Grand debut of President’s ‘apo’

Image: Instagram/@winnramos

After a controversial photo shoot in Malacañang last month, President Rodrigo Duterte’s granddaughter Isabelle Duterte on Friday celebrated her 18th birthday at The Peninsula Manila hotel in Makati City.

But Mr. Duterte did not attend the debut ball at the hotel’s Rigodon Ballroom and neither did Isabelle’s father, resigned Davao City Vice Mayor Paolo Duterte, with whom she earlier had a nasty spat on social media.

Also absent was Isabelle’s aunt, Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte, who was said to be attending to a measles outbreak in the city.

“No Duterte was there,” said one of the guests, who asked not to be identified.

But the absence of her paternal relatives did not spoil the debut of Isabelle, Paolo’s eldest daughter with Davao City businesswoman Lovelie Sangkola Sumera.

Extensive preparations

After all, her debut took weeks of extensive preparations, including photo shoots in Malacañang and Australia and the production of a predebut teaser video.

In the end, Isabelle came out gorgeous in a gown by the Dubai-based Michael Cinco, who described his creation as an “ombré cobalt blue ball gown studded with full degrade Swarovski crystals.”

She later changed into a white lace gown and, still later, into a white pantsuit when she performed a dance number with a group of black-suited friends. All her guests were asked to come in black.

Social media photos showed the hotel ballroom decorated with strands of crystal beads hanging from the ceiling over elaborate candelabras and fresh flowers on the tables.

The hallway leading to the ballroom was also turned into a flower tunnel, with a glass floor that displayed different flowers underneath.

Isabelle’s tall, multitiered cake was topped with flowers as well.

Where’s dad?

Her guests took turns at the photo and video booth where they could pose and sashay down a short runway lined with lights.

Guests were not surprised that her father did not attend. “It was expected because he did not like parties and social functions,” said another source.

“I don’t know if they saw each other at another place, but certainly not at the Manila Pen,” the source added.

Still, tongues were a-wagging about the social media spat that Paolo cited as one of the reasons for his resignation as Davao City vice mayor on Christmas Day.

The conflict came after the controversial predebut shoot at Malacañang when Isabelle, who has show biz aspirations, was criticized for posing before the seal of the President.

Isabelle also tangled with her father over his apparent disapproval of her friends.

Where’s auntie?

Isabelle’s aunt, Sara, who ended up defending her father and brother during and after the spat, also skipped her niece’s debut party.

A source in Davao City said the official reason was that the mayor was monitoring the measles situation in the city.

The source said Sara continued to discharge her functions on Friday and was closely monitoring the measles situation in the city. —With a report from Inquirer Mindanao