Ice Seguerra recalls ‘laos ’ phase: It made me stronger

Ice Seguerra is a compelling, sincere storyteller.

Ask Ice anything and expect a straightforward answer that will make any listener wanting to hear more.

Our recent conversation had him talking about the awkward stage of his teenage years — when Ice was still known as the Aiza Seguerra, who endeared many with the cuteness and charm of being Little Miss Philippines of Eat Bulaga.

Initially coming out as a lesbian in 2007, Ice now identifies himself as a transgender man.

Telling his story on becoming Ice led him to look back at his awkward years as a teenager, and that thought of being a has-been or, in his own words, “na-laos during my awkward stage.”

“I’m actually a very simple person but deep inside, siguro ‘yun may mga complications because of course, I grew up in an industry wherein you have to be the perfect little girl. That time, it was okay and then I started growing up and then when I grew up that’s when I started to find out who I am,” began Ice on the experience of going through the awkward teenage phase.

“And, of course, if you try to live kung sino ‘yung tingin ko na sino ako that’s when the complication happened because hindi mo alam kung tatanggapin ng tao kung sino ka,” added Ice who admitted that it was not aligned to the perfect image of being a celebrity.

“Tito Boy, kasi beauty queen ako — Little Miss Philippines — so ang hirap talaga kasi ‘yung imahe ng beauty queen, ang hirap kabugin nun.”

Former Streetboys member Spencer Reyes was Ice’s loveteam back then and they would hold hands on screen “because it’s part of it. Saan ako kukuha ng trabaho? It’s not just to please them (audience) but at the same time I’m earning for my family.”

I asked if Spencer had an idea and Ice was quick to respond, “Ay, oo, magkabatak kami. Nasuntok ko s’ya kasi usapan namin hawak kamay lang tapos biglang umakbay. Sorry, Spencer. But we’re friends and he never judged me.”

No matter how busy showbiz life was for Ice back then, he assured he had nothing but a happy childhood. The studio was a big playground for then little Aiza who would imagine that entering the cold venue was like stepping inside a spaceship with the cameras as machine guns. The cranes were the airplanes, he amusingly recalled.

“I enjoyed the work. I felt like I was just playing along with my co-actors so never did I feel, ‘My god, nabu-burn out ako sa trabaho.’ It’s like, ‘Yihee, may work ako.’”

Unlike other famous stars who prefer homeschooling, Ice said that he went to regular school despite the hectic schedule.

“I would go to school in the morning then after classes, by 12 noon, head straight to Celebrity Sports Plaza for Eat Bulaga. After that, either I go to shoot or taping until the wee hours of the morning since there were no DOLE laws yet. Makakatulog na ko sa van at pag-gising ko, naka- uniform na ko at papasok na ko sa school.

“I think an important part of (keeping a balance) was going to regular school because it’s different if you make showbiz your world. In fairness to my mom (Caridad), she would allow me to play with my friends on the street during the height of my career. We would also ride a jeep. Ayaw n’ya na mababasa na si Aiza ganito, deprived of childhood.”

It was in high school when he felt about slowly losing star power. He narrated, “So, I was in high school and the full-day schedule didn’t permit me to appear on Eat Bulaga. I was the most awkward teenager because I didn’t want to wear a skirt but I had no choice. I was not comfortable with myself. Hence, it showed. Siguro pati, talagang dumadating sa time ng buhay natin na pag mataas, minsan bababa ka.”

It takes a lot of maturity for anyone to accept the kind of situation that Ice had experienced. But it’s admirable how he didn’t even hesitate to talk about his so-called phase of being “laos.”

“It’s because I learned a lot from it. It made me stronger. It actually made me more courageous to really embrace who I am. If I were to think of the most important phase then, that’s it. That’s why, I am not shy to tell you.”

During those times, Ice added, he had no plans of going back to showbiz. The decision to finish school was etched on his mind.

“I was broken. Perhaps, I was there at the point where my confidence was so low. It was actually my mom who was pushing me (to keep on going). It annoyed me as a teenager na pilitin ako. Siguro, may nakikita s’ya sa akin at that time na hindi ko nakikita dahil sa sobrang baba na ng confidence ko.”

Ice said Eat Bulaga supported his love for music. He would appear in the show two times a month playing the guitar with Vic Sotto performing on stage.

Mommy Caridad, on the other hand, convinced Ice to have a gig in one of the bars in Aurora Boulevard with their musician friends from Japan.

“I remember that the bar only had two tables — one had a man drinking by his lonesome and the other one was occupied by my mom and dad. They were our audience, but we just went on singing until the time came when people started coming in,” he said.

Ice could still recall how Margot Gallardo and Armie Araullo came to the bar and convinced her to do an album.

But Ice said he never felt excited with the idea of coming up with an album “because for me it will just be another failure. That time, I didn’t see any positivity in whatever opportunity being presented to me.

“Until one day, Tita Margot called me up, telling me that there’s already a title for the album and a single called Pagdating ng Panahon.”

The song turned out to be a monster hit with Ice feeling so worried that people might reject him for being a lesbian.

“I was just surprised because for some weird reason that (issue) didn’t even matter because it (Pagdating ng Panahon) was a beautiful song and that gave me hope. Doon nag-bago, you know if it’s something real, if it’s something pure and beautiful, people will not care who sang it and people will not care if the singer looks like this or that. If it’s a beautiful song, it’s a beautiful song.”

Regarding his sexual orientation, it was only revealed when his father caught him with a girl. Ice recalled coming home from school when his parents confronted him. “I told them the truth and my dad was quiet the whole time. It was a process for them, for me. I knew in my heart, it’s not wrong kasi nag-mamahal ako.”

However, it didn’t take long for his parents to accept him. “Hindi lang nila gusto yung girl, hahahaha,” he said.

Among his relationships, his parents were both in favor of Liza Diño, whom he now calls his wife.

How are you as a husband?

“I’d like to think that I’m the kind of husband who is really there for my wife. You know, I really support her. I’m her No. 1 fan. Of course, I am happy because we get to spend more time together, making plans about films. We have our own production na rin and knowing Liza, Tita Boy, she can do many things. She can do so much.”

Are they talking about having a baby?

“We don’t have enough money yet, Tito Boy, hahahaha.”

Meanwhile, Ice celebrated his 35th anniversary in show business with a concert called Becoming Ice, a few weeks ago at The Theater at Solaire. It was his first major solo concert after 10 years.

“Through music, I would like to share my journey on how I became who I am today,” said the singer-songwriter-actor who is now also into directing with series as his directorial debut.