The Voice USA season 26 grand winner Sofronio Vasquez showed his utter gratitude when he reposted his mentor Michael Buble’s Facebook post.

“@paulankaofficial and @davidfoster took me under their wings at the very start of my journey and it obviously changed my life. They believed in me when nobody knew my name. Now, together, we get to do the same for @sofroniovasquez. This is what music is about. Legacy, Love and Lifting each other up. I can’t wait for you all to hear it,” Buble wrote as caption in his two photos showing him, Vasquez, Paul Anka and David Foster.

Vasquez, in appreciation, wrote: “I’ve knocked on so many doors for so long, just hoping for a shot at my dreams. I’m incredibly grateful to Michael Bublé for being an all-around awesome human — thank you for opening many doors for me. Thank you for being both a mentor and a sponsor. Mentors help you become better, but sponsors open doors for you. We need both, and I’m lucky to have found both in you. My heart is overflowing with gratitude.”

In another post, Vasquez was in disbelief that he is in the company of music greats as “for sometime, I thought something like this would only be possible in a dream. And here I am with them.”

“I can’t wait for all of you to hear the music we made. coming soon!  Anka • Foster • Buble • Vasquez • Vivo • Kertes,” he wrote.

Fans love Vasquez’s new achievement.

“Oh wow, you are surrounded by icons from music industry.. what a blessing. Just stay grounded and kind and I know you are,” one fan said.

“As a proud Filipino, I’m super stoked to hear the upcoming music release! Sounds like a fantastic collaboration,” another enthused.

“God really placed you where you belonged. Rey Valera was right when he said “a person like you will find your own way.” And this time you are there savoring the moment and gathering memories. God speed.”

Roderick Paulate recalls how Tonton Gutierrez stole a kiss

If there’s anything that Roderick Paulate won’t do in his series or movies, it is to kiss his leading man.

For him, it is a big no-no as he wants his comedy series and films appeal to all ages.

But there is one scene in Maalaala Mo Kaya episode in 2019 with Tonton Gutierrez  titled “Wristwatch” where Paulate’s self-imposed restriction was broken.

“Si Ton, ang sarap niyang kasama kasi wala siyang kaarte-arte. Kung ano ‘yung nararapat at kulang sa eksena, daragdagan niya. ‘Yung eksena sa ‘Wristwatch’ nagkahiwalay na kami kasi nahuli na siya ni Eula Valdez (asawa), so, kailangan na naming maghiwalay,” Paulate recalled during the grand mediacon for Mudrasta: Ang Beking Ina, a movie from CreaZion Studios slated to open on 20 August in cinemas. (Ton is a joy to work with because he has no qualms. Whatever is just and lacking in a scene, he will add. The scene in ‘Wristwatch,’ we broke up because his wife (Eula Valdez) caught him).

In one scene where Paulate’s character celebrated his birthday, Gutierrez came unannounced kissed the unsuspecting Paulate on the lips.

“Ang blocking no’n makikita ko siya tapos maiiyak ako. Gusto ni direk (Wenn) ay masikip lang sa dibdib (humihikbi), so, ‘yun lang ang ni-rehearse namin. So, dumating si Tonton bumati ng, ‘happy birthday’,” the ace comedian recalled. (The blocking was, I will see him and I will cry. The director (Wenn) just wanted it to be just an ache, so that is what we rehearsed. So, Tonton came and greeted ‘happy birthday.’

“(In the) next blocking, nakatingin lang ako sa kanya tapos paglingon ko bigla akong hinalikan (smack). Nagulat ako at ‘yun pala ang gustung-gustong mahuli ni direk Wenn. Tapos kin-close-up niya. Kasi ‘yung mukha ko talaga naka-ganu’n (tulala) at wala sa script ‘yun,” he added. (In the next blocking, I was looking at him and when I turned around, he suddenly kissed me. I was surprised and that’s what direk Wenn wanted to catch. Then, he did a close up. It’s because my face was like that and it wasn’t in the script).

That MMK episode has won for Paulate a Best Actor in a leading role at the Asian Television Awards (2000).