Actress Sofia Pablo was a vision of youthful glam and sweetness on her 18th birthday celebration, a Hawaiian-themed debut party held at Raffles Makati.
Instead of the traditional 18 roses, Sofia opted for a unique touch, featuring 18 TikTok dancers, including notable figures like GMA First Vice President Joey Abacan and actors such as Ruru Madrid and Wendell Ramos. Her father, Christiano Pablo, also took part in the number. Joining the lineup of dancers was her onscreen partner, Allen Ansay.
“You only get one 18th birthday, so I wanted it to be memorable in the way I want it to be. So, I was very hands-on, I chose the motif and the songs for the dance. The songs symbolize our friendship,” the debutant shared during a press conference held a few days before her party.
Sofia met with the press to talk about this new phase of her life. She expressed her excitement for professional growth, eager to explore a broader range of projects and roles now that she’s come of age.
As she turned 18, Sofia wanted to challenge perceptions and shed any notion of being “pabebe,” aspiring to become mature while still maintaining her natural sweetness and playfulness.
“I want to change people’s perception of me that I’m pabebe. Not everyone says it, but some bashers do. I don’t mean to look that way,” she said. “But now that I’m 18, I want to change that. I think I will miss being makulit, playful.”
Independence is a significant aspect of adulthood for Sofia, who sees it as an opportunity to rely less on her mother and take on more responsibilities.
“I’m just naturally a sweet girl, mahinhin, introverted. But of course, I also want to show that I’m 18 and more ladylike. I want to be more mature, responsible, and conscious of how I act or speak,” she stated.
Despite feeling a bit of pressure to mature, she remains determined to start her transition to adulthood with grace and confidence. She is committed to working hard and staying grounded, inspired by the lessons learned from her co-actors.
As part of her “being mature,” she’s been the lead star of the upcoming series Prinsesa ng City Jail.
“I think I will now have a wider choice of what projects and roles I can do. ‘Di na limited. Because some would say, ‘‘Di pa siya 18, ‘di pa pwede ‘yan.’ Now I would love to do different types of romance projects,” Sofia said.