Sofronio Vasquez has rightfully earned his bouquet of triumph. On Tuesday, December 10, Vasquez was crowned the victorious champion of Season 26 of 'The Voice,' marking Michael Bublé's debut season as a winning coach. The moment of his victory saw Vasquez sink to his knees in disbelief, while Bublé too, could not hold back his tears.
Before Vasquez's name was announced, Bublé emotionally addressed him, "My Filipino brother, you embody the hope of countless souls... this incredible journey alongside you has been beyond words." Vasquez emerged victorious against his fellow contestants, including Bublé's own Shye, Danny Joseph from Team Reba, Jeremy Beloate from Team Snoop, and Sydney Sterlace from Team Gwen.
Vasquez's journey began in the Philippines, where he credits his father for nurturing his passion for singing. Heartbreakingly, it was only after his father's passing that he decided to move to the United States in 2022 to chase his musical dreams. During his blind audition with Rose Royce's "I'm Goin' Down," he mesmerized the judges, earning a rare four-chair turn and ultimately choosing Bublé as his mentor.
During the December 2nd episode, the Canadian crooner bestowed heartfelt encouragement upon Vasquez following his soulful rendition of Elvis Presley's timeless classic, "If I Can Dream." He articulated, "If people could grasp the indomitable strength within you, and the courage it took to step onto this stage on a night as significant as tonight, where the stakes have never been higher in your entire career, they would understand. You've grasped the golden opportunity with both hands, and I am truly thrilled for you."
In an interview with PEOPLE on December 9th, Vasquez shared his plans to commemorate his journey on The Voice, regardless of the outcome. He exclaimed, "We're simply going to revel in the fact that this has been an incredibly successful run for us on The Voice. We deeply feel cherished by the production team, and understand that no one is above anyone else—we are all cherished. Now, it's in the hands of America to decide our fate for tomorrow."
