Ice Seguerra Rings In Another Year With ‘Being Ice: Live’, A Birthday Concert Full Of Heart

In one of his stage banters last September 12, Ice Seguerra shared that his Videoke Hits concert, ‘Being Ice: Live!,’ was his way of practicing for upcoming gigs, polishing his vocals “para hindi ako pumiyok (so my voice won’t break)” before the more professional shows. He even thanked his fans for joining him in what he called a “rehearsal concert.”

But whether he calls it a “serious concert” or a “rehearsal concert,” Seguerra only has to grab the mic and sing to turn the night into a guaranteed treat. 

His crystal-clear vocals both warm and pierce the heart. Gentle and affecting. Angelic in purity yet packed with emotion. Watching him perform, especially when he comes down to the audience, feels like a throwback to the ’80s and ’90s, when fans — mostly women — would rush to hug or kiss their “idol.”

In celebration of the actor-musician’s birthday month (he turns 42 on September 17), a back-to-back concert was staged at the Newport Performing Arts Theater on September 12 and 13. Conceptualized by his wife and artistic director Liza Diño, the first night had a laid-back vibe, with Seguerra dressed in a simple white shirt and khaki pants.

This builds on last year’s Videoke Hits at the cozy Greenhills Music Museum. At Newport’s much larger stage, with two giant screens bolted on each side, Seguerra still manages to keep the concert intimate.

The stage — the country’s widest — was transformed into a nostalgic urban street scene, complete with video projections of clotheslines, corrugated cardboard walls, and banderitas. It looked like a classic Pinoy birthday party, with monobloc chairs, clothed tables, pulutan (finger foods), colorful cone hats, and that iconic ’90s food centerpiece: hotdogs and marshmallows on sticks, all planted on a banana trunk. True to the birthday-party feel, there were audience games, prizes, and Seguerra’s running jokes about his height.

Like last year, the backdrop featured a giant videoke screen with campy lyric videos. He opened with “My Way” and rolled through a setlist that jumped from “Muntik Na Kitang Minahal” to “Gento,” “Salamin, Salamin,” and the pre-show’s most-voted “Leaves” by Ben&Ben.

Surprises kept the night lively: Seguerra sang duets with guests including Lani Misalucha, the Sessionista boys (Nyoy Volante, Kean Cipriano, Duncan Ramos), Moira, and Gary Valenciano — who, at 61, still danced with the energy of SB19. The show stretched past three hours, like a good old puyatan (all-nighter).

It was the kind of night that turned a Filipino pastime into an infectious celebration. Audience members took the mic to sing — sometimes off-key, sometimes impressively — while Seguerra’s easy humor tied everything together. His down-to-earth nature, treating fans like family and friends, stripped away any celebrity airs. What shone through was gratitude — especially moving now, as he grieves the sudden passing of his mother.

Seguerra paid tribute to her that night, sharing how she passed away a day before attending her favorite activity — ballroom dancing. The stage then lit up with a ballroom number, reminding everyone that music and dance can comfort, and that life goes on.

Day 2, dubbed “The Concert Experience,” carried a more formal mood, with Seguerra in a tailored vest, shirt, and trousers. He sang the wedding song written by Diño, and welcomed guests like Bossing Vic Sotto, Ice Seguerra & Company, Juris, and Sessionista girls Sitti and Aiza “Cess” Santos. For comic relief, Seguerra danced to “Sexbomb” with leather-clad backup dancers. Another highlight was “Butsikik,” paired with video projections of the child star version of himself we grew up watching, followed by the career-defining hit “Pagdating ng Panahon.”

It looks like this birthday concert is shaping into a yearly tradition — a generous artist celebrating his life by entertaining fans, and fans giving back with cheers, love, and support. Together, they show how song can carry us through life’s ups and downs.