Experiencing a Philippine Debut

Sep 1, 2010 by Jawz

As I have mentioned in my 'So Jawz, Why Davao City?' blog post, I have had many online friends from the Philippines. In many of the posts of my Filipino friends, I'd see photos with "Debut" as the title. When I viewed the photos, I'd see something that looked like a very formal party with a girl as the center of attention. I later learned that it was a common Filipino celebration of a girl's 18th birthday. This past August 26th, 2010, I got to experience being at a Debut. I found it to be a cultural event worth mentioning in a blog post.

It was the 18th birthday of Rea, a former schoolmate & friend of my girlfriend, as well as a friend of mine that I knew online through my girlfriend. Many days before the celebration, I was asked to be one of the 18 Roses. Later, I went to Gaisano Mall to meet Rea, and pick up the invitations for me and my girlfriend. They were handmade small book-like invites that listed the people attending, and what the people were (they were either, 18 Roses, 18 Candles, 18 Treasures, 18 Shots, or 18 'Other Guests').

The Invitation

On the day of the Debut, me and my girlfriend, dressed in semi-formal purple and, holding our gifts for Rea, arrived at The Garden Oasis in the evening around 6:00pm. The Garden Oasis is a beautiful place that hosts events in rooms, and other stuff. My girlfriend's friend met us near the entrance, then we walked to the door of the room where the Debut was being held. On a panel near the door, it listed Rea's name. There was also a life-size cardboard cutout of her there too. That was cool. Sadly, the doors were locked and we figured out all 3 of us were about an hour early.

The Garden Oasis

After an hour had passed, the doors were open. We were about to go in, but we were asked to sign something first. It was a large board on a stand. We each wrote something, as if it were a giant birthday card, and afterward, we went into the room. Inside, it was very fancy and beautiful. There were several round tables covered in pink cloth, and chairs covered in white cloth surrounding the tables. In the middle of the tables were purple cloths with a colorful flower-filled vase in the middle. Nearby the door, there was a long table of stainless steel containers that held many foods. Of course, there was a lechon (roasted pig) placed at the end of the table. Above all of the food and tables were many pink ribbons hanging from the ceiling.

Facing the opposite of the entrance, was a cool sight. To the far left was a podium. Beside it, to the right, was a table in purple & pink cloth with a candle on top. To the far right was a table with a beautiful cake on it. To the left of it was two tables in purple and pink cloth, as well as a board with Rea's photos on it. One of those tables were used for the gifts. In the middle of all of the left and right tables, there were two pink cloths streaming down the middle of the room to a small stage. On this stage thing were purple and pink cloths surrounding a large purple cushioned chair. There was an arch of balloons above it, and Rea's name behind it.

Me & My Girlfriend at the Debut

When everyone had arrived, the Debut began. There was a speaker at the podium (one who spoke throughout the whole Debut- totally in English), who started things off by announcing a trio of dancers to come to the center of the room. After they performed, the 18 Candles and 18 Roses were called to go outside for a moment. Me, being a rose, went outside with them. All of us were called to line up into the center or the room; aligning each side of the pink cloths that trailed to the purple chair. Everyone stood as Rea, and her escort, entered the room and walked down between us 18 Roses, and 18 Candles, to the purple chair. We were then told to take our seats. Once we all were seated, the 18 Candles were called up to the microphone. The microphone was  placed beside the table to the left; the table with the candle on it. The candle on the table was lit and each 18 Candle brought their candle up to it one-bye-one when it was their turn to speak. They lit their candle using the larger one on the table, and then gave a speech to Rea. I think their speeches were either about advice or some nice comments on what they think of her (couldn't understand since it was all said in Bisaya).

Rea & Her Escort, and One of the 18 Candles Speaking

Once the 18 Candles were done talking, the dude at the podium called us into prayer, and then announced us to eat. He asked for the ladies to go first, and for us guys to go last. When it came the guy's turn to eat, I followed behind most of the other males. On the table was rice, beef caldereta, small fried chicken, pancit, lechon, watermelon, pineapple, and macoroni fruit salad. For drinks, we had the choice of Sprite or Coke. For me, this was a good time to eat a lot of food; a chance I don't really get since I'm on a budget. Unfortunately, I wasn't that hungry. Haha. But I stuffed down what I could, just so I wouldn't regret it.

All of Us Eating the Food

The time for the 18 Roses to each dance  with Rea came when everyone finished eating. Each 18 Rose walked up to the woman holding the roses, was given a rose, walked over and gave it to Rea, and then danced with her. I think there were individual songs played as well, for each 18 Roses' dance. As Rose #9, I went through this process as well. I found it be awkward because: 1- I have only danced with someone like 2 times before, and 2.- My girlfriend was watching. Hahahaha. When I sat down, after the dance, I was asked to have one of my shoes removed. This was something all of the 18 Roses were requested to do as they sat down. I joked to my girlfriend that I felt like Cinderella, 'cause I had just danced and now have no shoe on one foot.  The shoes were lined up in a row in front of the purple chair. The last dance was reserved for Rea and her father, which I think lasted a bit longer than the other dances. Once that was finished, the speaker at the podium announced that a game was to be played. Somewhere in my mind, when my shoe was taken, I had some small fear of what the game was to be about. And... Yeah, I was right. She had to choose a shoe, and then once the shoe was chosen, she had to kiss the boy who owned that shoe. As she was choosing a shoe, I got very nervous hoping it would not be me. That'd be awkward! Anyway, as my girlfriend and her friend teased me about it, seeing I was nervous, thankfully, Rea didn't get my shoe. The guy who was chosen, walked up, and was cheered by the group around his table. They voted for her to kiss his cheek. The guy at the podium then announced again that she'll do it again for a second round. Once again I was nervous, but once again I was relieved that she didn't pick my shoe.

Me Dancing with Rea

Rea walked out after the shoe game. I think she was changing into a pink dress, and out of her ball gown. While she was out, the speaker at the podium continued playing games with the crowd. One was a guessing game, where some of the friends were asked to try to guess her favorites. When Rea came back in, she was asked if they were correct or wrong. Once the games were finished, the 18 Treasures went up to present their gifts. My girlfriend was one of them. Each handed over their gift, and then they told why they selected that gift for her. My girlfriend had gotten Rea a scrapbook. The 18 Shots were next, and each walked up to Rea as she popped open a bottle of some kind of alcoholic drink (Either vodka or wine). Only about a quarter of each cup was filled up. The 18 Shots were told to hold back from drinking until the end. Some accidentally had already taken their shot of drink before everyone was finished giving their speech to Rea (advice again, or maybe words about their friendship).  Most, when they all had finished, raised their glasses at one time, and then drank it down. While the 18 Shots were doing their thing, party favors were handed out to all of us. The party favors were small stuffed animals in a purple net bag.

My Girlfriend Speaking as an 18 Treasure, and The 18 Shots Raising Their Glasses

Before everything was wrapped up, I think there were one or two times a group of people performed a dance, and some sang. I'm not sure when it was though (maybe after the shoe game, or maybe after the 18 shots). There was one dance group composed of boys that I really liked. I think they said one of them had been in a well-known competition. From what I had seen, they were very skilled. Ending everything, and wrapping it all up, Rea gave an ending speech. Finishing the speech, the candles were lit on her birthday cake. Rea walked over to the cake, cut the first  slice, and then blew out the candles. Me and my girlfriend got up to leave around that point, as well as others. Rea went around to a few tables and people took some photos. Before finally leaving the room, me and my girlfriend got photos with her.It was definitively not a normal birthday party that I had been to, but a cool new experience.

Rea Cutting Her Cake