A debut in 'Middle Earth'

Carissa Yanson Dumancas, daughter of Charles and Ginnette Yanson-Dumancas recently celebrated her debut along with her guests, in a realm of actual hobbits, giant mushrooms, tall trees and colossal roots, bagpipers, butterflies and an endless shower of rose petals!

As "The Lord of the Rings" night casted its spell, when the clock stroke half past six, soft mystical melodies of the bagpiper and harpist, flown in from Manila, echoed in the halls of Convention Plaza Hotel.

Members of high society, dressed in their couriered designer gowns and barongs, with their diamonds and gems sparking in the night, stepped up from the winding staircase, the magic began as hobbits appeared beneath giant mushrooms greeting them as they were ushered into a green and warm yellow forest where the island ballroom was literally transformed into the enchanted Middle Earth.

Thousands of red rose petals showered upon Carissa, as she approached majestically the center of the ballroom wearing the first of her three gowns, a Rajo Laurel creation, made from sea foam green silk chiffon imported from France, with a draped bodice, accentuated with three dimensional flowers made from caviar beads and Austrian crystals. It was truly a breathtaking moment!

Equally breathtaking was her mom in her Celtic-inspired dress in wine color sparking with swarovski crystals. "Carissa is the daughter you always wanted to have" says her proud mom, the former Ginnette Yanson, daughter of Yanson conglomerate pillar Dr. Ricardo and Olivia Yanson. She and her better half, businessman Charles Dumancas were all praises to their eldest child, who presently ranks 12th in her batch of close to a thousand.

Thus, Ginette herself masterplanned to perfection her daughter's debut. Guests were mesmerized by the presentation numbers and were touched by the messages especially from Carissa's mentors, role models and shoulders-to-cry on -- her wowo Ricardo, wawa Love, mama Elsa. and her parents. Among the highlights was the impartation of blessings from her parents and the matriarch to the womanhood of Carissa. Her grandmothers on both sides gave her their blessings.

Carissa has a heart of gold. In lieu of the thousand gifts she could have received, she requested that donations be made to the Bahay Pag-Asa and St. Scholastica's Bacolod Alumnae Foundation.

In her speech, she thanked God for such a wonderful life, and her parents for instilling in her great values*