Teener gives birth to New Year baby

A 17-year-old girl was among the females who gave birth in the first few minutes of the New Year in Cebu.

Charlene Plantar of barangay Calaboon in Dumanjug town, southwest Cebu, gave birth to a 2.4 pound boy at 12:15 a.m. of Jan. 1 at the Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center (VSMMC).

The baby, whom she named Ditan, is among the 27 new borns in the government hospital on Jan. 1, said VSMMC spokesman Eleodoro Mongaya.

Charlene traveled two hours to reach the hospital with her older sister and the child’s 19-year-old father James and his mother. She said she felt pain in her womb in the morning of Dec. 31.

She was rushed to the Dumanjug Health Center at 9 p.m but was advised by the midwife to transfer to VSMMC.

Last Dec. 30, Charlene’s sister and parents planned to welcome the New Year in their small cottage.  Her 26-year-old sister Genelyn planned to prepare spaghetti and fruit salad, but ended up bringing Charlene to the health center.

Genelyn said she didn’t mind spending the New Year in the crowded hospital.

“Di na lang sa mi maghuna-huna og kaon (I don’t want to think about eating),” Genelyn said.

She said Charlene, the youngest of five siblings, and James were high school sweethearts.

Charlene said they met during their senior year.  She confirmed her pregnancy last May.

“It was good thing she already graduated from high school,” Genelyn said. She said the families have no objection if the two get married later.

Charlene said James saved P6,000 or five months salary as a construction worker in a mall in Lahug, Cebu City for hospital expenses.

James started working last June while Charlene stayed home. Charlene, who is scheduled to be discharged today, said she considers the baby a beautiful blessing in 2013. Correspondent Tweeny M. Malinao