Coming of Age: Eighteenth Birthdays

Transitioning into adulthood is a rite of passage that is important in many cultures and in the Philippines, major events like these always × always
Tagalog - lagi;  Ilocano - kanayon
call for a big × big
Tagalog - malaki;  Ilocano - dakkel
celebration. While Latin Americans have quinceñeras and Americans have sweet sixteens, Filipinos have debuts for their daughters × debuts for their daughters
Tagalog - mga debu para sa kanilang mga anak na babae; Ilocano - debu dagiti annak nga babbai; Cebuano - mga debu para sa ilang mga anak nga babae
who are turning eighteen. Eighteen is the legal age in the Philippines and is an important milestone × important milestone
Tagalog - mahalagang milyahe; Ilocano - importante nga milyahe; Cebuano - hinungdanon nga milyahe
in Filipino life × Life
Tagalog - buhay;  Ilocano - biag
. While not every girl has a lavish celebration × lavish celebration
Tagalog - masaganang pagdiriwang; Ilocano - aglablabunusan nga selebrasyon; Cebuano - malipayong pagsaulog
, most parents × parents
Tagalog - mga magulang;  Ilocano - nagannak
usually come up with a celebration or gift that is grander than usual × grander than usual
Tagalog - mas maringal sa dati; Ilocano - nagargarbo ngem ti gagangay; Cebuano - labi kadako na sa naandan
. This is how a typical debut goes in the Philippines. 

Being the picture lovers Filipinos are, there’s always × always
Tagalog - lagi;  Ilocano - kanayon
the pre-debut shoot. Depending on the motif of the celebrant, she usually poses in different × different
Tagalog - magkakaiba;  Ilocano - panagsasabali
outfits reflecting the theme of her debut × theme of her debut
Tagalog - tema sa kanyang debu; Ilocano - tema ti debu na; Cebuano - tema sa iyang debu
. This is usually done by a professional photographer × professional photographer
Tagalog - propesyonal na litratista; Ilocano - propesyonal nga agretrato; Cebuano - propesyonal nga maniniyot
and videographer so the pictures look like they came straight out of a fashion editorial. The photos and videos × photos and videos
Tagalog - mga larawan at bidyo; Ilocano - dagiti retrato ken bidyo; Cebuano - mga litrato ug bidyo
taken are shared with the guests during the party itself. 

Another special pre-debut feature is the selection of the 18 roses, candles × candles
Tagalog - mga kandila;  Ilocano - dagiti kandela
, treasures and so much more, depending on the debutante but the first three mentioned are the most common. The 18 roses are 18 males who will slow dance with the debutante while giving them a rose. This symbolizes her readiness for romance × readiness for romance
Tagalog - handa na sa pag-ibig; Ilocano - nakasagana nga maki-innayat; Cebuano - kaandam para sa romansa
. They are usually her father × father
Tagalog - tatay;  Ilocano - tatang
, brothers, cousins, uncles, grandfathers, boyfriend × boyfriend
Tagalog - nobyo; Ilocano - nobyo
, and friends × friends
Tagalog - mga kaibigan;  Ilocano - dagiti gagayyem
. Usually, they are arranged in their level of closeness to the celebrant so usually, the friends × friends
Tagalog - mga kaibigan;  Ilocano - dagiti gagayyem
are first while the boyfriend × boyfriend
Tagalog - nobyo; Ilocano - nobyo
, brothers, and father × father
Tagalog - tatay;  Ilocano - tatang
are usually last. They always × always
Tagalog - lagi;  Ilocano - kanayon
say to save the best for last × save the best for last
Tagalog - ipunin ang pinakamahusay para sa huli; Ilocano - iyuray ti kapintasan para ti maudi; Cebuano - tipigi ang labing kaayo alang sa katapusan
! Others have it in reverse order, though!  

The 18 candles × candles
Tagalog - mga kandila;  Ilocano - dagiti kandela
are somewhat like the female version of the 18 roses, except instead of slow dancing, they give a dedication and birthday × birthday
Tagalo - kaarawan;  Ilocano - panagkasangay
wishes to the debutante. This symbolizes her journey × journey
Tagalog - paglalakbay;  Ilocano - panagbiyahe
to a bright future as the candles × candles
Tagalog - mga kandila;  Ilocano - dagiti kandela
light the way × light the way
Tagalog - bigyang liwanag ang daan; Ilocano - silawan ti dalan; Cebuano - pahayag sa daan
. Here you can expect a blend of sweet, funny, and heartwarming messages × heartwarming messages
Tagalog - nakakaaliw na mensahe; Ilocano - nabara nga mensahe; Cebuano - makapadasig nga mga mensahe
to the birthday × birthday
Tagalo - kaarawan;  Ilocano - panagkasangay
celebrant that usually ends in a hug × ends in a hug
Tagalog - natatapos sa isang yakap; Ilocano - agleppas ti kebkeb; Cebuano - natapos sa usa ka gakos
and occasionally, tears. The first or last person × person
Tagalo / Ilocano - tao
to speak is usually the mother × mother
Tagalog - nanay;  Ilocano - nanang
of the debutante.

Usually, the peers of the debutante from the roses and candles × roses and candles
Tagalog - rosas at kandila; Ilocano - rosas ken kandela; Cebuano - rosas ug kandila
are called to dance rehearsals for a dance performance that will be performed on the day × day
Tagalog - araw;  Ilocano - aldaw
itself. This is called a cotillion and the debutante usually hires a professional choreographer to teach them the steps.

The last is the 18 treasures which symbolize the things × things
Tagalog - mga bagay;  Ilocano - dagiti banag
that the debutante will need in her journey × journey
Tagalog - paglalakbay;  Ilocano - panagbiyahe
to womanhood. These 18 people × people
Tagalog - mga tao;  Ilocano - dagiti tattao
will give her an important gift × important gift
Tagalog - mahalagang regalo; Ilocano - importante nga regalo; Cebuano - hinungdanon nga regalo
and give a speech as to why they chose that gift. The gifts are ideally kept and treasured for the rest of the celebrant’s life × Life
Tagalog - buhay;  Ilocano - biag
. 

On the celebration day × day
Tagalog - araw;  Ilocano - aldaw
itself, the guests come in the dress code of the party depending on the theme. However, many parties have a formal or semi-formal all-white or all-black dress code so that the debutante will stand out more. A party host leads the guests through the programme and this usually involves parlor games (with nice prizes!) and going around the crowd × crowd
Tagalog - maraming tao; Ilocano - adu nga tao
to ask the guests for their thoughts × thoughts
Tagalog - saloobin;  Ilocano - mapanpanunot
and well-wishes for the debutante. Apart from games, there are a lot of performances prepared for the night × prepared for the night
Tagalog - handa para sa gabi; Ilocano - nakasagana dayta nga rabii; Cebuano - giandam alang sa gabii
, too. The cotillion performs their dance, the celebrant usually has a performance prepared – whether it’s singing × singing
Tagalog - pag-awit;  Ilocano - panagkanta
, dancing, both or another unique talent and her family × family
Tagalog - sambahayan, pamilya;  Ilocano - pamilya
and friends × friends
Tagalog - mga kaibigan;  Ilocano - dagiti gagayyem
have a performance prepared as well! During intermissions, the guests get to watch video presentations on the debutante, which includes the pre-debut video shot and throwback photos to display her growth × display her growth
Tagalog - ipakita ang kanyang paglaki; Ilocano - ipakita ti panagdakkel ; Cebuano - ipakita ang iyang pagtubo
from childhood × childhood
Tagalog - pagkabata; Ilocano - kanaubing
to womanhood.

It is indeed a fun × fun
Tagalog - katuwaan;  Ilocano - panag-ragragsak  
and eventful night × night
Tagalog - gabi;  Ilocano - rabii
where society welcomes a young lady. After the end of the debut, it is not uncommon for an afterparty to take place. Usually, this involves a sleepover with alcohol (usually with parental supervision) and an unforgettable × unforgettable
Tagalog - hindi malilimutan;  Ilocano - haan nga malipatan
evening × evening
Tagalog - gabi; Ilocano - rabii
of laughter and memories × memories
Tagalog - ala-ala;  Ilocano - dagiti naglabas
.        

Learn × learn
Tagalog - matutuhan ;  Ilocano -  masursuro
Tagalog

Learn × learn
Tagalog - matutuhan ;  Ilocano -  masursuro
Cebuano

Learn × learn
Tagalog - matutuhan ;  Ilocano -  masursuro
Ilocano