Ice Seguerra reflects on IVF journey with Liza Diño: 'It's not for us in this lifetime'
After years of considering in vitro fertilization, Ice Seguerra and Liza Diño have decided to let go of their dream of having a biological child together.
In his interview with Kara David on i-Listen, Ice shared that he and his wife, Liza, talked about having a child through IVF in 2013, but kept postponing it because they felt they were still young. Their plans were pushed back further after both entered government service in 2016.
"So that was the plan, she said yes. [That was] 2013 tapos na-move ng na-move kasi feeling namin bata pa kami, 2016 was the time we both entered the government. She was very, very busy," he added. Ice was appointed as National Youth Commission chairperson in August 2016, while Liza served as chairperson of the Film Development Council of the Philippines.
Ice said their busy schedules repeatedly delayed their IVF plans. By the time they were ready to begin the process, age had already become a major consideration.
"At 35 years old, that was the time I had my eggs harvested, tatlo lang nakuha sa akin," he shared. He also lamented restrictive laws in the Philippines.
"Sinasabi sa amin noon, the doctors can't do it because it was unethical," he said. After years of delays, the couple eventually decided not to continue pursuing IVF.
"Na-move ng na-move, nandito na rin kami sa point na I'm 43, she's 45, I don't think it's wise [to continue IVF]. We already have one, we have Amara who's already 18," he said.
IVF is a fertility treatment in which eggs are collected from the ovaries and fertilized with sperm in a laboratory. The resulting embryo is then transferred to the uterus in an attempt to achieve pregnancy.
He added that he and Liza have since come to terms with the possibility that having a biological child through IVF may no longer be part of their journey.
"Siguro that's something that's not for us, in this lifetime," he said.
The couple said they already consider themselves blessed to have a family through Amara, Liza's daughter from her first marriage.
He also reflected on the relationship he has built with Amara over the years, sharing that he never pressured her to call him "Dad" because her biological father has remained an active presence in her life.
"Ang ganda rin ng naging journey namin ng daughter ko kasi from 'Ate' ang tawag niya sa akin. Then she called me Baba," he shared. "Sabi ko sa sarili ko noon, I will not impose. Kasi her dad, who's in the States, is very much involved. It's something that shouldn't be imposed."
He also recalled the moment Amara asked if she could call him "Dad."
"Biglang out of the blue, nasa kotse yata kami, sabi niya, 'Baba, can I just call you Dad?'" Ice admitted he tried to play it cool, though he was overjoyed by the moment.
"Pa-nonchalant lang ako, pero sa loob loob ko, 'yay!'" he shared.
Ice said he has known Liza since 1999. The two reconnected 13 years after going their separate ways and later married in California in December 2014, after Seguerra came out as a trans man that same year.
