Atasha admits, “I was nervous,” adding that it took her months of discipline, working out, and healthy eating to prepare for the occasion. “Also, I’m not used to wearing heels, so I had to practise for months.” Drawing strength and inspiration from her family, who showed her all-out support since day one, she entered the room confidently, waltzed with her father and Andres, and danced the night away with the other debs and cavaliers whom she now considers friends. “[The waltz] was one of my favourite parts [of le Bal] because I got to experience it with my family. Having them through every step of the way, dancing together, laughing with them and just being [immersed in the] moment gave us a good time.”

Her parents were elated for their daughter. “To be a part of such a philanthropic event like that was such an honour,” Charlene says, adding that this year’s Le Bal beneficiaries were Necker-Enfants Malades Hospital, the Association for the Cardiology Research from Foetus to Adult (ARCFA), and World Central Kitchen. “[Additionally,] you could see the camaraderie amongst the débutantes, the cavaliers, organisers and the families. . .we all became good friends. It was so nice to be in such a warm and welcoming atmosphere. It was a magical moment.” Aga added how proud he was to realise the twins have a fierce sense of independence. “When they got to meet all the débutantes and cavaliers and [we saw them] doing their own thing, it gave us comfort knowing that Atasha and Andres could already handle the responsibilities given to them for that ball. I knew all along that they could do it,” he says.

Months leading to le Bal, Atasha engaged in a series of activities organised by the le Bal des Débutantes team led by Ophelie Renouard. “Ophelie was very kind to Atasha, and she guided her every step of the way,” says Charlene, sharing how her daughter was taken care of during the preparations months before the grand event.

Leading to the big day, Atasha arrived in Paris with a jam-packed itinerary that started with a cover shoot for Tatler. On the same day was a hair and make-up session far from the ordinary. “I was surprised because they brought me to this room, and there was this big group of people who were all welcoming and nice. They directed you as to what would look good for you and your face. They just made the whole transition of things comfortable,” she recalls the experience that she shared with her fellow débutantes, including two-time Olympic gold medallist Eileen Gu; Leah Benh, daughter of Princess Märtha Louise of Norway; Almira Bowo from Indonesia; and Annabel Zimmer, daughter of the Oscar-winning composer Hans Zimmer.

The day before the event, the debs were able to familiarise themselves with the ballroom layout. On the morning of the big day, all the débutantes met the cavaliers and the parents during the waltz rehearsal. “It was quick. All these months of preparing and planning. . .It felt very festive. [We kept asking ourselves] ‘Is this happening?’ and then eventually, before we knew it, it was already the end. All the work paid off, and we had a great time,” Atasha avers.

The weeks before and after the event were also momentous, as they involved reuniting with her parents, who flew in from Manila, and Andres, who is studying in Madrid, none of whom she had seen in the flesh for some time. The family went on a European tour, exploring parts of England, Spain and France, and celebrated her and Andres’s birthday. “It was the first time I got to see our kids in their school environment, in their apartment, because when the pandemic happened, we did not have that chance as we were in lockdown,” says Charlene. “We did not have the chance to do the normal process of bringing them to their apartments for the first time or to their universities. So, it was a nice, fulfilling trip, and then le Bal was a nice way to cap it off for us.”

Atasha is set to graduate from university next year. While she plans to continue her studies with a master’s degree, she admits she is tempted to follow in her parent’s footsteps and try the entertainment industry. “Being able to put a smile on everyone’s faces with something that I’ve worked on would make my day, just like it does with my parents. Those are the two people I look up to at the end of the day,” she says. Her parents are fully supportive. “I would always tell Atasha and Andres [when they were] growing up that [the entertainment industry] is not all glitz and glamour. It’s work,” says Aga. “Early on, I taught them the discipline of being in the entertainment world.”

Now that Atasha is an adult, her parents’ greatest hope is that she continues to be the genuine person she is. “Continue being kind, respectful and not judgemental, trusting God always,” Aga says. “Let’s live a worry-free, stress-free life—being grateful makes us live a healthy and sound life.” Meanwhile, Charlene adds that her daughter should “always be appreciative and move through life with humility.”

“At one point, the world was put on pause, and everyone was just in complete isolation. Having to experience le Bal was a great opportunity to [come out], meet new people and make new friends. This once-in-a-lifetime moment meant a lot to all the debs and our families. Le Bal is also rooted in tradition—from dancing the waltz to the [ceremonial] handing over of the debs to their cavaliers,” she explains, conjuring images of the traditional débutante ball back in the 18th century.

Amid all the memories, new friends, and new experiences, what stands out most for Atasha is her parents’ summary: “Your hard work paid off. You did it, and now it’s time to breathe. You’ve made good memories.” And indeed, she did.

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