MANILA, Philippines?Jessica P. Arnaldo, the eldest daughter of John and Maylee Arnaldo, is turning 18 on October 4, and is considering her options to mark the day she ?changes from bobby socks to stockings.?

The freshman Interdisciplinary Studies student of the Ateneo de Manila University says she had thought about forgoing a celebration since she does not want to be the center of attention and she is not too eager to face the hassle and stress of planning a big debut.

But her parents encouraged her to have a party, saying it isn?t every day that their beloved child becomes an adult in every sense of the word.

And so Jessica decided to have just a simple after dinner party with friends and family at her grandmother?s house in Dasmariñas Village, Makati City. Soberclub, which serves different kinds of non-alcoholic drinks, and a disc jockey will be on hand to provide the night?s entertainment.

Fortunately for hotels and big restaurants, Jessica is more of an exception rather than the rule these days, as most girls whose parents have money to burn do ask for?even demand?a lavish celebration to mark their 18th birthday.

Renowned events planner Rita Neri says that a typical party usually starts at around P150,000, with the bulk of the expense going to food and drinks, followed by flowers, the debutante?s gown and the entertainment. There are families who willingly spend much more to fly in international entertainers for the momentous occasion.

As for themes, the most popular are the standard princess or fairy debutante, followed by the mermaid, angel or Asian and Moroccan themes.

Debuts hosted by elite families are almost always held in hotels, which explains why top hotels in Makati City offer special debut packages.

At the Mandarin Oriental, the debut package for the first 150 persons costs from P233,000 to P326,000, depending on the set menu. The price goes up to between P267,000 and P311,000 for the buffet menu.

The Debut Platinum Package includes an overnight stay in a deluxe room, portrait-sitting for the debutante with complimentary 12 x 18? digital print, ice carving with floral arrangements at the reception, plus the customary 18 long-stemmed roses and candles with ribbons.

At the Makati Shangri-la, the debut package starts at P210,500 for the first 150 persons, which covers the most basic sit-down menu. Those opting for the most extensive buffet menu must shell out at least P335,000 for the first 150 persons and pay an additional P1,880 for every additional guest. The package includes a three-layer debutante?s cake, bouquet for the cake table, tropical fruit punch, bouquet for the debutante, 18 long-stemmed roses with ribbons, floral arrangement for the presidential table, menu cards, mobile disco and overnight room accommodation in an executive suite.

Edsa Shangri-la?s charge is a little lower as the debut package featuring a basic sit-down menu goes for P202,500 for the first 150 guests, and up to a maximum P322,500 for the high-end buffet menu.

The Richmonde Hotel?s package is more modest with the lunch or dinner sit down menu starting at P53,300 for the first 50 guests, going up to P71,500 for the priciest buffet lunch or dinner.

Hotels have come up with different price points because debuts are no longer held exclusively among the very rich. The middle-income sector is getting into the act as well.

?Initially, debuts were held by families from the higher social strata simply because they were the ones who could afford it. As more middle income families become wealthier, more debuts started to be held,? Neri says.

But even then, debuts are still not as plentiful as weddings with Neri estimating that there are only two to three debuts held every month compared to 10 weddings. Yet, business is good, as the wedding industry and the debut business continues to grow and evolve.

Says Neri: ?Emerging trends are debuts held at destination venues such as a beach party in Batangas. There are also eco-friendly or ?green? debuts that show how the younger generation is helping the planet, and rave parties instead of the typical debut.?

Sharon Parreño-Fabian, general manager of Themes and Motifs, which organized the recently-concluded Wedding Expo Philippines, adds that wedding suppliers have expanded their business to include debuts, although the debut industry is worth just about a fourth of the wedding sector.

?Most wedding coordinators and suppliers also offer debutante services,? she says, adding that the debut industry started to boom in the late 1990s, which was also when the wedding sector started to evolve into a formidable industry.

She says the cost of a debut can go up to P1 million depending on the theme, venue (hotel or restaurant such as Fernwood and Fernbrook Gardens) and the gown. Naturally, the more exclusive the venue and the higher the brand value of the designer, the more costly the event.

The expense may be mind-boggling to most Filipinos who are struggling just to put food on the table and a roof over their head, but many parents still believe that giving their daughter a debut to remember is more than worth the hit on their pocket.