Ice Seguerra is among those who prefer not to work on their birthday. The OPM icon enjoys celebrating his special day in relaxation — without the pressures of a concert. “Gusto ko lang mag-videoke,” he said, pausing to emphasize that this was exactly what he did during the fourth installment of his highly successful “Videoke Sessions: OPM Edition” at the Music Museum on September 13.
“Ang daming naki birthday sa’kin,” Ice quipped.
This birthday show transcended mere performance; it became a shared celebration that resonated deeply with both Ice and his audience. Ice remarked, “Siguro parang, ‘oy birthday gift natin kay Ice ‘to.”
A highlight for him was the P-pop hits medley, featuring “Salamin” by BINI and “Gento” by SB19. He delivered an all-out performance, singing and dancing with gusto. “Hindi ko na-anticipate ‘yung pagod. Buti na lang may backup dancers and backup vocalists. Ngalngal kabayo talaga dahil ‘di ko na anticipate yung pagod. ‘Di ko na sya makanta nang maayos, so I really have to pace myself,” he said, chuckling.
Well, as they say, a seriously good show deserves to be staged again and again. Ice will hold his fifth session on November 8 at 8 p.m. at the Music Museum. This “Videoke Session” will feature guests like Angel from “Drag Race Philippines,” new artist Louise, and Ebe Dancel.Ice shared his hope to include rock icon Sampaguita as a future guest.
“Wish ko talaga i-guest si Sampaguita, pero mukhang ‘di uubra. Siyempre idol ko siya, rock and roll. I’m a fan of others, too, pero I wish makasama ko siya. I am a big fan.”
When asked about moving to a larger venue, he expressed a desire to maintain the intimacy with his audience. “Ayokong mawala ‘yung magic,” he shared.
He believes a smaller venue like the Music Museum is perfect for fostering this connection and prefers to repeat shows in an intimate setting rather than risk losing that in a larger space.
While Ice hasn’t made definitive plans to release the songs performed into an album, he mentioned being open to the idea, as suggested by his good friend Mike Villegas. The successful performances of the “Ice-fied” versions and the possibility of future releases are ongoing discussions for Ice and his team.
As Ice reflects on 2024, he acknowledges the growth of his and Liza’s production, Fire and Ice. “We’re growing,” he said earnestly. “Minsan nakaka-overwhelm kasi sinimulan namin na it was just the two of us, and now we’re getting people, paunti-unti muna.”
He and Liza — whom Ice acknowledges as the brains behind the production, conceived eight years ago — are also considering taking “Videoke Sessions” abroad, exploring partnerships in Singapore, Hong Kong, Australia, Canada, and the Middle East. “When I sing for OFWs, ibang joy ang nararamdaman ko. Nararamdaman mo yung pagka miss nila,” he said. “I know this show, they will love it. This show is for them.”
