Arzen Rose Dulzura

‘The Voice’ winner Sofronio Vasquez recounts life as an OFW on a cruise ship

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E. Kristhoff Cagape

<p><em>The Voice US</em> winner Sofronio Vasquez took a trip down memory lane and recounted his experience as an Overseas Filipino Worker.</p><p>After his stint in<em> Tawag ng Tanghalan</em>, Sofronio worked in a cruise ship as a singer.</p><p>&quot;Nag-work ako ng cruise ship, I worked with one kontrata lang and hindi ko na natuloy kasi hindi rin madali,&quot; he recounted in an interview with <em>PUSH Bets.</em></p><p>The singer recalled that he was working six days a week and was performing different genres of music daily.</p><p>&quot;Kumbaga dito sa Philippines &#x27;yung kantahan ko was ballad. There I had to adapt and I had to learn. Monday for rock songs, Tuesday for a Motown… kumbaga meron silang mga themes and you have to deal with that every day,&quot; he shared.</p><p>The singer went on: &quot;Kaya nga merong mga times na kapag tulog ako, pagod na pagod ako, pag gising ko pagod pa rin ako.&quot;</p><div><iframe width="1263" height="480" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/mdNo9c62w84" title="Sofronio Vasquez reflects on OFW life, memories with dad | PUSH Bets" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div><p>Aside from being away from his family, one of the challenges he also encountered during his work in the cruise ship was adjusting to different cultures.</p><p>&quot;Bukod sa malayo ka sa family, bukod sa pagod, I think one major challenging part was to adapt the culture because iba-ibang lahi &#x27;yung sumasakay sa cruise and iba &#x27;yung humor ng Filipinos,&quot; he explained.</p><p>The singer went on: &quot;Iba &#x27;yung humor ng ibang lahi so you have to adapt. Challenging siya in a way and in a sense na [iisipin mo kung] mao-offend mo kaya sila if ito &#x27;yung ijo-joke mo? Because if you sing on stage, you are not just a singer; you perform and you entertain them.&quot; </p><p>Despite the challenges, Sofronio remarked that the experience led him to find a new family among his fellow Filipinos.</p><p>&quot;I learned and I got to bond with our OFWs and now, looking back, tuwang-tuwa ako kasi natuto rin akong makisama. Kahit malayo ka sa pamilya, &#x27;yung family mo [&#x27;yung] katrabaho mo, especially Filipinos,&quot; he said.</p><div><iframe class="instagram-media instagram-media-rendered" id="instagram-embed-6" src="https://www.instagram.com/p/DFIRZLwSd9i/embed/?cr=1&amp;v=14&amp;wp=754&amp;rd=https%3A%2F%2Fod2-workbench-web.abs-cbn.com&amp;rp=%2F#%7B%22ci%22%3A6%2C%22os%22%3A447500%2C%22ls%22%3A69780%2C%22le%22%3A70211%7D" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="834" data-instgrm-payload-id="instagram-media-payload-6" scrolling="no" style="background:white;max-width:540px;width:calc(100% - 2px);border-radius:3px;border:1px solid rgb(219, 219, 219);box-shadow:none;display:block;margin:0px 0px 12px;min-width:326px;padding:0px"></iframe></div><script async="" src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script><p>After returning to the Philippines, the pandemic hit and shows were put on hold. Sofronio shared that he resorted to becoming an online seller at that time to earn money.</p><p>&quot;Wala ng music nun. Kumbaga ano &#x27;yung magiging option? Nagbenta din ako ng biko. Ako mismo gumagawa. Nagpapa-book ako sa mga online [apps]. Pandemic &#x27;to and hindi ako nahiya mag-reach out sa big stars ng ABS-CBN, si Karylle ng <em>Showtime</em>, Tyang Amy, dati Ms. K Brosas,&quot; he recalled.</p><p>&quot;Naging maganda naman &#x27;yung income pero along the way sabi ko &#x27;yung pagod ko, kulang pa rin,&quot; he said.</p><p>After the pandemic, Sofronio decided to pursue a dental career in the US.</p><p>&quot;Nagpunta ako sa America, trying to push another chapter dun sa dental career ko at nakapagtrabaho ulit ako,&quot; he relayed. &quot;Ayun na-stumble naman ako ng isang audition, try ko nga, and [now] I am here.”</p><div><iframe class="instagram-media instagram-media-rendered" id="instagram-embed-4" src="https://www.instagram.com/p/DDdYeJzSmue/embed/?cr=1&amp;v=14&amp;wp=754&amp;rd=https%3A%2F%2Fod2-workbench-web.abs-cbn.com&amp;rp=%2F#%7B%22ci%22%3A4%2C%22os%22%3A425833%2C%22ls%22%3A69780%2C%22le%22%3A70211%7D" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="542" data-instgrm-payload-id="instagram-media-payload-4" scrolling="no" style="background:white;max-width:540px;width:calc(100% - 2px);border-radius:3px;border:1px solid rgb(219, 219, 219);box-shadow:none;display:block;margin:0px 0px 12px;min-width:326px;padding:0px"></iframe></div><script async="" src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script><p>Sofronio is the first Filipino to win<em> The Voice US.</em></p><p>Following his win, the singer took home $100,000 or ₱5.9M from the reality singing competition.</p><p>&quot;Gagamitin ko &#x27;yung pera na &#x27;yun of course as investment dun sa music,&quot; he relayed on his plans for his winnings in a recent interview with Karen Davila.</p><p>He went on: &quot;Kasi music talaga eh and now I was given the chance to penetrate the mainstream which is America, gagamitin ko talaga &#x27;yun. Kumbaga if I have to produce myself, if I have to reach out to people, big names, always naman akong ganun. Kumbaga, a no is a no, and a yes is a yes. So try lang ako. Kung makatanggap ako ng no, then move on to another.&quot;</p><p>Sofronio was also automatically signed with a record label in the US. &quot;Meron din po ako talagang automatic na recording label dun sa Republic Records,&quot; he shared.</p>

<p>After his stint in<i> 'Tawag ng Tanghalan</i>,' Sofronio Vasquez worked in a cruise ship as a singer.</p>

After his stint in 'Tawag ng Tanghalan ,' Sofronio Vasquez worked in a cruise ship as a singer.

‘The Voice’ winner Sofronio Vasquez recounts life as an OFW on a cruise ship

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‘The Voice’ winner Sofronio Vasquez recounts life as an OFW on a cruise ship

Toff C.

Published January 26, 2025 03:00 PM PHT

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