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Sofronio Vasquez reflects on hardships before 'The Voice U.S.' stint

Sofronio Vasquez is among the favorites in the latest season of “The Voice” USA.

Article (news)

Yong Chavez

TFC News

Proudly representing his family and country, Filipino singer Sofronio Vasquez became the instant favorite in the latest season of “The Voice” USA. His blind audition performance quickly became a viral hit, as he showcased how Michael Bublé, Snoop Dogg, Reba McEntire, and Gwen Stefani all wanted him for their respective teams as soon as he began his cover of Mary J. Blige’s soulful hit song “I’m Goin&#x27; Down.”&quot;I hope you support me and I hope you don’t stop with the prayers,&quot; Vasquez said in Filipino. &quot;I&#x27;m so excited to be representing the Philippines. I am fighting and proving that Filipinos are strong.&quot;Vasquez recently moved to New York, but the 31-year-old singer was born and raised in Ozamiz City in the Southern Philippines.Like many Filipinos, he grew up singing with his family and neighbors.&quot;I grew up in the slums,&quot; the singer shared. &quot;The place where I grew up was not ours so anytime, we could have been evicted. All of my neighbors would sing. I grew up with singing around me.&quot;Vasquez views not being chosen when he auditioned for “The Voice Philippines” as a learning opportunity that made him stronger. &quot;I went into the blind audition but no one turned for me. No one. So from zero chair, now in America, I got four chairs turned,&quot; he added.He was reviewing for the dental medicine board exams at the University of the Philippines when he chanced upon an audition call for ABS-CBN’s “Tawag ng Tanghalan.” Vasquez shared that going far in the competition was lifesaving, allowing him to earn a living for the first time as a singer. He credited the TV variety show &quot;It&#x27;s Showtime&quot; for helping him during a particularly difficult time. &quot;I was in Manila, getting rackets, coaching at &#x27;Tawag ng Tanghalan.&#x27; I would save my monthly earnings and I would send them to Mindanao,&quot; Vasquez said. &quot;I am so thankful to ABS-CBN because they really helped me. Ate Vice Ganda, Ate Karylle are so supportive of me.&quot;Vasquez chose Michael Bublé as his coach and shares that he’s learning a lot from him. The Filipino singer is currently in Hollywood rehearsing for the “Battles” portion of “The Voice,” where he will face off with other standout contestants who passed the blind auditions.

Sofronio Vasquez is among the favorites in the latest season of “The Voice” USA.