Allyzza Kay Trinidad

Sofronio Vasquez rates his iconic “Tawag Ng Tanghalan” performances

Article (news)

Liezel Dela Cruz

For a dreamer like Sofronio Vasquez, whose long and uncertain journey led to a well-deserved victory on a global singing competition, nothing beats the feeling of looking back on where it all began.Revisiting the moments that shaped his talent and paved the way to his success is a sweet reminder of how far he’s come. That’s why he had a blast in the “Rate and React” segment of Kapamilya Chat, where he traveled down memory lane, watched his old performance videos from “Tawag ng Tanghalan” on “<a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/studios/tv/itsshowtime" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">It’s Showtime</a>”—the stage where he first started making a name for himself in the local entertainment scene—rated each one, and shared fascinating behind-the-scenes trivia.In February 2016, Sofronio first stepped onto the stage of “Tawag ng Tanghalan: Ikalawang Yugto” as a proud representative of Mindanao, specifically Misamis Occidental. He wowed everyone and won the daily round with a swoon-worthy performance of Eric Benet’s “The Last Time.” While re-watching that life-changing moment, he couldn’t help but laugh and cringe at his styling, joking, “Anong damit ‘yun?!” A fun piece of trivia he shared was that &quot;The Last Time&quot; was the only song he rehearsed for that round. And he&#x27;s honestly impressed, rating this performance a solid 9/10.Unfortunately, Sofronio’s first attempt in Quarter 2 of “Tawag ng Tanghalan: Ikalawang Yugto” ended short of victory. But his determination never wavered. He returned stronger for Quarter 3 in 2017, where he found greater success. One standout moment from that season was his powerful rendition of Shirley Bassey’s “I Who Have Nothing,” which earned a standing ovation from the hurados and secured him the defending champion title on November 14, 2017.If you noticed how much skinnier Sofronio was during his TNT era, it wasn’t just because he was younger. Back then, he believed that winning a televised contest required looking physically pleasing, so he deliberately avoided eating to appear slimmer on camera. Now, his perspective has changed—he no longer lets those standards dictate his choices, although he still prioritizes staying fit for health reasons. Reflecting on his performance, he admitted his vocal range for high notes has shifted over time. So he&#x27;s giving this a 7.5 out of 10 rating.Sofronio’s journey on “Tawag ng Tanghalan: Ikalawang Yugto” 3rd Quarter was nothing short of remarkable. He successfully defended his champion title six times, earning a spot in the semifinals. His consistently stellar performances propelled him to the “Huling Tapatan,” but despite his best efforts, he placed seventh and again missed the chance to be crowned grand champion.But, Sofronio didn’t stop there. He returned to compete in the “TNT All-Star Grand Resbak,” making it all the way to the second phase, where he delivered a soulful performance of Rico J. Puno’s “Lupa&quot; on the first day of the week-long competition. Reacting to that performance, Sofronio gave himself a solid 9.5 out of 10. He noted how his voice had matured with an improved texture. But while his delivery appeared effortless on stage, the real story behind the performance reveals it was actually challenging for him. Sofronio recalled that he had initially requested the band to lower the key by half due to its difficulty. Unfortunately, the band forgot and they played the original, higher key instead. With no time to adjust, Sofronio had to think fast and just power through the higher notes.Looking back at his journey fills Sofronio with gratitude and inspiration. &quot;Masarap balikan kasi &#x27;yun ang mga moments na magiging example ng dreamer. Kumbaga, never would I imagine myself to be here speaking with you as a winner of &#x27;The Voice USA&#x27; kasi ang in-aspire ko lang naman dati ay manalo sa &#x27;Tawag Ng Tanghalan.&#x27;&quot;That’s why he wholeheartedly encourages other aspirants to chase their dreams. If you have the determination to win, you will win. “Nanalo nga ako,” he smiled, saying that if he could do it, so can you.

Sofronio Vasquez takes a nostalgic trip down memory lane, rating his iconic Tawag ng Tanghalan performances.

Sofronio Vasquez takes a nostalgic trip down memory lane, rating his iconic Tawag ng Tanghalan performances.