Oh my God: Who wouldn’t be amazed by her? Despite her tiny frame and young age, she almost shook the entire Philippines when she sang in the first season of The Voice Kids on ABS-CBN in 2014.

More than a decade has passed since she appeared on The Voice Kids. How is Laica Gairanod now? What is she currently doing?

Laica Gairanod, born November 21, 2004, is a Filipino singer and actress. She won the first season of The Voice Kids Philippines, earning a contract under UMG Philippines. After her success on the show, she began appearing on television as an actress, playing herself in the drama “Maalaala Mo Kaya” aired on ABS-CBN.

Following this, she also became a guest on “Hawak Kamay” by ABS-CBN the following month.

Laica Jin Gairanod was born in Tanza, Cavite. She grew up in a place full of hardships, where her family survived by collecting plastics, bottles, and other recyclable materials to earn extra income.

Her father is a fisherman, while her mother, Maria Nessel Gairanod, worked as a scavenger trading used bottles and old scraps. As a child, Laica helped her mother and sang to neighbors in exchange for small amounts of money and food.

According to Laica, her mother never forced her to collect recyclables. It was something she naturally wanted to do to help her family and earn a small allowance. Her dedication and hard work despite difficulties reflect her strong character and love for her family.

On May 8, 2014, during the first episode of The Voice Kids Season 1 on ABS-CBN, Laica showcased her unique talent with a powerful rendition of “Halik” by Aegis. Coach Sarah Geronimo immediately pressed her button to include Laica on her team.

Coach Lea Salonga, although interested in continuing with Laica, decided not to press her button because she felt that the special connection between Laica and Sarah was destined for success.

After the auditions, Laica competed in the battle rounds on July 12, 2014, facing off against Sak Zamudio and Lee Marcelino. They chose to collaborate on a song by Regine Velasquez. Despite the tough competition, Laica was fortunate to advance to the next challenge: the sing-offs.

In the sing-offs, each contestant had the opportunity to choose their own song, showing their unique style and personality as singers.

Sarah Geronimo chose Laica to be one of her two representatives for the live shows, so Laica continued in the competition. She demonstrated her talent with the song “Dance with My Father” by Luther Vandross in a Tagalog version. Her powerful performance allowed her to advance to the semifinals.

In the semifinals, Laica showed her excellence and personality through the song “Pangarap na Bituin,” originally written and covered by Sarah Geronimo. Her touching interpretation earned her the highest number of votes from viewers and secured her spot in the finals of The Voice Kids Philippines.

The live finals were colorful and full of tension, where each contestant gave their best performances in the first rounds. Laica sang “Narito Ako” by Regine Velasquez, a song that showcased her strength and emotional depth in the second round.

She then performed “Call Me Maybe” by Carly Rae Jepsen, demonstrating her versatility and ability to entertain in the final round. Laica once again showed her exceptional skill with a performance of “Basa Sa Ulan” by Aegis, which was the final proof of her talent as a great singer.

Despite all challenges, her performances earned her the highest votes from fans and viewers.

At the end of the competition, Laica Gairanod was crowned the champion of The Voice Kids Philippines Season 1. This victory was not only for her but also for her family, symbolizing her dream to help them and escape poverty.

Her success is proof of unwavering dedication, hard work, and love for her family, as well as the importance of dreams nurtured despite hardship and trials.

Now, the once very young Laica is a young woman. She has also introduced her boyfriend to the public.

Where they once slept on sidewalks and scavenged for trash, they now have a decent home they can call their own.

Laica continues to pursue her dreams and has not stopped singing. Currently, she remains active in TV guestings and live events.

Though the timbre of her voice has changed slightly, the support for her, especially from her family, has not wavered since she first rose to fame.

Laica Gairanod, the grand winner of The Voice Kids Philippines in 2014, is an inspiration to young people with dreams. Despite growing up in a poor family, she achieved success through hard work, talent, and family support.

Her life story shows the importance of valuing family, humility, kindness, and never giving up despite trials.

A valuable lesson from her story is the importance of education, self-acceptance, perseverance, and effort required to succeed—no matter what challenges come your way.