduating from Dentistry. “I was really focused on my studies, but the ambition to be a singer was always there,” he reflected. “I grew up around music, singing karaoke with neighbors. The good ones would always belt out songs from Regine Velasquez and the like. I figured I needed training if I wanted to perform as well as they did. So, while I was still in school, I joined stage performances and choir activities.” But he was pretty much self-taught and honed his skill by practicing every day.

Clearly, he’s the type who would take the bull by the horns and take on whatever needs to be done, even if he has to do it on his own. In Tawag ng Tanghalan, where he became a grand finalist in 2017, Rey Valera, who was a judge on the show, observed that among the contestants, Sofronio was the only one who didn’t have an entourage. “You are your best friend, you are your mentor, you are also your own cheering squad. If Lady Luck doesn’t smile on you today, you will create your own luck. That’s the kind of person you are, you will always find your way,” the seasoned singer-songwriter addressed Sofronio in an old clip of the show. The video also showed Sofronio tearing up. “I cried because I was touched that he noticed and saw that in me; it wasn’t because I felt sorry for myself,” Sofronio told me.

Did you know that the first time I joined Tawag ng Tanghalan, I won but then quickly lost the next day? I had to audition again seven times before I was able to return. I lined up every two months. If I had stopped after my sixth try, I would not have made it as a grand finalist,” he recounted. “I could see the look on the faces of the people manning the line: It’s him again? I would just smile. It didn’t really bother me what they thought, I was just there because I wanted to sing. Rejection is no big deal. My level of passion and love for my craft is way above any rejection,” he stressed.

I was blown away by his determination and moved by the strength of his spirit. “As cliché as it sounds, it’s not just for me, it’s for my family,” he rationalized. His winnings from Tawag ng Tanghalan went toward treatments for his father’s chronic kidney disease, as did the fees he earned from working as a vocal coach on the show after he had competed. It had always been tough financially for his family, whose sole source of income was his father’s salary as a clerk at a government agency. They got by through the kindness of relatives and personal connections. Sofronio shared a small home with his parents, older brother Aido Ray, and younger brother Sofronio IV. They didn’t have any beds and lacked indoor plumbing. He attended a public school for his secondary education, and through college, he was largely supported by Dr. Engelberto Lasutaz, the Dean of the College of Dentistry at Misamis University.

Sofronio was in Manila when his father passed away in 2018. He flew home to Ozamiz City the same day and returned to Manila immediately after the funeral to continue working. “Our debts have piled up, we even had problems getting my papa’s death certificate because we couldn’t settle the hospital bill in full.” He couldn’t afford to pause and grieve. “I think papa would understand. I may not have had time to mourn, but that doesn’t mean I have not been in pain. To this day, every time I remember him or he is mentioned, I can’t help but cry. I guess what they say is true: the ache never goes away, you just learn to live with it,” he sighed.

Even before his father passed away, Sofronio’s heart was already weighed down with sorrow. His family on the maternal side had suffered the wrath of the violent drug war of the previous presidential administration. “Four of my mom’s siblings were killed. It was a massacre!” he exclaimed. “Ten of my cousins and aunts are still incarcerated, wrongly accused, and fighting to clear their names,” he added. Their clan had felt desperate and helpless for some time. So when news of Sofronio’s successful blind audition broke, tears of joy flowed all around. “It felt like redemption, everyone was so happy and thankful. It was like seeing a rainbow after the rain.”

Sofronio has been away from his hometown since 2022, when he moved to the USA. “I want to give my mama a better life because she deserves it, she is the rock of the family,” he rationalized. While he has been based in Utica, New York, since then, he proudly declared that he’s from the Philippines when Snoop Dogg asked during The Voice blind auditions. Homesickness is real, so he keeps busy juggling his job as a dental assistant with his singing career. He’s been doing gigs for the Filipino community and occasionally makes guest appearances in other artists’ shows. He also had the chance to join Amateur Night at the Apollo and made it to the semi-finals.

Right now, Sofronio is focused on The Voice. It has been quite a ride. The casting process started in August 2023, but it wasn’t until January 2024 that he heard back and was told he’d be flying to Los Angeles. Despite already being taken to Universal Studios, he still held his breath. He received the final confirmation in February, the blind auditions were taped in June but only started airing last September. That was a long time to keep mum.

As of the October 15 episode, all the teams have been filled. Sofronio, who chose Michael as his coach, was the first member of Team Bublé. “I can’t help but feel intimidated around him, but he always goes out of his way to make everyone around him feel comfortable. He’s very nice and genuine. He talks to the crew and offers them snacks. The first time he showed up with his wife, kids, and parents, he introduced us. He’s very involved, he discusses our song choices with us and makes sure we choose the most suitable ones. He’s really a great coach, and you can see that he’s really into Filipinos,” he described. It is not surprising, as the Canadian crooner credits the Philippines for paving the way for his success.

Aware of my recent fascination with Snoop Dogg, Sofronio indulged me with a short behind-the-scenes story about the legendary rapper. “The last time I saw Coach Snoop, he told me, ‘You don’t know how proud the Filipinos are of you. I’m really proud of you, and I can’t wait to go home to the Philippines with you.’ He’s sweet and cheeky,” Sofronio laughs. Precisely why I am such a fan.

I started watching The Voice because of Snoop Dogg, and now I have another reason: to cheer on Sofronio! The Battles are scheduled to air on October 21, and I can’t wait!

Catch The Voice every Mondays and Tuesdays at 8:00 pm on NBC. Every episode streams on Peacock the next day. For updates on the show, follow @NBCthevoice on YouTube, Facebook, and Instagram.

Please support Sofronio Vasquez and follow him on YouTube, Tiktok, Facebook, and Instagram.

Special thanks to Jasmine and Danyelle of MPRM Communications.