Jona in tears over ‘Voice Teens’ victory
MANILA – Fourteen-year-old Jona Soquite from Sarah Geronimo’s team feels blessed after being named the very first “The Voice Teens” champion on Sunday. With tears falling down her cheeks, Soquite admitted she did not expect to win “The Voice” because there were people who doubted her early in the competition. “Noon po sinasabi nila, nababasa ko sa comments na ayaw nila ako sa competition na ito pero sa nakita ko po ngayon, halos kalahati po 'yung naniwala sa akin. Sobrang saya ko po na naipakita ko po sa kanila ang tunay na Jona,” she said. Soquite got 44.78 percent of votes, followed by Isabela Vinzon, Mica Becerro and Jeremy Glinoga with 22.42, 17.79 and 15.01 percent, respectively. She will take home a house and lot, P1 million, a recording and management contract and a business package, among others. Asked what she will do with her prizes, Soquite said: “Ibibigay ko po sa pamilya ko, lalo na po 'yung bahay na talagang pinakaimportante po sa amin dahil delikado sa tinitirahan namin ngayon dahil nasa tabi po kami ng ilog. Thank you talaga kay Lord na ako yung pinagkalooban niya ng ganitong title.”
Just like Soquite, Geronimo was also surprised with the outcome of the competition.
“Hindi ko po ine-expect na mangyayari ito. Sobrang wow! Abot-abot ang pasasalamat ko sa Diyos,” she said.
Geronimo, however, has a message to those who bashed her during the Knockout Rounds because they didn’t approve of her choice of artist at that time.
“Sanay na ako sa inyo. Nagpapasalamat din ako. Ganun talaga. Opinion niyo 'yun at nirerespeto ko pero kitang kita niyo naman kung gaano kagaling ang bata. Mahusay at marunong makinig,” she said.
Certain that she made the right choice, Geronimo said: “Hindi siya kailanman nagmayabang at hindi siya typical na biritera. Napaka-versatile na bata. Kahit anong kantang ibigay sa kanya, kaya niyang gawin. Sobra akong proud sa kanya.”
This is the third time that someone from Geronimo’s team has won “The Voice” after Lyca Gairanod who was the first winner of “The Voice Kids” and Jason Dy, who won the second regular season of the singing competition.