The CompanY, Ice Seguerra in Cebu Concert
After several international shows, the collaboration of singer-songwriter Ice Seguerra and vocal group The CompanY comes home to the Filipino stage.
Set to take their greatest hits and beloved covers to the Queen City of the South, the quintet teams up with Ice for a one-night only show at the Waterfront Cebu City Hotel and Casino come September 15, promising an evening of good music by good friends.
As these OPM icons come together, Cebuanos are in for a treat via the concert dubbed as “Greatest Hits: Originals and Covers,” brought by Echo Jham Entertainment Production and Bon AppeTEA. The show will be opened by Cebuana singer Isabella Sy who will feature a Bisaya song specially arranged by The CompanY’s Moy Ortiz.
“We’re excited to do it because this is our first time with Ice with all of The CompanY together,” Moy quips in a phone interview with The FREEMAN, noting how The CompanY members often have separate shows. “We’ve done shows abroad but the sad thing is that we’ve never done our collaboration on stage here in the Philippines.”
Moy said that their promised Bisaya cover will be unique to the Cebu show, since they plan to hopefully take the show elsewhere.
“We have promised that we will be performing a brand new song for Cebu,” Moy said.
“It’s a Bisaya pop song. We won’t tell you the title but it’s a super, super big hit. Promise, hindi siya ‘Usahay’,” Moy jests, referring to the Visayan song immortalized by acts like
Pilita Corrales, Dulce, Vina Morales, Regine Velasquez and so many others.
“I’m currently arranging it. It’s acapella. It’s a cover of a big Bisaya pop song. Alam niyo ito. It’s brand new for us. We’re excited. Iba talaga when you perform songs that were made for you and hindi mo hiniram. So it’s a thrill for us. But at the same time may nerbyos at kaba kasi we get to perform the new Bisaya song,” hinted Moy.
Ice and The CompanY have nothing but praise for each other: The CompanY commends Ice’s skill and talent saying that the former child star has a special relationship with the band, while Ice has high praises for the band’s professionalism. It didn’t hurt that they go way back.
“Ay ayoko, pangit!” Sweet Plantado jokes before saying, “It’s always a joy to work with this really cute creature. Masaya kami kasi way back pa kami nito. Meron kaming special bond. Kahit hindi kami nagkikitang matagal, pag nagkikita kami…”
“Oo naman. Laging looking forward to work with them,” Ice said. “Masaya. Bukod sa masaya and magaling, professional sila katrabaho. Happy. Para lang kaming naglalaro sa stage.”
While he was at it, Ice gave a quick update on things that he’s doing music-wise since he became Chairperson of the National Youth Commission of the Philippines. He admits that he hasn’t been working on new songs lately.
“Making music and writing—medyo, hindi. Nandoon ako sa performance sa ngayon. May iba na rin akong ginagawa. I’m taking a class now, mga ganon,” Ice said, enjoying his current pace, and sharing how hopefully, he and The CompanY would get to work together again on each other’s albums soon.
When asked if they agree that Cebuanos make a tough crowd, Ice was quick to say that they’re tough for the better.
“Actually Cebu is a tough crowd,” Ice agreed. “Tough in a very good way. Sobrang taas ng standards nila. Of course, pag na-please mo ang Cebu crowd ibang feeling din. Very fulfilling. Pag Cebu crowd kailangan parati… well sa lahat naman we give our 10, 000 percent, pero sa Cebu 10,000 point something.”
The CompanY also shared the secret to staying together, having been around since the 90s and being the country’s most recognizable vocal group.
“I think the main thing to do before anything else, you have to love what you do. Love your craft. It goes above and beyond your quest for fortune and fame. Kailangan unanguna yun before other extraneous variables such as likes and followers,” Moy mused.
But most importantly, they should share the same set of values. “You have to be ready to receive and give feedback that is authentic, honest, but still articulate and [said] with kindness. Even the awkward things you have to talk about. When an opportunity comes, you have to be savvy enough to choose which opportunities to pursue and which ones to let go of. Another element is spirituality. The music is there, it’s a gift from God and in every performance, we offer it to him as a humble gift of offering,” Moy quipped.