Team Lea’s Mitoy wins ‘The Voice of the Philippines’

CEBU, Philippines - Veteran band vocalist Mitoy Yonting of Team Lea was hailed as the first-ever winner of “The Voice of the Philippines” after garnering the highest percentage of public votes in the singing-reality show’s final showdown at Resorts World Manila’s Newport Performing Arts Theater last Sunday night.

“I feel very happy. I’m so blessed today. I thank God and those who voted for me,” said Mitoy in an interview with the media minutes after his victory.

Mitoy received 57.65% of the combined text and online votes to beat second placer, Team Sarah’s Klarisse de Guzman (42.35%) in their ultimate face-off. Their scores were reset back to zero before the poll for them opened.

His coach Lea Salonga said, “Whenever I won something, my mom would also feel like she won it because she contributed to it. Now I feel as if I had a son who won and did something right. That’s how it feels.”

In Sunday’s finale, Mitoy crooned the Beatles hit “Help” and performed with his coach Lea and comedian Vice Ganda in a comic take of “Total Eclipse of the Heart.” During the Saturday Live Show, Mitoy sang Freddie Aguilar’s “Anak” and his original song “Bulag.”

The 43-year-old winner also beat other final four artists, Team Apl’s Janice Javier and Team Bamboo’s Myk Perez, who got 13.56% and 12.81% of the votes, respectively, from the initial poll.

As the grand winner, Mitoy won P2 million, a home entertainment package, a new car, an Asian tour package for two, and a four-year recording contract with MCA Universal.

Mitoy had been an early favorite since the show’s Blind Auditions where he delivered a spectacular performance of “Bakit Ako Mahihiya,” which had Lea and Bamboo fighting for him to be on their respective teams.

Since then, Mitoy had consistently delivered superb performances that impressed the coaches and viewers through the Battle Rounds and Live Shows.

The finale opened with an energetic performance from the Top 24 artists of “The Voice of the Philippines,” Journey frontman Arnel Pineda and singer Jed Madela.

Earlier in the show, the other final contenders also performed with their coaches and surprise guests to urge the public to vote for them. Klarisse took on “Your Song” with coach Sarah and theater actor Robert Sena, while Myk and Bamboo, who danced the waltz with Linn Oeymo, performed “Morning Rose.”

Janice, meanwhile, sang “Himig ng Pag-ibig” with Asin’s Lolita Carbon before joining coach Apl in an electrifying performance of “The Time (Dirty Bit)” that earned cheers from the audience.

The four coaches also shared the stage to give an inspirational performance of “Man in the Mirror,” while Mitoy, Klarisse, Janice, and Myk later joined Shane Filan of Westlife in “Fool Again” and “Uptown Girl.”

“The Voice of the Philippines” is only one of the 40 local versions of the hit global franchise in different countries, including the more popular US version of “The Voice” hosted by Carson Daly with Christina Aguilera, Adam Levine, Cee Lo Green, and Blake Shelton as coaches.

Before the finale drew to a close, host Toni Gonzaga and V Reporters Alex Gonzaga and Robi Domingo announced that auditions will soon be held for the second season of “The Voice of the Philippines.” (FREEMAN)