Philippines welcomes New Year's Day babies, Generation Beta

At midnight on January 1, 2025, first-time mom Lea Mae Razo welcomed the new year with her firstborn, Alea Jade at the Dr. Jose Fabella Memorial Hospital in Manila.

“Super happy po. Hindi ko ine-expect na manganganak ako sa eksaktong 12…Mahirap po talaga mag-labor, lahat ng sakit mararanasan mo. Pero kapag nakita mo na si baby, mawawala naman lahat kaya worth it,” said Razo in Darlene Cay’s report in 24 Oras on Wednesday.

(I’m super happy. I did not expect to give birth at exactly midnight… It was really difficult to labor because you will experience all the pain. But once you see your baby, everything is worth it.)

She is just one of the 13 mothers who gave birth to the so-called “New Year babies” at the Manila hospital.

Likewise, the Josefina Belmonte Duran Albay Provincial Hospital in Ligao, Albay also welcomed its first seven babies for the year.

“Masaya kasi na-tiempo, kasi laging may handa kapag birthday,” said Maria Cecilia Camacho, who gave birth to her daughter Rochiel.

(I’m happy because I made it on time, this means that there will always be a feast during birthdays.)

But Alea Jade and Rochiel are not just simply babies born at New Year, they are also the first batch of “Generation Beta” - those who are born from 2025 to 2039.

They are succeeding Generation Alpha, Generation Z, Millennials or Generation Y, Generation X, and the Baby Boomers.

Social analyst and futurist Mark McCrindle defined this new generation as those who will live in the age of artificial intelligence.

“Generation Beta will live in an era where AI and automation are fully embedded in everyday life - from education and workplaces to healthcare and entertainment,” said McCrindle.

“While many millennial parents used social media to document their children’s lives, Generation Z knows more about both the positives and challenges that come with social media use from a young age,” he added. “Gen Z parents are more likely to strongly agree that limiting their child’s screen time is a high priority for them.”

Julia Isidro, who is part of Generation Z, agrees that she will be strict to her first child’s screen time.

“I reached more content than I should have at an early age. At the time, it was very easy. Right now, hindi naman sa parang I  will keep you contained na ito lang ang pwede…it’s more about educating them off screen,” she said.

But she admitted that she was worried about the future that her child will grow up in especially in the age of technology.

“With AI, yes, it has made life so much easier when it comes to creating things like putting words together and putting photos together. But at the same time, you don't even know what is real anymore,” she added.

For his part, McCrindle is expecting Generation Beta kids to focus on socializing and helping in the community due to the upbringing of their Millennial and Generation Z parents.

“This generation will be raised by Millennial and older Gen Z parents, many of whom prioritize adaptability, equality, and eco-consciousness…Generation Beta being more globally minded, community-focused, and collaborative,” he said. —Vince Angelo Ferreras/NB, GMA Integrated News