Singer-actor-songwriter Ice Seguerra expected a big payday from his run as a child star. The money he'd made from his movies and television shows had been put in a bank. But Ice was in for a shock when he learned about his savings.
It happened a long time ago, but Ice revealed that his family was surprised to find themselves almost penniless after they were tricked into giving away his savings while their house was being renovated.
"Walang savings. Naloko kami. Hindi kami naloko sa business. But there was a time nuon na nagpa-renovate kami ng bahay. Na-gancho kami ng isang tao na akala namin kamag-anak. We trusted this person so much. So we let the person handled the finances. Only to find out na nalimas na pala yung pera sa bangko. So that happened," says Ice, formerly known as Aiza Seguerra, when asked about his earnings as a child star, during an interview for his upcoming concert "Becoming Ice: The 35h Anniversary Concert" at the Theater Solaire on Oct. 15 at 8 p.m.
Ice, 38, said this miserable incident happened when he was a teenager, adding that they were not able to recover the hard-earned money. He admits it was one of his down moments.
"That time it was hard to recover na. I was a teenager so yung mga napag-ipunan ko nuong kabataan ko nadale. Nuong teenager ako wala naman akong career but I never stopped working. Hindi nga ako naglove team.
"It was a family thing na hindi naman kailangan i-broadcast pa. It's in the past. While it was happening, it was one of my down moments. My dad was working naman pero feeling ko ako pa rin yung nagbibigay ng mas malaki. So I felt the responsibility kung paano ko siya ma me-make both ends meet," says Ice.
Ice, now a transman, also reveals he got depressed during the pandemic.
"Eversince I was three, I never stopped working. Then lahat tayo we have to stop during the pandemic. Three months walang bayaran ng bills, I was really enjoying it. But then when the bills started coming in, dun ko na feel na wala akong kwenta kasi wala ako naipapasok na pera sa amin. As a breadwinner, it was a big part of my identity. Kapag hindi magagampanan yun, napaka worthless kong tao. I mean I never heard anything from anyone. Pero ako mismo ang nagki-criticize sa sarili ko. It was hard. Kasi pag down ako, hindi ako creative. It really pulled me down. Parang I was in a dark place.
"Singing is not just a job for me, it's a big part of my identity, like how I am as a provider. So during the pandemic, nawala yung identity ko na singer ako, provider ako. Lahat yun stripped off sa akin. Nahirapan ako nun at nawalan ako ng purpose.
"I was talking to my psychiatrist, sabi niya do you feel hopeless? Sabi ko not hopeless but I think I don't have a purpose. Sabi ko anung point? Hindi naman ako nakakatulong sa pamilya ko? Hindi naman ako nakakakanta? That time my dad was getting worse na. So talagang nagpatong patong na. But at least my wife was working. She did not stop nuon sa Film Development Council of the Philippines. Talagang naging said," recalls the "Pagdating Ng Panahon' hitmaker.
Don't get Ice wrong. He may have experienced miseries, but it does not mean that he's down and out. Ice has successfully battled depression and has lived to tell the tale, hoping to inspire other people who can relate in any way.
Also, Ice, the former chair of the National Youth Commission of the Philippines, has a very supportive wife, Liza Dino, who just finished her successful stint as chairperson of the FDCP.
This year, Ice is celebrating his 35th year in showbiz with a big show. Ice says there's so much to celebrate in his career and in his personal life.
"The last major concert I had was 25 years ago. For the 30th year, I missed doing a show. Nasa Marawi ako that time. So pinagusapan namin ni Liza (Dino) na we have to do something for my anniversary in showbiz. Nagsimula ako as a beauty queen, then acting, now I'm a singer. There's another journey for me as a director din. This is something I really want to celebrate," Ice says.
"After the pandemic, I realized that milestones should be celebrated. You'll never know about the next chance. Basically, the concert is about my life, not just my career. Sa personal life ko ang dami ring ganap, as an LGBTQ person, marami rin akong naging milestones," he adds. "It's not just a showcase of hits, but I also want to sing songs that tell stories."
Some of the special guests who will appear in his show include Vic Sotto, Martin Nievera and Juris.
"Hind kumpleto ang kuwento ng buhay ko kung wala si Tito Vic (Sotto). Hindi lang siya naging tatay ko sa 'Eat Bulaga' eh kundi pati na rin sa 'Okay Ka, Fairy Ko.' He's been there ... naging ninong ko siya sa kasal. Isa siya sa mga nagturo sa akin mag-gitara. Ang dami naming moments sa buhay," says Ice.
"Si Martin Nievera ay isa sa mga kumupkop sa aking when I was younger, noong silang dalawa pa ni Pops (Fernandez). Parang anak nila ako like I would go to their house," he also says.
"Isa si Juris sa mga naging milestone ko...how I became a producer. Siya ang reason kaya nag-jumpstart ako na magproduce ng albums," Ice adds.
On how his team arrived at the title of the concert, Ice says: "During the concert, we will show how I became now. Yes, there will be visuals. So that's how we got the title "Becoming Ice." I was able to get footage from 'Eat Bulaga,' M-Zet."
Ice admits that he still enjoys looking at his younger photos. Most of those snaps were taken when he was still part of the longest-running noontime program, "Eat Bulaga."
"Natatawa ako. Ako ba ito? I was so happy with the people around me. The 'Eat Bulaga' people, 'Okay Ka' people. They did not treat me na artista. Growing up in this industry, you will be surrounded by yes men. Marami silang naituro na magagandang values sa akin. I really enjoy watching my younger self. Pero ang layo na. Oh my God! Ganito pala ako nuon. Until now pagnakikita ko yung mga photos, natutuwa ako. Pati na rin yung mga write up sa akin. Ang galing ng mommy ko magtago. Wala akong ganung talent," says Ice.
"When I was younger I enjoyed playing with older people. Siyempre ang older people sa akin yung mga staff. Pag may taping dala ko lahat ng laruan ko, gamit ko," he recalls. "Narealize ko na lang yun na I was earning money for the family nung mga teenager na ako. Naalala ko nuon naiyak ako kasi nasa mamahaling school ako nagaaral nun. Sometimes you can't help but compare pero I realized na I came from humble beginnings. My parents, they just worked hard. My mom did everything para mapalaki ako ng ganito."
When Ice left "Eat Bulaga," fans cannot help but compare his transition to younger "EB" kids Ryzza Mae Dizon and Baby Baste.
"I'm sure inalagaan din sila ng 'Eat Bulaga.' I love how my mom trained me into singing, and dancing. Acting hindi masyado. My mom believes that if you're into this industry, you have to know these things. Sa mga parents, siguro bukod pa pagiging cute, meron din tayong maibubuga or talent na maibibigay. This is work. This is a job. You should know that you're working with professional actors and you have to value your time. Sa magulang, hindi porke kumikita ang mga anak ninyo, boss sila. That's the worst thing that you can do. It's up to you parents to keep them grounded. I swear hindi ninyo magugustuhan ang mangyayari kapag hinayaan ninyo yan," Ice adds.
"Becoming Ice: The 35th Anniversary Concert" is produced by Fire And Ice Media and Productions in cooperation with Nathan Studios. Ice is also the stage director, while Ivan Lee Espino is the musical director. Tickets are available at TicketWorld.