Baby girl born at midnight in Manila hospital on New Year's Day

A 27-year old first-time mother gave birth to a baby girl Wednesday midnight, making her child the first 2025 baby born at the Dr. Jose Fabella Memorial Hospital in Manila.

In time for the New Year celebration, Lea Mae Razo welcomed Alea Jayde as the clock struck midnight on Jan. 1, 2025.

“Super happy,” Razo said. “Hindi ko naman po ine-expect na manganganak ako eksaktong 12. Siguro ganun talaga, 2025 new blessings din.”

(I didn’t expect to give birth at exactly 12 midnight. Maybe that’s really how it is. 2025 is for new blessings.)

Lea Mae Razo, 27, of Dagupan, Pangasinan holds her baby girl named Alea Jayde on Wednesday, January 1, 2025, at the new Dr. Jose Fabella Memorial Hospital in Manila. Alea Jayde was born at 12 a.m. on January 1 as the country welcomed the New Year. Danny Pata

Razo gave birth after some 13 grueling hours of labor, or since 11 a.m. on Dec. 31, 2024.

“Mahirap naman po talaga mag-labor. Lahat ng sakit, nararanasan pero kapag nakita ko na si baby, worth it kahit papaano,” she recounted.

(Going on labor is really difficult. You feel all sorts of pain but when I saw my baby, it was somehow worth it.)

Her baby’s name, Razo explained, is a fusion of her name and her husband’s name.

Midwife May Olipio also shared her happiness when she caught her first-ever New Year baby.

“Iba ‘yung happiness. Iba ‘yung pakiramdam, lalong lalo na wala akong anak. Ganu'n pala ang feeling,” she said.

(It brings a different kind of happiness. A different feeling, especially since I have no children. So this is how it feels like.)

Fabella Hospital Senior House Officer Dr. Jergen Cruz said there were no complications when Razo birthed Alea Jayde.

Unlike in some previous years, he also pointed out that the New Year baby in the hospital will not receive special perks since there were no sponsors this year. — BAP/KG, GMA Integrated News