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The Voice of the Philippines grand winners’ glorious winning moments, little life updates

Article (news)

Mary Ann Bardinas

<p>Two years after it was launched in the United States in 2011, the <strong>The Voice</strong> franchise reached the shores of the Philippines in 2013 when ABS-CBN acquired the rights to broadcast a local version of it. And in the past decade, it went on to become the most successful Kapamilya reality singing competition with a total of nine seasons from its three editions – two from the regular (adult), two from the Teens, and five in the Kids.</p><p>Let’s revisit the winning moments of all the champions together with their awesome coaches through the years in this special feature.</p><div> </div><div><strong>2013 - Season 1 (Regular Edition)</strong></div><div><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="720" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/MsbRA8tWEoI" title="The Voice Philippines" Champions:="" Which="" Coach="" Singer="" Won="" Each="" width="1280"></iframe></div><p>Michael Yonting, also known as Mitoy, is the lead vocalist for his band The Draybers, is the first grand winner of the singing contest.</p><p>During his blind audition, he sang the Didith Reyes’ “Bakit Ako Mahihiya.” Both Sarah Geronimo and apl.de.ap expressed their regrets for not deciding to turn for him, while Lea Salonga and Bamboo Mañalac battled over him. But it was the former whom Mitoy chose to be his coach.</p><p>Coach Lea described Mitoy as a “monster singer” and as “a human being who has a pure heart.” Despite his wide experience as a performer here and abroad, his humility has remained intact.</p><p>Mitoy defeated coach Sarah’s artist, Klarisse de Guzman in the finale of inaugural season of <strong>The Voice of the Philippines</strong>. His two winning songs were “Anak” and his original song, “Bulag.”</p><div><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="753" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/-anJgSU4aTc" title="The Voice Philippines Finale: Mitoy Yonting | Anak | Live Performance" width="1004"></iframe></div><p>Aside from having singing gigs, he was also able to pursue an acting career and has already appeared in several Kapamilya series, namely <a href="https://ent.abs-cbn.com/homesweetiehome" target="_blank"><em><strong><u>Home Sweetie Home</u></strong></em></a> (2014-2020) and <a href="https://ent.abs-cbn.com/angprobinsyano"><em><strong><u>FPJ’s Ang Probinsyano</u></strong></em></a> (2021), with <a href="https://ent.abs-cbn.com/theironheart" target="_blank"><em><strong><u>The Iron Heart</u></strong></em></a> as his present project wherein he plays the role of Diony “Bungo” Zamora, the doting father of Sue Ramirez’s character.</p><div> </div><div><strong>2014 - Season 1 (Kids Edition)</strong></div><div><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="753" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/F2Nlz8dOCYs" title="Little Superstar Lyca Gairanod wins Voice Kids PH" width="1004"></iframe></div><p>From collecting plastic wastes, bottles, and other recyclable stuff as a means of extra income for her family, Lyca Gairanod found her way to fame via the first season of <strong>The Voice Kids</strong>. She’s able to immediately endear the coaches with her version of Aegis’ “Halik”, especially Coach Sarah.</p><p>Lyca was 10 when, even with her huge voice trapped in a tiny built, she managed to defeat her tough competitors – Darren Espanto, Juan Karlos Labajo, and Darlene Vibares in the grand finals.</p><p>In the first round of the finale, she impressed us with her rendition of “Narito Ako,” then “Call Me Maybe” in the second round, and lastly “Basang-basa sa Ulan.”</p><div><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="720" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/_bWGD6EUf7M" title="The Voice Kids Philippines Finale &quot;Narito Ako&quot; by Lyca" width="1280"></iframe></div><p>After her victorious stint, she appeared in a slew of ABS-CBN shows, through which she’s able to showcase her skills in singing and acting. Among those were <a href="https://ent.abs-cbn.com/articles-photos/throwback-2014s-hawak-kamay-1468" target="_blank"><strong><u>Hawak Kamay</u></strong></a> (2014), <em><a href="https://ent.abs-cbn.com/maalaalamokaya" target="_blank"><strong><u>Maalaala Mo Kaya</u></strong></a> “Red Envelope”</em> (2014), <a href="https://ent.abs-cbn.com/goinbulilit" target="_blank"><em><strong><u>Goin’ Bulilit</u></strong></em></a> (2014), <em><a href="https://ent.abs-cbn.com/yourfacesoundsfamiliarkids" target="_blank"><strong><u>Your Face Sounds Familiar Kids Season 1</u></strong></a>.</em> At present, Lyca is focused on making vlogs and song covers that she uploads on her YouTube channel.</p><div> </div><div><strong>2014 - Season 2 (Regular Edition)</strong></div><div><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="720" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/JuxTcRkupI0" title="The Voice of the Philippines Season 2 Grand Winner: Jason Dy by Team Sarah (Season 2)" width="1280"></iframe></div><p>Originally born in Cebu, Jason Dy needed to move with his mom in Butuan after his parents separated. To support himself through college, he started working by serenading women in different places as commissioned or hired by their boyfriends or suitors. That&#x27;s where his training began. He graduated with a bachelor&#x27;s degree in Popular Music at Philippine Women&#x27;s University.</p><p>During his blind audition, he was able to swoon everyone with his rendition of Sam Smith’s “Stay with Me,” especially coaches Sarah, apl.de.ap, and Lea who all turned for him. In the finals, his winning song was “Minsan Lang Kita Iibigin” by Ariel Rivera.</p><div><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="720" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/_IMbWpf736s" title="The Live Shows Top 2 Performance : Minsan Lang Kita Iibigin by Jason Dy (Season 2)" width="1280"></iframe></div><p>Apart from showing off his vocal talent in the ABS-CBN shows that he appeared in, he also got to try his hand in acting through his stints in <a href="https://ent.abs-cbn.com/bemylady" target="_blank"><em><strong><u>Be My Lady</u></strong></em></a> (2016), <em><a href="https://ent.abs-cbn.com/ipaglabanmo" target="_blank"><strong><u>Ipaglaban Mo!</u></strong></a> “Bitin”</em> (2018), and <em><a href="https://ent.abs-cbn.com/maalaalamokaya" target="_blank"><strong><u>Maalaala Mo Kaya</u></strong></a></em> “Planner” (2021).</p><div> </div><div><strong>2015 - Season 2 (Kids Edition)</strong></div><div><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="720" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/jvSxcwkYuL8" title="The Voice Kids Philippines Season 2 Grand Champion: Elha Mae Nympha of Team Bamboo" width="1280"></iframe></div><p>Elha Nympha is no stranger in the world of singing competitions. At an early age of three, she already joined a singing competition in school. She later moved to compete at a higher level at the age of seven and won. By nine years old, she auditioned for The Voice Kids, but didn&#x27;t make it, and auditioned again in its second season, in which she was the eventual grand champion.</p><p>Like her predecessor Lyca, she also has a humbling story prior to winning the contest. She lived along Kamuning and was selling banana cue as her way of helping her family. Her mom, Lucy, noticed that Elha has a talent for singing so she supported her dream.</p><p>She performed “Vision of Love” during her blind audition, to which Bamboo turned. Her powerful performance of “Ikaw ang Lahat sa Akin” made her won the contest during the finale.</p><div><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="720" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/4jRJoCpvPtY" title="The Voice Kids Philippines 2015 Live Finals Performance: “Ikaw Ang Lahat Sa Akin” by Elha" width="1280"></iframe></div><p>After her win, she got invited to perform in the grand finals of <strong>The Voice Kids Indonesia</strong> in 2016, and in the following year, she took part in <a href="https://ent.abs-cbn.com/yourfacesoundsfamiliarkids" target="_blank"><strong><u>Your Face Sounds Familiar Kids Season 1</u></strong></a> and appeared in the second season of Steve Harvey’s <em>Little Big Shots</em>, as well as in its French counterpart <em>Little Big Stars</em>.</p><p>In the recent years, Elha regularly appears on <a href="https://ent.abs-cbn.com/asap" target="_blank"><em><strong><u>ASAP Natin ‘To</u></strong></em></a> as one of the members of New Gen Birit Idols.</p><div> </div><div><strong>2016 - Season 3 (Kids Edition)</strong></div><div><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="720" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/iaaP53vm1bA" title="The Voice Kids Philippines Season 3 Grand Champion: Joshua Oliveros" width="1280"></iframe></div><p>Joshua Oliveros is described by his coach, Lea Salonga, as &#x27;perfection on stage&#x27; and that he sings with his heart.  </p><p>His version of “Habang May Buhay” in his blind audition was an emotional tug, but what matters most is that it made him convince the Broadway Diva to let him be part of FamiLea.</p><p>He was the first male grand champion in the Kids’ edition, which also marked Salonga&#x27;s first win as a coach in the said edition. He sang “Salamat” as his winning piece in the Power Ballad Round in the finals night, which was also the third and last stage of the contest.</p><div><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="720" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ZqgjyRwaFa8" title="The Voice Kids Philippines Season 3 Live Finals: &quot;Salamat&quot; by Joshua" width="1280"></iframe></div><p>The young Caviteño may not be able to pursue a career in showbiz, but we had the chance to see him again after so many years in a recent episode of <a href="https://ent.abs-cbn.com/asap" target="_blank"><em><strong><u>ASAP Natin ‘To</u></strong></em></a> as he performed with his fellow alumni.</p><div> </div><div><strong>2017 - Season 1 (Teens Edition)</strong></div><div><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="720" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/4h97Z5QKQec" title="The Voice Teens Philippines Grand Finale: Jona Soquite from Team Sarah - Grand Champion" width="1280"></iframe></div><p>Jona Soquite is a four-chair turner during her blind audition, wherein she sang Smokey Mountain’s “Anak ng Pasig.” Coach Sarah turned for her first, Sharon followed, Lea came in third, and Bamboo was last. She was emotional seeing all four coaches turned for her, but chose the Popstar Royalty.</p><p>She eventually made it to the live shows and to the grand finals, wherein she had a duet of “I Believe I Can Fly” and “Better Days” with Sarah. The young Davaoeña was the first-ever <strong>The Voice Teens </strong><strong>Philippines,</strong> besting her competitors.</p><div><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="720" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/XSq8604C8vE" title="The Voice Teens Philippines Grand Finale: Jona Soquite - I Believe I Can Fly" width="1280"></iframe></div><p>Years after her win, it seems that Jona continues to hone and share her singing prowess through her live performances in various events, media guestings, and even videos on YouTube.</p><div> </div><div><strong>2019 - Season 4 (Kids Edition)</strong></div><div><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="720" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Jb0npVLT3IA" title="Vanjoss Bayaban of Team Sarah - Grand Champion | The Voice Kids Philippines 2019" width="1280"></iframe></div><p>Vanjoss Bayaban is the second male champion in the Kids edition and is Team Sarah’s fourth win in all editions of <strong>The Voice of the Philippines</strong><strong>.</strong></p><p>Lea and Sarah turned simultaneously for him upon hearing version of the classic “My Love Will See You Through” during the blind auditions, with Bamboo turning last. He was 12 years old when he wowed the three coaches because of his decibel-level (F# note) voice.</p><p>His version of “You Raise Me Up” during the grand finals brought him 62.11% of the total votes and won him the title.</p><div><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="720" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ZkEWnrKL78M" title="Vanjoss Bayaban - You Raise Me Up | The Finals | The Voice Kids Philippines Season 4" width="1280"></iframe></div><p>He may not be able to pursue a career in showbiz, but it seems that Vanjoss is doing great in his YouTuber journey as his eponymous YouTube channel has already raked in over 136 thousand subscribers, while his videos never fail to garner thousands of views. He also had a delighting reunion with his beloved Coach Sarah in his latest appearance on <a href="https://ent.abs-cbn.com/asap" target="_blank"><em><strong><u>ASAP Natin ‘To</u></strong></em></a>.</p><div> </div><div><strong>2020 – Season 2 (Teen Edition)</strong></div><div><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="720" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/BAecQAHiqIg" title="Meet the grand champions of The Voice Teens Philippines Season 2 | The Voice Teens Philippines 2020" width="1280"></iframe></div><p>The second season of the Teen Edition was relatively different from the previous ones as it produced not just one, but four grand winners – one from each team. While the Blind Auditions, The Battles, and The Knockouts were held face-to-face, the Live Shows and the Finale had to be held virtually due to COVID-19 restrictions.</p><p>Since there was no interactive viewer voting component, the four coaches themselves determined the winners of each team. After the finale performances of each team, the coaches were given 100 points each to divide among the three artists. Half of the artist’s score was given by their coach, while the other half was from the other coaches. The artists with the highest score in their respective teams were proclaimed the winners.</p><p>For Team Sarah, it was Kendra Aguirre who instantly wowed the coaches with how she owned the stage with her “Proud Mary” performance during the Blind Auditions. It was her voice who stood out during their group’s heartfelt rendition of “Kung Di Rin Lang Ikaw” by December Avenue and Moira dela Torre during the finale.</p><p>Meanwhile, it was Cydel Gabutero for FamiLea, who instantly got coaches Sarah and Lea in the first few notes of Sarah McLachlan’s “Angel” during the Blind Auditions. She may have mellifluous vocals, but it was still her who came out the strongest when her fellow Top 3 FamiLea artists and their coach performed “Lean On Me” in the grand finals.</p><p>The stunning “Isang Linggong Pag-ibig” cover was a four-chair turner in the Blind Auditions, but it was Coach Apl who Isang Manlapaz picked. And she’s able to bring her unique artistry up to the grand finals when their group performed “Labo” by KZ Tandingan, which made her the winner.</p><p>Last, but definitely not the least, is Heart Salvador, who made us swoon with her rendition of Lewis Capaldi’s “Someone You Love” during the Blind Auditions. As the four coaches turned, it was Bamboo who she chose in the end. In the grand finale, it was her who shone the brightest as Kamp Kawayan performed “Ain’t No Sunshine” by Bill Withers.</p><p>We may not see them in any Kapamilya shows at present, but the Teen grand winners are still able to show off their skills in other platforms. Kendra is able to utilize her talent by singing in their church’s band during their services and by competing in the prestigious WCOPA (World Champions of Performing Arts). Cydel and Isang are now both recording artists and had the chance to perform in local music festivals and other live shows. Heart, meanwhile, also graces various events through which she’s able to showcase her vocal prowess.</p><p>Are you excited as us to find out who among the young aspiring artists are going to make it to the end of <strong><a href="https://ent.abs-cbn.com/thevoicekids2023" target="_blank"><em><u>The Voice Kids Philippines Season 5?</u></em></a> </strong>Well, you better not miss an episode on <u><strong><a href="http://kapamilyachannel.com/" target="_blank">Kapamilya Channel</a></strong></u>, <u><strong><a href="http://kapamilyaonlinelive.com" target="_blank">Kapamilya Online Live</a></strong></u>, A2Z, and TV5.</p>

Let’s look back at all past grand winners of The Voice of the Philippines competitions and the prolific coaches behind each victory in this special feature.