GENERAL SANTOS CITY, July 27 (PNA) — South Cotabato province celebrated on Monday the first birthday of the area’s 100 millionth symbolic baby.
Baby girl Joylyn Gandulan, who was born at 1:20 a.m. on July 27 last year at the South Cotabato Provincial Hospital, turned a year old at their home in Barangay Lemsnolon in T’boli town.
“She is in good health,” barangay health worker and the baby’s aunt Rita Gandulan told reporters.
She said baby Joylyn has completed the required immunization against tuberculosis, poliomyelitis, diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis and measles through the village’s health center.
Rita said the baby’s 19-year-old mother I-Ar, who came from the Bagobo tribe, also undergoes family planning sessions and activities that would help her in rearing the child properly.
I-Ar was just 18 years old when she got pregnant and gave birth to baby Joylyn last year, she said.
The baby’s father, 27-year-old Mark Anthony Atam, belongs to a local T’boli tribe and works as a laborer at a small-scale mining plant in the area.
Zenaida Duron, Provincial Population Office head, said the challenge now is how to make the couple get married as their child remains illegitimate.
She said I-Ar and Mark have expressed plans to get married as soon as they have the means or resources to pursue with it.
“For now, their focus is to take care of the baby and provide for her needs,” she said.
Since the couple only finished the elementary level, Mark assured that he will make sure that their daughter will have a good education.
“Unlike us, we will strive to make her finish her studies,” Mark said.
As birthday gift to baby Joylyn, the Population Commission in Region 12 gave her a package consisting a stroller, walker, toys and even a birthday cake.
South Cotabato Governor Daisy Avance-Fuentes also turned-over to the baby’s mother a lifetime membership with the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation that was provided by the Department of Health. (PNA)