After he came out several years ago as a transgender man, married the love of his life, Liza Diño, and changed his name to “Ice,” singer-songwriter Aiza Seguerra now mulls the idea of gender reassignment.
Ice Seguerra
According to a medical dictionary, gender reassignment also known as sex change is a surgical procedure by which a transgender person’s physical appearance and function of their existing sexual characteristics are altered to resemble that socially associated with their identified gender.
Ice revealed in an interview with Bulletin Entertainment that he and Liza are seriously discussing the matter, “talking about it all the time.”
“Kailangan kasi talagang pag-usapan ng maigi yan kasi hindi naman siya basta cake o candy lang na isusubo mo eh. Maraming bagay ang dapat i-consider kaya hanggang ngayon, ongoing discussion pa rin siya sa amin,” he said.
Should he finally pursue gender reassignment, Ice is aware his voice might change and that is his biggest concern.
“I have to be honest. ’Yung health issue hindi ko siya concern eh, kaya lang kasi I’m a singer. Singing is my bread and butter. We all know naman kapag, say, nag-hormones (pills) ako, one of the things talaga na mababago is my voice,” he explained.
He is worried fans would not accept his “new voice.”
“Sa totoo lang, sa akin okay lang magbago boses ko pero I know that it will be a big risk for me to lose it eh. Singer ako and that’s how I support my family especially my parents and my child,” he shared.
Liza, who was seated beside Ice during the interview, also aired her thoughts.
For one, she’s concerned how gender reassignment will affect their relationship, their dynamics as husband and wife.
“Palagi kong sinasabi kay Ice na ‘I’m embracing you for who you are’ but this ‘next stage’ in his life, parang hanggang ngayon hindi ko pa fully naiintindihan kung bakit pa namin kailangan talaga gawin,” she admitted.
“Halimbawa na lang din du’n sa pagbabago niya ng pangalan, it’s not something na nangyari over night eh. Kaya itong gender reassignment… this is a discussion we go through every time at hindi siya madali.”
On his showbiz career, Ice recently released the single, “Anghel Sa Lupa.” He plans to put out a full-length album this year.
Of struggle and acceptance
As early as three years old, Ice said he already knew his “real” gender identity.
“Lalaki ako,” he proudly claimed.
He recalled the times he chose to play toy guns instead of Barbie dolls, the moments he would walk in the streets shirtless as if it was normal for a person who people see as a girl.
“Naaalala ko nu’n, nag-camping kami ng mga kaibigan ko. Sabi ko ‘Ang init no pare,’ tapos lahat kami naghubad ng t-shirt, that time hindi ko na-realize na mayroon pala ako ng isang bagay na hindi dapat ipinapakita sa lahat,” he shared.
“Tapos baril talaga ang nilalaro ko nu’ng bata ako, minsan Barbie din pero siyempre ako si Ken. Ang mga crush ko talaga puro babae.”
Though Ice was never confused about her sexual preference, “coming out” to her parents proved to be a painful task. In fact, her mother even let her join “Eat Bulaga’s!” “Little Miss Philippines,” a competition for female children who are beautiful, talented, and intelligent.
“Inis na inis ako sa nanay ko nu’n kasi kating-kati ako kapag naka-gown eh. Nagagalit siya sa akin na, ‘Bakit para kang lalaki kung kumilos?’ Eh hindi niya alam ‘Mr. Pogi’ pala ang gusto kong salihan nu’n,” she said, laughing.
Puberty became harder for Ice when he started having her monthly period.
“Tandang-tanda ko nu’n, 11 years old ako, nagising ako tapos nag-cr ako, sabi ko ‘Ay, nadumi ako.’” So tinapon ko ’yung salawal ko tapos natulog ulit ako, pagkagising ko, meron ulit. Buti na lang nandun ’yung nanay ko sabi sa akin ‘Ano ba ‘yang tinatapon mo?’ Tapos pinakita ko, ang naging sagot sa akin ‘Tanga! Meron ka na (menstruation)!” she maintained.
“Sa totoo lang, hindi ako naging masaya nu’n. Hindi ako naging excited. Sabi ko nga kung pwede lang ipatanggal agad ’tong uterus ko, ibenta o ipamigay, ginawa ko na!”
Here’s another funny story: Did you know that Ice even had a love team partner? He is former Streetboys member Spencer Reyes.
“Jusko! Imaginin mo binigyan ako ng love team?” he exclaimed. “Hindi ko din malilimutan ’yung nangyari nu’n kasi may pelikula kaming kailangan i-promote, so nag-usap kami na sige kailangan holding hands. Pero paglabas namin sa camera, inakbayan ako, nasikmuraan ko siya at nakita sa TV!”
“Nag-sorry talaga ako nu’n pero kasi naramdaman ko talaga ’yung kilabot nu’n!”
Even as he “came out” to her parents and fans, acceptance that time didn’t come easily, the singer noted. He experienced anxiety and depression.
“Palagi kong iniisip na iba ako. In fact, there are so many times that I don’t what to look at myself in the mirror because I see boobs,” he admitted.
He survived it all, thanks to the people who accepted him for who he is.
“My wife is very supportive, and I think ’yung industry na kinabibilangan ko ay may respeto naman kung sino ako. I’m very grateful to that,” she said.
Ice and his wife Liza graced the launch in ManilaMed of the first ever Gender Diversity Center in the Philippines.
The center aims to help each person work out his or her own gender identity, assess his or her biological sex; allow him or her to choose his or her sexual preference and help them transition to that gender role. Equally important, it also aims to help people and their loved ones accept and embrace whatever the outcome turns out to be.
Ice expressed how happy he is that such a facility now exists to serve the Filipino LGBT community.