We have our winner

LYCA ended with an Aegis number, strutting in front of the group like it was her own concert. RODEL ROTONI

“Lyca will win it. No doubt.”

That was the definitive statement my brother, Gerard Salonga, made over dinner a few nights before “The Voice: Kids” grand finale, citing that we as a people are huge softies for the sob story.

And it did seem that Lyca’s backstory was the most compelling compared to those of the other three aspirants—Darren Espanto, Juan Karlos Labajo and Darlene Vibares.

Indeed, little Lyca Gairanod from Imus, Cavite, all of 9 years old, sang her way into the voting public’s hearts.

There were three rounds of competition for this final weekend: two rounds on Saturday and one more on Sunday. After Saturday, it looked like Darren would run away with the title after nailing both his ballad (“Ngayon,” by George Canseco, originally sung by Basil Valdez) and his up-tempo (Justin Bieber’s “Somebody to Love”).

Duets with stars

Everyone, to their credit, performed very well (Darlene had a shaky start to her ballad, the Sharon Cuneta hit “Sana’y Wala Nang Wakas,” but fought back and hard with her up-tempo, “Louder,” originally sung by Charice; JK hit a little vocal snag toward the end of The Beatles’ “Yesterday,” but showed sass and attitude with Bruno Mars’ “Runaway”; and Lyca, though stronger with Maricris Bermont/Regine Velasquez’s “Narito Ako,” had some trouble with Carly Rae Jepsen’s “Call Me Maybe”). I went to bed thinking exactly that. The crowd at the Newport Performing Arts Theater in Resorts World reflected this, chanting Darren’s name at the end of the night.

However, Sunday would be a brand-new day. And the final round of competition is one that should never ever be taken for granted or discounted. In this round, each young artist would be singing with a guest performer, in this order: Darren with Martin Nievera, Darlene with Lani Misalucha, JK with Gary Valenciano, and Lyca with Aegis.

Darren, Darlene, and JK all performed well with their guests, the veterans pumping the newbies with energy and support. However, once Lyca and Aegis took the stage, something different happened.

Aegis generously let Lyca take the lead on “Basang Basa sa Ulan,” the little girl strutting in front of the female threesome who opted to remain stationary behind her, prompting Coach Sarah to remark, “Lyca, this looks like your concert!” It was this performance that sealed Lyca’s victory. And we could see, hear, and feel a shift in the energy inside the venue. Bamboo and I, in our chairs, looked at each other, remarking that whatever we thought from the previous night just might no longer apply, and that something could change.

Sure enough, it did. Lyca’s journey began with Aegis, and ended with Aegis. It seemed fitting that her stint on “The Voice” would be bookended in such a fairy tale way.

After I had changed out of my Popo Go gown (oh, thanks to everyone on social media that commented on my décolletage) into something more comfortable, I sought Darlene out to see how she was doing. My little girl was inconsolable, sobbing out of disappointment that she wasn’t able to win the house for her family.

(The tears began flowing on stage even before the announcement was made, and once she knew she didn’t win, she cried even louder.)

Just one day

She was in one of the dressing rooms, sitting on a table, speaking with one of our resident child psychologists, her parents close by. I approached her, and told her (and later on, her folks) how this is but one day out of her young life… how I remember not always being appreciated… how I wondered why my voice was the way it was… how the biggest break of my life arrived at the age of 17… and how God’s time does not always mean our time.

The best words, however, came from Darlene’s father Roland: “Anak, ang pera ay pansamantala lamang. Ikaw ay ginto para sa akin.” I nearly lost it right then and there. Indeed, she is worth more than her weight in gold. She seemed to calm down and slowly recover, and by the time she had arrived at the after-party being held at the NPAT vestibule about an hour later, she was looking for my daughter (and her playmate) Nicole and later on, was singing her heart out on stage.

Many of the kids that were part of the show came back to attend this final night and celebrate. And boy, these kids partied deep into the night, singing, playing, dancing, taking pictures with the coaches (Bamboo and I stayed for much of the merrymaking; Sarah left early, saying that she was coming down with something), and just having themselves a wonderful time. Out of competition mode, they were just being kids. And that was fun for me to watch.

As stressful as the entire season was, it was also very fulfilling. These were very talented kids, and all of them deserve a shot.

The four kids that were left standing had themselves a very auspicious introduction to the music industry. I don’t think any other young artist could ask for a better start. They all competed like champions, and truly, they all are.

However, only one can take the title. To the little superstar, Lyca, and her coach, Sarah Geronimo, congratulations on a victory well-deserved.