The Dr. Jose Fabella Memorial Hospital in Manila welcomed the New Year with the birth of two healthy babies exactly at midnight on Thursday, January 1.
The first newborn of 2026 was a premature baby boy named Yuri, delivered by Sally Alburo.
Despite arriving at just seven months, doctors confirmed that the infant was born healthy and is currently in stable condition.
Alburo said her labor was more painful than her first delivery, but the discomfort quickly faded after seeing her baby. “The pain disappeared and was replaced with happiness,” she said.
Yuri’s father, Ivan Soria, expressed joy at becoming a father to a baby boy and thanked the hospital staff for their care and support throughout the delivery.
Another New Year baby, a girl named Zamara, was born to Jenylyn Dalen, who said she felt overwhelmed with happiness upon finally seeing her newborn.
Hospital records show that Fabella Hospital registered around 10,000 births in 2025.
On December 31 alone, the facility admitted 25 pregnant women, lower than its usual daily average of 40 to 50. (Hannah Nicol)
