Ice and Liza Seguerra Spotlight Trans Journeys in Theater

Manila, Philippines, Theatergoers witnessed history and heartache this week as Ice Seguerra and Liza Diño-Seguerra brought queer Filipino stories front and center with their play Choosing, staged at Ateneo de Manila University’s Doreen Black Box Theater. The production, which runs through Pride Month, isn’t just another love story, it’s a deeply personal lens on the nuances of trans journeys and the courage to love unapologetically.THE PHILIPPINE STAR

A play born from lived experience

Co-written and performed by real-life couple Ice Seguerra, a celebrated trans singer-actor, and his wife, multi-hyphenate artist Liza Diño, Choosing follows the characters Mitch (a trans man) and Stella (his cisgender wife) as they wrestle with transformation, vulnerability, and the unknown. The script draws heavily from their own relationship, right down to private fears and raw confessions. “Just like Mitch, it’s the dilemma of trans men like me whether to undergo a medical transition. It’s a daily battle to be trapped in a body I’m not totally comfy in,” Ice shared during a talkback session. For Ice, the question of medical transition hasn’t just been about his happiness, it’s also about livelihood and love. “But ang importante, alam ko, ang asawa ko, mamahalin pa rin niya ako anuman ang decision ko,” he said.

Love that dares to question

Liza Diño revealed that her own anxieties about her spouse’s transition inspired the play’s emotional core. “There’s nothing I won’t do for Ice. I know it’s ‘us’ forever. But I had fears just thinking about what will happen if and when Ice goes through a medical transition. Will I still know the person he will become after the procedure?” she wrote into the script, exploring both Stella’s bravery and vulnerability. The result is a soul-baring, two-hour roller-coaster that’s resonated with queer and allied audiences alike.THE MANILA JOURNAL

More than representation: Building empathy

For Ice, bringing Choosing to the stage is about giving his younger self, and today’s audience, the kind of representation he never had. “If the younger Ice saw this play, he’d feel empowered. He would know that there is a space for him in this world where he could thrive, even if it’s small,” he reflected.INQUIRER ENTERTAINMENT More than a lesson in labels, the play invites viewers into the universal territory of change, grief, and resilience. As couples everywhere face transformation, be it through migration, loss, or transition, Choosing reflects the tests and triumphs of love that endures even as the self evolves.

Quick Take

Choosing is more than a Pride event, it’s a beacon for those who’ve ever wondered if their story belongs on stage. With honesty and hope, Ice and Liza Seguerra are showing that trans journeys and queer love are worthy of the limelight, and of being seen and celebrated, every day of the year.