Pinasok na ni Icee Ejercito ang showbiz.
Si Icee o Garielle ay panganay na anak nina Gary Estrada at Bernadette Allyson.
Bakit Icee ang napili niyang gamiting screen name?
Kuwento niya, “It’s been my nickname since before. I dunno, I’ve been using Icee ever since before. I think my mom was the one who made up that nickname.
“So I just stuck with it ever since. Only my dad would call me Garielle like when he’s mad,” at natawa si Icee.
Hindi raw sigurado si Icee kung saan kinuha ni Bernadette ang Icee.
Garielle Bernice ang tunay na buong pangalan ni Icee kaya malamang ay sa dulo ng Bernice kinuha ang Icee.
“Probably,” pagsang-ayon ni Icee.
Ang pagiging isang recording artist ang napili niyang unang pasukin.
Sa katunayan ay pumirma si Icee ng kontrata sa Universal Records noong araw na nakapanayam siya ng PEP.ph (Philippine Entertainment Portal) sa mismong opisina ng naturang recording company sa Quezon Avenue nitong Martes ng hapon, June 27, 2023.
Bukod kina Gary at Bernadette ay kasama ni Icee ang manager niyang si Arnold Vegafria (ng ALV Talent Circuit) sa kanyang contract signing.
Kataka-taka na ang pagkanta ang larangang haharapin ni Icee gayong aktor at aktres ang kanyang mga magulang.
“They find it strange as well,” ang natatawang pakli ni Icee.
At nakakagulat rin ang genre na nais ni Icee bilang mang-aawit.
“Well, I’m into rock music.
“I like mga indie-pop-rock naman, not the heavy stuff… I mean, I hope. You know kasi it’s challenging din, e.
“I like all genres of rock, so whether it would be soft to hard rock to the '80s style, like Guns N’ Roses, Nirvana, grunge, metal rock like Deftones, also punk rock like Paramore and like Evanescence.”
Mala-leading lady at beauty queen ang ganda at hitsura ni Icee kaya banggit namin sa kanya, napakaganda niyang rock artist.
“That’s what my dad always says,” at natawa ang dalaga. ‘Why are you always wearing black, why are you…’
“I don’t know. But then he’s the one who introduced me naman din to rock music like ever since before. I don’t know, he’s always been playing it like sa radio or like sa speakers, on his playlists, that’s why I think I found interest in that.”
ICEE ON DISCOVERING HER SINGING TALENT
Ang mga pinsan niya sa father’s side ang nakadiskubre na may talent si Icee sa pagkanta noong sampung taon pa lamang siya.
Lahad niya, “’Coz I was like singing, I was in the bathroom with them and then I just started singing along to a song and they were like, ‘You could really sing!’
“And then I told my mom and I think that year, ‘coz you know she’s very supportive, so that year she put me in voice lessons.”
Wala pa mang nare-record na kanta si Icee, may mga cover songs siya na naka-post sa kanyang Instagram at Tiktok account.
Pakli pa niya, “Short covers lang of like indie songs that I play on… ‘coz I play the piano so I like to record myself singing. Actually, I’m self-taught with the guitar.
“During the pandemic, I took guitar-playing as a hobby, so I’m hoping to hone my skills, so that I can move on to electric guitar, since I think it will be more beneficial with the rock sound.”
WILL ICEE PURSUE ACTING?
Bukas rin daw si Icee sa oportunidad na maging aktres.
“I’m open to it! But I feel like I need training, I don’t know how to act, I’m not sure,” at tumawa ang magandang dalaga.
“But I’m open to it, I’m interested naman din especially, you know, to grow as an artist in the industry.”
Wala pang anumang karanasan si Icee sa showbiz bilang artista maliban sa mga musical plays na sinalihan niya sa eskuwelahan bilang estudyante.
Kasalukuyang nag-aaral si Icee. Third year college siya ng kursong Entrepreneurship sa De La Salle University sa Taft Avenue, Manila.
Dahil maganda at may height, may potential maging aspiring beauty queen si Icee. Tinanong namin siya kung may interes siyang sumali sa mga beauty pageants.
Pag-amin niya, “Actually, I always watch naman beauty pageants ‘coz my mom is very into that. I’m not closing any doors to opportunities like that ‘coz I find it very interesting.
“It’s a challenge for sure!”
ICEE’S SHOWBIZ CRUSH
Sa tanong naman namin, kung sakaling mag-aartista na siya, sino ang nais niyang maging leading man o sino ang showbiz crush niya?
“My only crush is Daniel Padilla,” at tumawa na tila kinikilig si Icee. Hindi pa raw niya nakikita o nakikilala nang personal si Daniel.
ICEE’S FAVE MOVIES AND MUSICAL INFLUENCES
Sa genre naman ng pelikula na nais ni Icee, “My dream is to have a horror film. I like the thrill of it. I love watching horror, like Insidious or Paranormal. When it comes to Tagalog films, I remember watching one Shake, Rattle and Roll movie.
“I don’t know if I’m going to do well in drama because I can’t cry,” ang natatawang pakli ni Icee.
Ilan sa musical favorites ni Icee ay ang Deftones, Queen, si Lana Del Rey, Arctic Monkeys, at Jesse Jo Stark.
“I also like Guns N’ Roses, classic rock, R&B artists, my cousins introduced me to hip-hop, I also like Eminem.”
Hati raw ang comments na nakukuha niya pagdating sa kung sino ang mas kamukha niya. May nagsasabing kamukha siya ni Bernadette at may mga nagsasabi ring kamukha niya si Gary.
Nakakatuwa naman ang sinabi ni Icee na hindi niya kayang panoorin ang mga pelikula ng mga magulang niya. Sa katunayan, isang pelikula pa lang ni Gorio ang napanood niya, ang Love Notes.
“I like that movie.”
Passion raw talaga ni Icee ang musika kaya mas pinili niyang maging singer kaysa maging aktres.
“I could watch musical videos and performance on YouTube all day, I can sing all day. I dunno, I guess my love for music overpowered that [passion for acting],” pahayag niya.
ICEE THANKFUL TO UNIVERSAL RECORDS
Malaki ang pasasalamat at kasiyahan ni Icee na isa na siya ngayong artist ng Universal Records.
Pagpapasalamat niya, “I’m very grateful to share this opportunity to share my talent and creativity to the world.
“I am very excited for this new path and journey I am about to embark on. I do feel nervous and pressured, of course, because I am entering a new chapter, a big industry and Universal Records, which is filled with many talented people.
“I am inspired to be surrounded by so much talent and I am excited to learn more through this experience.”