MANPRET DANELA D. REYES

THE BABY IS NOW A LADY

By: Mylene Campos

For Filipinos, a debut is a celebration of a young woman’s coming of age, and her 18th birthday becomes a platform where she’s formally introduced to society as an adult. And for Manpret Danela, her big introduction was a day worth remembering and more.

THE DEBUTANTE | Danela has achieved so much while growing up. “Before I turned 18, I saw myself as this girl who’s experienced a lot of things already. Living in this world can be tough. Well, that didn't bother me, as I was still excited to turn 18, with hopes that it would change everything.” She also added, “I liked trying new things and challenging myself in everything that I do. I’ve accomplished a lot now because I stepped out of my comfort zone to find myself.”

A BEAUTIFUL TRANSFORMATION | Danela knew she became more mature and responsible when she turned of legal age. “I’ve managed to be more flexible. I wouldn’t say that I’m independent now because I still live with my parents. They still influence a significant part of my decisions.” She added, “I would like to try new things, especially now that I’m a young adult. I want to discover and to learn more about myself."

Nonetheless, she’s become more sociable and approachable now - the kind of person you can seek help from. “I’ve always been that 'one message away' type of friend. I’m very dependable when it comes to situations wherein you need someone to talk to. I always give my time to other people because I like to be by their side when they need me,” she added.

OF DREAMS AND ASPIRATIONS | The debutante also looks forward to becoming more independent and mature, especially when it comes to tackling complicated situations. She shared, “I look forward to having more challenges in life because I enjoy looking for solutions.”

Danela has always dreamt of becoming a CPA Lawyer, which she aspires to be in 10 years. If things don’t go as planned, she would probably hone the artist and model within. She said, “I would like to join pageants so that I can use it as a platform to influence people and to inspire them to become the best versions of themselves. Other than that, I also dream of becoming an international model because I want to see myself slaying the runways around the world. But at the moment, I’ve been more focused on the ‘artista’ (celebrity) path. I really want to achieve it. I think that acting is my passion. Whenever I act, I enjoy it. Acting is where I let my feelings and thoughts out because I don’t really know how to express myself to others.”

LIFE INSPIRATIONS | “I have my circle of friends, those who serve as an inspiration and motivator for me. They’ve been there I’m at my worst and have been there to encourage me to do better. I would say that the best advice that I’ve received from them is to always do my best, so I won’t regret anything in the future. I shouldn’t also give up, especially when I know that I can do it.”

A NIGHT TO REMEMBER | Until now, things still feel surreal for Danela. She shared, “I was so excited that night because it was the time when my loved ones came together to celebrate my 18th birthday. I felt so happy and nervous at the same time because I didn’t know what will happen in the next few years.”

Danela didn’t have plans to celebrate her 18th birthday. However, her mom insisted that she honor her debut. When it was time to plan her special day, they started canvassing for everything that they needed for the party. She shared, “I’m an ABM student and an organizer, which makes me experienced when it comes to coordinating activities. Also, my mom and I arranged everything for my debut, which was a lot of fun. I even got what I wanted, which turned out to be great in the end.”

MEMORABLE MOMENTS | One of Danela’s favorite moments from her debut was her introduction to the crowd. She loved it when the theme song of her favorite Disney princess movie, Beauty and the Beast, was played. “I felt like a princess, especially when I saw all of my loved ones in one venue,” she shared. She also loved the moment when she surprised her mother that night. She added, “we surprised my mom because her birthday was August 5, just two days after mine. She started crying on stage, as she thanked us for giving her a memorable night.”

CHERISHED GIFTS | The debutante shared what her favorite gifts were and listed her most cherished possessions - journals, shoes, and a stuffed toy. But the best one came from Lester Jhon Cal. “I forgot what’s it called, but when you turn it, it will play like a music box. I love listening to it as it relaxes me.”