Keane, 15 others born on New Year

An hour and eleven minutes after midnight of Jan. 1, a healthy baby boy was born at the Cebu Puericulture Maternity House Inc. in Cebu City.

Baby Keanne Daven is one of the 16 New Year babies born in the maternity house.

Weighing 3.3 kilograms, baby Keanne was born via caesarian section to couple Rex and Alicia Gimena.

He is the first child of the couple.  Rex, 36, admitted he was very worried while Alicia was in labor because he knows that at 35,  giving birth is risky for her.

Doctors had to deliver the baby through caesarian section because his heartbeat was already weak.

Rex believed that baby Keanne Daven is a blessing. The couple are both overseas workers who met in Japan and spent their first New Year in a labor room.

Alicia said the labor pains that she experienced were the worst ever, but when she saw Keanne, it was all worth it.

“When Keanne came out I was very happy. I called up my sister who was also born on January 1. I told her, she already has someone to celebrate birthday with,” he said. Rex has been praying to have a baby boy.

“I wanted a boy because I wanted someone to bring my last name to the next generation,” he said.

The couple believed that because Keanne was born on Jan. 1, he is a lucky baby. They promised to raise and guide him properly and provide his needs.

Another New Year baby born in the maternity house is John Vince Tabarno. He is the second child of couple Vincent and Anne from Argao town.

John was born at 7:15 a.m. yesterday.

“I believe that our baby is a blessing. This may mean that we will receive blessing for the whole year,” Vincent said. Reporter Candeze R. Mongaya and Correspondent Carine M. Asutilla