THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, August 2, 1996 TAG: 9608010194
SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON PAGE: 12 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY JO-ANN CLEGG, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: 72 lines
For the young woman presented at a debutante ball, it's a grand affair falling somewhere between baptism and marriage in the march from birth to adulthood.
For her mother, it's an opportunity to polish an offspring's social skills, remind her of her heritage and relive one's own dreams.
For her father, it's a time to take a proud spin around the dance floor with the lovely young woman who stole his heart the day she was born and has been tugging at its strings most of the time since.
It is also, for the father especially, a time to write checks. Lots of checks.
``And it all comes at the same time we're shopping for dorm rooms and having all of those other college expenses,'' said Lumen Barbero, wife of Joseph and mother of Luanne, who was one of eight young women presented at this year's Debutante Ball sponsored by the Filipino Women's Club of Tidewater.
The Barberos were among a small group of debs, club members and parents who gathered at the Barberos' home to talk about the experience of this year's ball, held July 6 at the Founders Inn.
Major expense or not, parents and daughters were in complete agreement on one thing.
The affair, a reminder of the traditions of the parents' homeland, is worth every penny spent. Especially when the joint undertaking for several debs help lessen the financial burden.
The dilemma of how to have a traditional debutante ball without ruining individual family budgets led to sponsorship two years ago by the 300-member Filipino Women's Club.
Since then there has been a formal presentation of young Filipino women each summer, timed to coincide with the Fourth of July, which is celebrated by both countries as a national holiday.
For the debs and their families, it is the kind of elegant affair that few families could afford on their own.
``When I was asked (by the club) about my daughter being a debutante, I didn't even have to think twice,'' Angelita Camana said.
``It was pretty neat,'' agreed Debbie, daughter of Angelita and Roberto Camana. A Salem High School graduate, she'll be attending the University of Virginia this fall. ``It's not too often that you can dress up in big extravagant dresses.''
For First Colonial High School graduate Luanne Barbero, who will be going to Virginia Commonwealth University to prepare for a dental career, the evening was a never-to-be-forgotten event.
``We try not to lose our heritage too much,'' said Wilma Espiritu, who like Camana plans on a medical career. The daughter of Wilfredo and Precy Espiritu, the recent Salem High School graduate will be going to Virginia Tech to study biology.
``I'm glad that my parents brought me up the way they did, with the same values,'' she added.
Her words, and those of the other debutantes, were welcome ones for their mothers and other members of the Filipino Women's Club.
Formal debuts in their homeland mark the time when a young woman can first go out by herself. Even though those raised in the United States have started dating at a much earlier age, their mothers still see the debuts as important.
``I encouraged Wilma (to make her debut) because I want her to be like back home,'' said Precy Espiritu. ``It gets them more in touch with the Philippines. To me it's exciting and for her too, I think.''
In addition to Barbero, Camana and Espiritu, five other 18-year-olds were presented to society at the July 6 ball: Elaine Basilio, daughter of Ed Basilio; Maria Cristina Cacatian, daughter of Oscar and Violeta Cacatian; Kathleen Ferareza, daughter of David and Brenda Ferareza; Jedah Mollik, daughter of Diana Mollik; and Noreen Tiongson, daughter of Betty Tiongson. ILLUSTRATION: Staff photo by CHARLIE MEADS
Three of this year's debutantes heading to the ball are, from left:
Debbie Camana, Luanne Barbero and Wilma Espiritu. by CNB