During the past three years, local celebrities have come up with different ways to augment their income after the toll the pandemic took on the showbiz industry. Things were no different from husband and wife team Ice Seguerra and Liza Diño who formally launched their new “baby” which is their own production company called Fire and Ice last month.

“This is a new company that Ice and I put together after my turn in FDCP (Film Development Council of the Philippines). Thank you all for the wonderful six years that you gave to me and the support that you gave to the FDCP and the programs that we were able to launch and initiate para sa ikalalago ng ating industriya,” Liza shared during the Fire and Ice thanksgiving party and presscon.

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During the Fire and Ice presscon, the couple were asked about their plans to have a real baby of their own. The couple have been raising Amara, who is Liza’s daughter from a previous relationship. Ice shared his thoughts regarding the hurdles they will have to face if they undergo IVF or in vitro fertilization which is considered the most effective form of assisted reproductive technology.

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“Actually kaya kami masipag gumagawa ng shows kasi mahal dito sa Pilipinas number one and number two, hindi lang mahal but the laws doesn’t really support couples like us na magkaroon ng baby dito. Number one, if there was to have an IVF it’s not even bawal, it’s unethical  because of course hindi kami kinikilalang mag-asawa dito sa Pilipinas so that already is a big issue. Number two, pag pinanganak yung anak namin sa Pilipinas, sino ang kikilalalning magulang? Ako o si Liza? Hindi puwedeng kaming dalawa ‘di ba?”

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The 39-year-old singer, who is gearing up for the Cebu leg of his Becoming Ice concert this coming February 18, also lamented the lack of laws protecting same-sex marriages in the country.

“So what we have now, the lack of laws for the community is very , very unfair. And sa totoo lang nakakagalit kasi we established that we can actually have a happy home. We have a daughter that we are raising together. So bakit hindi pa rin kami ma-recognize na kaya namin maging magulang? Just because I’m trans man that means I can’t be a parent?

“So that begs for us to question them na they really have to do something about this because yes ngayon we’re taking strides in terms of kahit papaano in television there’s more acceptance for the community. But if we really look at the deeper level, we’re still not protected. There’s still no anti-discrimination law di ba? The SOGIE bill is not here yet. I can’t imagine kung gaano katagal pa yun mabibinbin sa kongreso. Yung same-sex union.

“So yeah, it’s disappointing, it’s sad, it’s disheartening that until now nangyayari pa rin yun and marami pa ring hindi mabuong pamilya daahil sa kakulangan ng batas natin,” he added.

Liza also shared more insight on why they she and Ice have not yet started on IVF treatment.

“It’s a challenge sa amin kasi we’re considered as celebrities. Initially they allowed na gawin namin dito sa PIlipinas yung IVF, but because we’re celebrities and supposed to be unethical nga siya in the field of medicine, parang nag-back out sila (laughs). And they informed us that we really have to make time to travel to another country para dun kami magpapa-IVF tapos saka kami babalik sa Pilipinas.

“And that became the challenge because alam naman natin right now na kakalagpas lang natin sa pandemic so nag-iipon kami ulit ni Ice. May bago tayong baby na Fire and Ice. Nagsisimula ako ulit from six years in government. So the priority for our family which is also as important, took over the plans for our baby. Pero it’s there.

“Ako I believe na talagang if it’s there, kung dadating, dadating siya. Katulad din ng mga nangyayari ngayon sa buhay namin, hindi naman namin siya pinaplano, dumadating siya. Pero pag nasa harap na namin, we really make the most out of it. So right now this is what’s in front of us and we’re very, very happy and proud of it,” she explained.