A coming-of-age celebration is a big deal for most debutantes, especially for Veronica A. Perfecto, who recently turned 18 last February 1. For her, turning of legal age made her realize the importance of being responsible. She shared, “I told myself that I should be careful in all of my actions since I’ve now reached my legal age."

Veronica also feels like a lot has changed since she turned 18. "I finally got my driver’s license, which I’ve only dreamt of before. I’ve also decided on the course that I want to take in college and where to pursue it."

She will also miss her younger years, years of her just enjoying the simple things in life, and not thinking of any consequences or responsibilities. But now that’s she’s of legal age, Veronica sees things in a different light. She shared, “being 18 means focusing more on my future, and less on what’s happening in my surroundings. It’s both a responsibility and a new journey for me.”

A WOMAN’S DREAMS | Veronica, who’s seen by everyone as a happy-go-lucky young woman, dreams of becoming a successful entrepreneur someday. “I wish to establish my own business after college, which will be my bread and butter in the future. Dreaming about this may not be as easy as it seems, and negative thoughts may enter my mind and tell me that I can’t do it. However, with God’s guidance, I know that I can reach my goals soon,” she shared. “I also see myself having a stronger relationship with God and with my family. I also see myself having a house and two cars with the man of my dreams. I see myself happy and contented, which is the most important thing for me,” she added. She reminds herself that life might be more challenging this time. But she also tells herself to rely more on God. “I believe that he will never let me down, especially when it comes to all of my dreams. I should lean on him and acknowledge him in all my ways.”

With everything that is happening in her life - knowing what to pursue in college, being brave and strong, having a positive environment, and having people who support her – she can vividly picture herself reaching all of her dreams.

AN INSPIRATION | Now that she is legally allowed to have a boyfriend, there is one man who has been wooing her heart with his kindness, charm, sense of humor and gentleness. Veronica shared, “he's the man of my dreams. He always makes sure that I am okay. He’s there to help me reach my dreams, to offer support and is there to serve God with me. For me, I think those are enough to make my heart full.”

A CHILDHOOD DREAM REALIZED | For Veronica, what happened in her 18th birthday celebration was beyond her expectations. It was a dream that came true for the young woman. It was perfect, as she described it, saying that it was a childhood dream realized.

The ambiance inside the Glass Garden gave a great impression for the debutante. She caught herself saying “wow, ang ganda,” (wow, that’s beautiful) as she entered the venue. “I loved how the program flowed. I loved the beautiful voices of the band. More importantly, I loved how the people enjoyed the party that we prepared,” Veronica shared.

The debutante thought that preparing for her 18th birthday was something that could be quickly organized. She thought that she could easily give out tasks and allocate duties to people like “you’ll be in charge of catering. You’ll be the emcee,” shared Veronica. Preparing for the debut required her to attend a lot of supplier meetings.

 Veronica also went through a weeklong practice with the dancers, which she found challenging since she wasn’t that good at dancing. She also had to squeeze in time to oversee fittings for gowns and suits. Now, the whole preparation may have taken more than a year to finish, but the entire process gave her a satisfying win. "It was a hard process, but it was worth it,” she said.

OF CHERISHED MOMENTS AND GIFTS | The highlight of her celebration was the surprise gift from her parents. She shared, “the best gift that I received during my debut was my dream car. I never expected my parents to buy me one since they already made me choose. It was that or a debut. Of course, I chose to have a party. But they still managed to surprise me with a car."