‘Years ago, as a child performer, his Mommy Caring inspired the singer songwriter to include well-loved Visayan songs in the evening’s repertoire’
Do you know that at six years old, showbiz icon Ice Seguerra was already singing Cebuano tunes?
A former child star and now a successful concert performer and director, Ice has recently been in the spotlight because of his rendition of the popular Cebuano love song “Usahay,” which has now garnered 4 million views and over hundred thousand reactions as of early this week on FaceBook.
But Ice’s connection with the Queen City of the South goes way back.
It was in Cebu that he bought his first guitar. Years ago, as a child performer, his Mommy Caring inspired the singer-songwriter to include well-loved Visayan songs in the evening’s repertoire.
“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,” recalled Ice.
“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.”
For “Becoming Ice in Cebu,” the OPM star will not only serenade the crowd with sweet Cebuano music, he will also perform with up-and-coming VisPop idols, including Oh! Caraga band and Jerika Teodorico of “Labyu, “Langga” fame.
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 Bossing Vic Sotto.
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Ice thanks the very 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 from 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 own songs to him to prove that they are truly 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.”
Produced by Fire and Ice, Ice gets to celebrate his thirty-fifth anniversary in Cebu at the Pacific Grand Ballroom, Waterfront Cebu Hotel and Casino on February 18.
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One of the most loved musicals of all time is Rodgers & Hammerstein’s “The Sound of Music.” It is good news to musical aficionados as the AMA Group of Companies will be a co-presenter of the classic Broadway musical, “The Sound of Music” in Manila.
With the whole cast coming to perform live in Manila, this timeless production, written by Rodgers & Hammerstein and based on the book by Lindsay & Crouse, will bring its enchanting story and memorable songs to life at the Samsung Performing Arts Theater in Circuit Makati from March 7 to 26.
Get ready to be swept away by the timeless music, heartwarming story, and unforgettable experience of this beloved classic. “The Sound of Music” is a perfect fit for AMA Group’s mission to promote lifelong learning among its employees, alumni, and students.
