September 17, 2024 | 12:00am
MANILA, Philippines — Music Museum was packed even on a rainy Friday night and there was nary any vacant seat. Fans trooped to the venue apparently to anticipate a fun sing-along with singer Ice Seguerra, who turned 41 that night (although the actual birthday was Sept. 17).
“You really made my birthday happy,” an overwhelmed Ice told his audience. “This is your concert, so if you want to sing along, go ahead. This is videoke, not a singing contest.”
The night also marked Ice’s 37th year in showbiz. He was barely five when he emerged as a runner-up in the “Little Miss Philippines” contest on “Eat Bulaga.” Yet, he was the one who carried on the popularity of the contest for many years.
There were cupcakes on the table for everyone, a gift from Ice. A birthday celebrator giving gifts to his guests is really unusual. Usually, it’s the other way around.
However, for Ice Seguerra’s 41st birthday, he opted to surprise all those who watched his fourth in the series of concerts, “Videoke Hits: OPM (Original Pilipino Music) Edition.”
Clearly, the Music Museum concert was the night of videoke addicts. As early as 6 p.m., there was a long line outside the multi-deck of stairs at Music Museum that bled into the mall. Excited fans waited to do videoke, one of the favorite pasttimes of Filipinos.
“The ultimate videoke addict, madamot sa mic, acoustic diva” welcomed the excited audience — couples, friends, family, senior citizens, members of the LGBTQIA+ community — to his videoke world.
Ice opened the show with Christmas In Our Hearts, Jose Mari Chan’s popular ditty that undoubtedly always ushers in the Yuletide season, the longest for Filipinos. “Nauna na ako sa kanilang lahat,” Ice happily addressed his audience.
After he carried out Regine Velasquez’s Dadalhin, fans were shouting “I love you” from the audience. Ice was undoubtedly overwhelmed.
The show also marks Ice’s 37th year in showbiz, which started when the singer was barely five and emerged as a runner-up in the ‘Little Miss Philippines’ contest on the noontime show ‘Eat Bulaga.’
“Lalapitan ko kayo to sing,” Ice warned the crowd. “Kahit mayor, pakakantahin ko,” the singer added, referring to Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte, who was in the audience that Friday night.
“This (concert) started as a very small show,” Ice said. “But that successfully went on from one show to another. Liza (Diño) added her ideas. Tonight, this is the fourth videoke concert. So, welcome to the videoke world.”
Ice carried out popular and easy to render tunes that were mostly familiar with the fans. Ella May Sayson’s Till My Heartaches End, Ella del Rosario’s O, Lumapit Ka, The CompanY’s Now That I Have You.
“This next one ay para sa mga mahilig magbalot,” warned Ice as strains of Sharon Cuneta’s Bituing Walang Ningning were played. Half of the time, Ice was down from the stage as he enjoined “jammers” from the audience to gamely sing.
The concert was very intimate. Aside from the fact that the audience could sing, never mind if they were sometimes out of tune, everybody was welcome to croon and even belt out the tunes they heard from Ice.
Surprisingly, Ice wasn’t originally a singer. He started in showbiz acting on TV and in films. Admittedly, 37 years in the entertainment scene was full of challenges that made him question, “Is this the right path for me?”
“Nalaos ako at nawala from the scene,” he humbly told the audience. “But you let me return as a singer.. In the ‘90s, I learned to play the guitar and sing. Hindi nagbago ang love ninyo sa akin. Maybe I have a purpose.
Liza Diño-Seguerra accepts Ice’s dare to wear the polo printed with his face on his birthday concert.
“I’m still humbled. I didn’t come from a showbiz family. My family is so simple. Who am I to have that honor to be a part of your lives? But you welcomed me into your lives.”
Ice paid tribute to three of his “heroes” who are pillars of OPM by singing their hits — Narito by Gary Valenciano, Kahit Isang Saglit by Martin Nievera. and Sa Kanya recorded by Ogie Alcasid and penned by Ito Rapadas.
Ice also acknowledged his “idol” Joey Albert and rendered Ikaw Lang ang Mamahalin.” He said of Joey, “She didn’t have to shout to get the song across when she sings.”
Then, he mentioned the bands who inspired him in the ‘90s before he dished out original band ditties in his set list. “Because of them, I learned to play the guitar and sing,” Ice said.
The audience sang with Ice when he rendered Rivermaya’s Forever By Your Side, Yano’s Banal na Aso, Santong Kabayo, Rizal Underground’s Bilanggo and The Eraserheads Alapaap.
He allowed the audience more to Jam With Ice, when he delivered the following tunes with “same old soul” Louise, one of the young talents of Fire and Ice, also the presenter of the concert — Sundo by Aia de Leon of Imago, Buwan by Juan Karlos Labajo, Jopay by Mayonnaise and Narda by Kamikaze.
Ice gave in to the popular requests that were turned in even before the concert started — Ben&Ben’s Leaves, The CompanY’s Muntik na Kitang Minahal, written by Babsie Molina and Edith Gallardo, and National Artist Ryan Cayabyab’s Araw Gabi.
Ice regaled the audience with more ballads — Paki Sabi na Lang, Chiqui Pineda/Gary Valenciano’s How Did You Know?, and Ice’s own hits — Para Lang sa ‘Yo, I’ll Be There for You and Ano’ng Nangyari sa Ating Dalawa.
He apparently extended the concert to entertain the crowd more. The audience didn’t leave their seats even if it was after 11 p.m. already, nearly three hours into his set list. And they couldn’tbe any happier and thankful.
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