Liza Diño admitted that she and husband Ice Seguerra have decided to postpone their plan to have a baby in 2019.
The couple was supposed to try having a baby via in vitro vertilization last November, but they had to delay it again due to Liza’s workload during this latter part of 2018.
In an interview with PEP.ph (Philippine Entertainment Portal), Liza said, “Waaah! Grabe! It’s pushing through.
“I gave my word na that we’re both going to make it happen next year, but towards the end of 2019.
“As in after—naku, baka ma-jinx—it’s after the launch of the 100 years of Philippine Cinema. So, later part of September or October.”
In vitro fertilization (IVF) is an assisted reproduction medical procedure, wherein egg cells will be harvested from a woman’s ovaries and will be combined with a man’s sperm in a laboratory.
The fertilized eggs will be then implanted to a surrogate who will be carrying the baby in her womb.
In this case, Liza is the surrogate and the eggs to be harvested will come from Ice, a self-confessed transgender man.
She excitedly shared, “We’re gonna go through IVF.
''Yung pag-harvest ng eggs niya, the fertilization, will happen in Malaysia.
“And then yung game plan is gonna happen siguro latter part of the year 2019.”
PEP.ph had an exclusive interview with Liza at the sidelines of the 2018 Singapore Media Festival, held at the Marina Bay Sands Hotel in Singapore last December 5.
As the chairperson of the Film Development Council of the Philippines, Liza had her hands full with her main task of promoting Philippine cinema during the week-long event in Singapore.
But alongside her dedication to her job, Liza expressed her hope that her load will ease up by the time she and Ice start their baby plans in 2019, such that she won’t be required to travel as much as she did this year.
“Sana mangyari… Baka ma-jinx,” Liza added.
BALANCING WORK AND FAMILY TIME
Talking about her busy schedule, Liza got teary-eyed as she opened up about her struggles balancing her career with her family time.
Aside from being a wife to Ice, Liza also has a 10-year-old daughter whom she wants to spend more time with during her free days.
She confessed, “It’s hard. I think it’s one of the challenges that as a family we have to go through together.
“Andami ring nangyaring ano... naapektuhan yung anak ko, kasi di na niya ako nakikita.
“But we’re working on this as a family.
''Naiintindihan nila na minsan ka lang mabibigyan ng opportunity na makapagsilbi sa bayan, 'tapos gumawa ng something, na puwede pala yun.
''It’s not for your personal gain, may bigger reason.
“Pag ganun, parang feeling mo, dapat naiintindihan ng lahat yung ginagawa ko.”
But Liza said that there are times when her daughter would call her out for not being there as a mom.
She added, “Minsan yung daughter ko, ‘Mom, I know I should be understanding you, but I feel like I’m overstanding you.' Hahaha! Over na daw!
“O kaya minsan dahil nag-promsie siya sa akin na maiintindihan niya ako, hindi niya sinasabi sa akin pag may mga times na di niya naiintindihan.
“So dun nagsa-start yung ano [struggles].”
SUPPORTIVE HUSBAND
Through it all, Liza gave credit to her husband Ice for being there for her and their family.
“But siguro eto, ang suwerte ko kasi bumalik na sa pagiging private citizen yung asawa ko,” said Liza, referring to Ice’s decision to leave his government post as chairman of the National Youth Commission.
She also pointed out how Ice makes an effort to accompany her during her work trip for the Singapore Media Festival just to spend time with her.
Liza continued, “Nakaka-gig na siya, kaya kaya na niya pamasahehan sarili niya sa mga ganito.
“Sumusunod na lang siya sa akin, kasi kung hindi, hindi kami magkikita.
“He would have his own tour, I would have my own events. So normally pag ganito, lumilipad siya just to see me.”
At the end of the interview, Liza said she believes that her personal sacrifices for her work are worth it.
“I’m happy na we’re making it.
"Kasi feeling ko, At the the end of day, I wanna look back and say, kahit papaano may nabigay kang contribution sa bansa.”