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In the Philippines, girls who just turned 18 usually celebrate a formal debut party. While most threw parties with an "anything pink" theme, I
celebrated mine with sunshine-y yellow (my nickname is Sunshine...crazy, huh?). I love butterflies, dancing, having fun and being a princess...so what the heck? I fused these ideas
altogether. My three-page invitation included lists, in yellow font with butterflies printed at a corner, for the "Cotillion de Honor" (18 all in all, my friends and I performed a
waltz), "18 Roses" (one by one, impt. men in my life danced with me while my favorite love songs were played, "18 candles" (each person closest to me held a candle and
made a wish for me in front of everybody), "18 Treasures" (18 people selected for them to show what their gift for me was and told the guests what the gift's for). The invitations,
by the way, were labled accordingly for a princess-y effect. For example, when I sent one out to my girlfriend, I labled it "Lady Joremaine" and when I sent an another one to a
former male classmate, "Lord Marco" was printed on the envelope. "The caterpillar has turned into a butterfly. Now, it's time to spread its wings and fly!" A line I
came up on my own which was printed just below the R.S.V.P. My designer ball gown had a stunning embroidery at the front and
silk butterflies sewn at the back for a perfect finish. As one would predict, I was wearing a tiara with fake diamonds. The stage was decorated with white tulle, fake butterflies, yellow ribbons & flowers. It looked like it was cascading down from the ceiling to the posts at all the four corners of the stage with an elegant gold high chair in the center (my poor boyfriend/escort had to stand behind me). The centerpiece was a yellow candle adorned with flowers that matched the theme of the party. I loosened up the crowd with the games part. It was pretty intimate since the first part was "How well do you know Sunshine" and my bestfriends/emcees asked questions about my favorite food, what I'd hope to become someday, etc. The 2nd part was "Try to Impress Sunshine." Two groups from both sexes (with one winner from each sex) were asked to do tasks and were asked questions. For example, the person who could give me the best massage will score a point. A sample from the questions category: "If Sunshine was depressed, what will you do to cheer her up?" The most impressive answer will score a point as well. As a tribute to those who joined me as I was welcome to ladyhood, I performed a dance number together with my friends (rhumba, samba, cha-cha-cha). For the party favors, each guest went home with a butterfly porcelain with my name and debut party date inked at the back. It was wrapped in a yellow tulle.
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