Philippine Debut

Cebu - Whilst we were contemplating the choice for our dinner location and have our tea-break at the Marco Polo Cafe.   It was a celebration seldom seen in Singapore - A Philippine Debut or Coming of Age as I was told by the F&B Manager.   Seems only the wealthy Cebu people celebrate as it is very expensive to hold one in a Hotel.

On their 18th birthday, Filipinos customarily throw a large party, complete with her own hand-picked entourage of 18 individuals or multiple sets of 18. These 18 are conventionally nine males and nine females whom the celebrant pairs off into partners. The celebrant's court usually wears a uniform formal outfit chosen by the celebrant (similar to the dress of a wedding party), while the celebrant herself typically wears one or several extravagant gowns during the course of the night.

More low key for the guys,  Filipino men mark their own Debut on their 21st birthday, albeit with less formal celebrations or none altogether.

Whilst watching the continuous flow of Debutants and their guy companions, we sipped  tea and eat our Ensaimada.

Ensaimada