Some weeks ago, I read one of Ice Seguerra’s Instagram posts expressing how disheartened he was for being judged by people who presumably are having a field day bashing and hating others. He opened up about dealing with homophobia and bigotry as part of the LGBTQIA+ community.

Part of his post read, “It’s sad to think that we are still judged not by our ability to love but what’s between our legs. Society can quickly diminish a beautiful relationship simply because we are different.”

It’s no secret that Ice was first known as Aiza Seguerra, who initially came out as a lesbian in 2007 and Ice now identifies himself as a transgender man.

“Coming out as a transman, I knew I would get a lot of hate. It’s as if my coming out also gave people a license to insult my character and, worse, the people I love,” he wrote.

Ice wrote this post after his daughter Amara informed him about what she read on the comments section of his post containing the Father’s Day message Amara sent him.

“That’s why I had to post that because my daughter greeted me a Happy Father’s Day. I was so moved by what she wrote, so, I posted it (on soc-med) and then, ako naman when I’m posting, I don’t actually look at the comments. It was actually her (who got to read the comment).”

Ice said Amara phoned him to tell that she’s annoyed by what she read. “Nakita niya that people were invalidating our relationship as dad and daughter. I hate that because they’re saying that we don’t have a relationship. Who are they to question what we have?”

Ice explained further, “Of course, I felt bad for my daughter. Bakit n’yo kinukwestiyon kung ano ang pagtingin sa akin ng bata? Ito ako sa kanya, ‘yun ang tingin n’ya sa akin. So, I really had to post it.”

“They’re invalidating my (being a dad) by asking paano ka naging tatay wala ka naman whatever between your legs? But no, Amara sees me as her dad — someone who helps her mom mold her into the person she is now,” Ice continued.

Ice also mentioned in his post how he’s been dealing with bigotry and homophobic slurs. “Bigotry and homophobic slurs are part of my daily life. One can never get used to it, but if that’s the price I have to pay to live my truth, then so be it. But when my family is dragged into this, it is painful.”

Despite the longstanding recognition of the LGBTQIA+ community, there are still those who resent and continue to hate whatever it is that does not conform to their beliefs.

It’s admirable how Ice stays true to his core. Never mind the bashers, he and wife Liza Diño are indubitably a happy couple. The two got married in 2014 in San Francisco, California.

“Our goal is to be happy, to stay together forever. That’s the goal so, now how do we get to that goal? There will be fights, there will be challenges but we always communicate and listen to each other and when we say communicate, it’s not just typical surface level communication. We always dive deep (in)to the hard conversations, to the point that even if we cry, even if sometimes mag-kataasan kami ng boses, we will do it because what we have is something we’re fighting for.”

Discover more about Ice through his responses to the questions below. Read on.

Let’s talk about competition, we are in an extremely competitive business. How do you compete?

“That’s actually hard, especially because you’re surrounded with so many excellent artists. Me, I learned my own way when I was part of the group Sessionistas (of ASAP) and most of the members were my contemporaries — Sitti, Nina, Juris — all amazing singers. So, I had this thought of how would I standout. All of them are excellent performers and then, I realized bawat isa sa amin ay may kanya-kanyang kayang ibigay. Each of us has a unique talent. What’s uniquely mine is my story, my journey and that helps to better express emotions every time I sing. So, I realized that there’s no need to compete. I just need to be me dahil lahat kami iba-iba ang naibibigay.”

Describe yourself as a father.

“(I’m) a cool dad.”

Describe yourself as a spouse.

“Loving, caring.”

Describe yourself as a singer-songwriter.

“I am a confident singer and a struggling songwriter.”

The sweetest thing you did for Liza.

“Proposal.”

One thing you love about yourself.

“Confidence.”

Complete the sentence. Pagdating ng panahon…

“Pagdating ng panahon we would see that there’s value in being kind more than being right.”