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‘Becoming Ice’ Goes to Cebu for a Post-Valentine Concert
Fresh from the success of “Becoming Ice: The 35th Anniversary Concert,” which bagged wins and nominations at the Aliw Awards. Ice Seguerra is in the spotlight again after becoming viral with his rendition of the popular Cebuano love song “Usahay,” which has now garnered 1.5 million views and over a hundred thousand reactions as of early this week on FaceBook.
With many fans from the Visayas commenting on the post to express support, Ice Seguerra has nothing but growing anticipation to perform for the Cebuano crowd. “I am so excited to bring “Becoming Ice” to Cebu. Sa totoo lang, I love performing for the Cebuanos. Yes, medyo nakakakaba kasi in my many years of performing there, makikita mo na they really know what they want out of a performance. They really listen, kaya pag nagkamali, lagot. Pero kapag na-appreciate nila ‘yung music and performance, sobrang all out din sila para ipakita ‘yungenjoyment nila.”
Aside from getting his first guitar from a visit to Cebu many years ago, a fond memory with his mother when he was still a child performer also inspired the singer-songwriter to include the well-loved songs in the evening’s repertoire. He shares, “Itong “Usahay”, kasama ng “Matud Nila”, ang mga una kong natutuhang kanta nung bata pa ako. Naaalala ko, nung mga six years old ako, nag-show kami sa Cebu.”
“Medyo nabaluktot talaga ang dila ko nung inaaral ko ‘yung lyrics … pero nung narinig ko ‘yung music, sobrang nagustuhan ko na ‘yung mga kanta. Since hindi ko siya maintindihan, tinanong ko yung mga kaibigan kong Bisaya kung ano’ng meaning. Nung nalaman ko, lalo akong na in-love. Mas masarap nang kantahin.”
The Cebu Brand of Warmth
Seguerra thanks the warm reception his Cebu fans gave him during his radio tours and concert preparations. While admitting the challenges in staging an event far from his home base, the singer-songwriter is ecstatic about the outpouring of love from the Cebuanos. From radio stations playing songs from lesser-known albums such as the song “Lupang Ipinangako” to encounters from fans belting out his songs to him to prove that they are genuinely avid listeners.
“Namiss ko yung ganito! Yung umiikot talaga sa radio stations para magpromote. Ang sipag ko before sa mga ganitong promotion because I feel closer to the fans,” he shares. “Before social media and Spotify, we used to go to different provinces to promote our albums. Sa isang araw. Tapos meron pang record bar tours and mall tours kung saan pagkatapos ng performance, the fans who who bought my album will have their copies signed. Minsan tumagal ng more than four hours yung album signing, nagsara na ‘yung mall, nandun pa rin kami. It's definitely more tiring, yes, but the experience, not just for me but especially for the fans, is more memorable. Iba pa rin talaga ang physical connection.”
The concert series is also the artist’s return to the concert stage after ten years. His last foray into the major concert scene was in 2014 with a back-to-back concert with renowned performer Jake Zyrus.
Sharing the Stage with VisPop Hitmakers
Aside from being known for its pristine beaches, majestic waterfalls, and sumptuous cuisine, Cebu is also a treasure trove of entertainment talent. Asia’s Queen of Songs, Pilita Corales, is from Cebu, and so is the toast of the town from the international hit “Nocebo,” Chai Fonacier. Pinoy showbiz’ Kim Chiu and Morisette Amon also hail from the Queen City of the South.
For ‘Becoming Ice,” the versatile performer will share the stage with up-and-coming VisPop idols from Cebu’s vibrant music scene, including the crowd favorite, Oh! Caraga band and Jerika Teodorico of “Labyu, ‘Langga” fame.
Oh! Caraga was chosen as one of the finalists in the International Songwriting Competition (ISC) in 2020, getting selected from more than 26,000 entries from 158 countries. The group comprises Kenneth Corvera, Adam Corvera, and Sherwin Fugoso. On the other hand, Teodorico has established herself as a singer-songwriter and a household name in Cebu’s music scene after winning the top prize in Vispop 2.0 in 2013.
In addition to Cebu’s homegrown talents, “Becoming Ice” will also be flying in special guests to make the post-Valentine event extra special, including Concert King Martin Nievera, Bayang Barrios, Mike Villegas, Cooky Chua, and Frenchie Dy. There will also be special participation from Sylvia Sanchez and Philippine entertainment royalties Vic Sotto and Gary Valenciano.
An Intimate Affair
In this post-Valentine concert, Seguerra will be serenading Cebuanos with songs that chronicle his journey as an artist. The soundtrack of his life from the child actor doing duck walks, to his Okay ka Fairy Ko and Shake Rattle and Roll days, to his emergence as a singer-songwriter with more mature sensibilities and depth. Fans can expect his groundbreaking hits, including“Pagdating ng Panahon” and “Anong Nangyari sa Ating Dalawa,” and many more. Touted as an intimate sneak peek into his life through his songs, “Becoming Ice” aims to share the artist’s story with the Cebuanos who have welcomed and supported him through the years.
With a career that spans three and a half decades, Seguerra’s longevity in the business may lie in his songs that ring with genuineness and vulnerability. That perhaps can be credited not just to his growth as an artist but also from his journey of becoming his lived experience of life’s highs and lows and learning to dream and love again. His voice, with its signature quiet poignance and power (so much like love), makes listeners genuinely feel his music and relate to the stories they convey in not so many words (or high notes).
Experience “Becoming Ice,” the milestone concert celebrating multi-platinum artist Ice Seguerra’s 35 years in show business at the Pacific Grand Ballroom, Waterfront Cebu Hotel and Casino in Cebu City on February 18, 2023.
