Cebu leg of ‘Becoming Ice’ concert features local artists alongside OPM icons

CEBU, Philippines —  Ice Seguerra has a special connection to Cebu for at least two reasons: here was where he got his first guitar at six years old, and Cebuano is the first language he learned outside of Tagalog for singing.

“Cebu is the first place I went to as a kid. I remember being here when I was six years old and I remember my mom said to me, ‘You are here in Cebu. You have to sing and understand them because singing is close to the Cebuanos,’” Seguerra shared during a press conference at Kape Tano in City Times Square, Mandaue City where he performed his classic hit “Pagdating Ng Panahon” and his recent single “Wag Kang Aalis” for the media present.

“My mom and I went to Lapu-Lapu City and I saw this small guitar that had six strings which is exactly my height. I was amazed because it’s a black guitar with blue lining at the side.”

The former child actress turned singer-songwriter is bringing his successful anniversary concert “Becoming Ice” to Cebu on February 18, a Saturday, at the Waterfront Cebu City Hotel & Casino. Its first leg in Manila last October won two Aliw Awards: Best Stage Direction for a Concert and Best Musical Direction for a Concert.

“Every time I would come here, it feels like coming home with a very warm feeling. I am just happy that we are bringing ‘Becoming Ice’ here to Cebu,” Seguerra added.

Major concert comeback

Produced by Seguerra and his wife Liza Diño through their Fire and Ice Productions, “Becoming Ice” serves as his “major concert comeback” after 10 years as he celebrates his 35th anniversary in showbiz.

As the musical event looks back on his life and career, it will also include documentary segments. “We are mixing the elements of media with live concert elements to share Ice’s history and journey as an icon in the Philippine industry, his struggles, his triumphs, and everything in between. Life-changing moments that shape him to finally embrace his identity and artistry on his own terms,” Diño explained.

Added Seguerra: “The concert is really about my life in a nutshell because 35 years feels so long. We have segments about me as a child actor, about the awkward stage in my life, and others. I have an affinity for Cebu and there are so many memories I have here so that’s a separate segment. The concert has a narrative and a story.”

Joining Seguerra as performers are Martin Nivera, Frenchie Dy, Cooky Chua, Bayang Barrios, and Mike Villegas, with the special participation of Gary Valenciano, Vic Sotto, and Sylvia Sanchez, the latter of whom is co-producing the concert through her company Nathan Studios with her children, actors Arjo and Ria Atayde. Cebu-based performers Oh! Caraga and Jerika Teodorico are also part of the line-up.

Diño said that Seguerra handpicked the performers as they are connected to his life and career, and they serve a bigger purpose in the show’s narrative.

“Kuya Martin has so many stories to tell about me [during the concert] because we have been friends since I was a kid,” Seguerra quipped.

Vispop segment

Seguerra revealed that he will be performing “Labyu Langga” with Teodorico and “Ipanumpa Ko” with Oh! Caraga during a segment that showcases Vispop talent.

He said the idea of having a dedicated Bisaya segment came from Diño, who, during her time as chair of the Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP), was active with regional events.

“We were brainstorming for ‘Becoming Ice’ in Cebu when Liza came up with this idea to have a whole segment for Cebuanos and I was like, ‘Let’s do it!’”

Teodorico was the first Cebuano artist they had in mind. “We fell in love with Jerika’s song ‘Labyu Langga’ so we actually brought him to Manila to perform for [one of the ceremonies of] the Pista ng Pelikulang Pilipino film festival,” Seguerra shared.

“This is the first time that we will be doing a number together so it’s a very good thing for me as an artist because Ice is my personal hero not just for his musical talents, but also for being brave for who he is right now,” Teodorico said.

As for Oh! Caraga, Seguerra and Diño browsed online for other local acts on Spotify when they found out about the band. “When we heard their music, we were like ‘Oh my God, we love their music. We want them.’ So Liza contacted them on Facebook.”

Adam Corvera, one of the members of Oh! Caraga, expressed his excitement to perform alongside Seguerra. “We first saw Ice at Eat Bulaga and now, we are next to him. That’s the plot twist of our life,” he quipped. “We are grateful to be chosen to play with him, which is a very big blessing to us and also for other Bisaya artists because it’s our chance to be heard in an avenue with a larger crowd and bigger personalities involved.”

His brother and fellow Oh! Caraga member Kenneth echoed his sentiments. “Ice was one of the Filipino artists I looked up to as a kid when I was still learning to play the guitar. My first love was acoustic music and I love his style, melodies, rhyming, and songwriting so Ice was one of my idols and inspiration.”

Asked by The FREEMAN how he feels when fans call him their hero, he said, “One part of me feels grateful and happy, but a bigger part of me feels bad because I am so introverted. I only see myself as whatever they say I am when I am on stage, but on a normal day, I am just me.”

“I came out as lesbian and then I came out as trans. They continue to believe in me and they stayed. It means so much to me and I am just glad they root for me despite everything…I am so grateful.”

Seguerra, in turn, praised the Cebu music scene for its creative independence. “Vispop is very pure for me. It’s very artist-centric and less on relying on commercial appeal. It’s like they are, ‘This is who I am. This is what my music is, and I will proudly sing my song in front of everybody.’ Cebuano artists have more freedom to be who they are and that’s just a beautiful thing that deserves to be celebrated.”

Different Cebu leg

Besides the segment featuring Visayan artists, concertgoers can also expect spur of the moment spiels from Seguerra.

“When I do a concert, I don’t have a script and the lines are not written. Whatever comes out of me, it’s because of the energy given to me by the audience. That’s why this concert is going to be different from the one in Manila.”

“That exchange of energy is different from place to place so that’s why even though I have been doing this for a long time, I am not bored at all because wherever I go to Cebu, Davao, Iloilo, or wherever, the audiences are always different. It takes on a different form all the time.”

Seguerra further said that he will also try to shorten the Cebu leg as much as he can as the Manila show ran for more than four hours.

“Most of my guests [in the last concert] were my friends and they had their own [long] stories about me,” he said. “But we didn’t hear complaints of how long the show was because it didn’t feel that way. Even when the venue was big, the show felt very intimate.”