The Debut is the traditional celebration for young women in her 18th birthday. This celebration has been observed by the Filipino community for so long reminiscent of the Spanish tradition of the “Quinceanera” (means ‘fifteen-year-old’, is a celebration of girls fifteen birthdays in parts of Latin America). The fact they celebrate it because the parents are able to raise their daughter very well during those critical years. And they think that her journey from being little girl to becoming a woman will be incomplete without a debut. Filipino parent only want what is best for their daughter that they don’t allow her to have a boyfriend until she turns 18.

The debut celebration will start from settling their guest on their seat.  And she enters, the debutante, with her escort. And also performs the traditional Grand Coltillion Dance (usually a Waltz) with her court for their guest. After the Grand Coltillion Dance there will be a short prayers, dinner and pictorials. And the main event is the ‘18 Roses Dance’. There will be 18 male who will present her roses and will dance including friends, uncle, grandpa, cousins and the father. The father will be the first male to dance with the debutant and the last would be the most important thing means where she chose to be with (if she chose no one the father will her first and the last dance). Then there will be the ‘18 candle’ which is lighten after the speech of her 18 female friends. Then there will birthday songs, blowing and cutting the cake, and some games. The last would be the debutants speech for thanking her parents and guest.

In the Philippines when talking about debut it is only meant for women not for men. And it’s hardly to hear of men celebrating debut. The maturity age of men are 21 because of some believed that women are 2 years mature than men. Men debut don’t celebrate much as women do, it’s just like an ordinary birthday party or hanging out with friends.

This tradition has gotten the attention of the foreign media in the 20th century that a movie ‘The Debut’ was released highlighting this celebration in 2001