Woman gives birth in LRT 1 train

MANILA, Philippines - A 31-year-old woman gave birth to a baby girl while riding a northbound train of the Light Rail Transit (LRT) Line 1 yesterday morning.

Two registered nurses helped Angel Hotba deliver her baby girl at around 11:45 a.m., while the train was approaching the Gil Puyat Avenue station.

Hotba and her husband, Roger Ambrosio, residents of Perpetual Village in Taguig City, boarded the train at the EDSA station in a rush to get to the Fabella Hospital since Hotba was already experiencing labor pains, LRT Authority spokesman Hernando Cabrera said.

Showie Prudenciado, a head guard on duty at the EDSA station, noticed Hotba was in pain so he assisted the couple to the platform area until they boarded a northbound train and sat in the special boarding area.

Hotba’s water broke when the train stopped at the Libertad station.

While in transit, Prudenciado realized that Hotba was about to give birth so he told her to lie down on the passenger’s seat and asked passengers for help. Nurses Ronalyn Horario and Ana Marie Bugcat responded.

Prudenciado notified the LRT personnel and his office, Kaizen Security Agency, and asked for a vehicle to bring the couple and their newborn to the Philippine General Hospital.

Cabrera said that the proud parents named their baby Lilibeth, after Libertad station. 

LRTA officer-in-charge Emerson Benitez lauded Prudenciado, the two nurses and other LRTA personnel.

On Oct. 30, 2010, LRT head guard Elnora Castro helped a pregnant woman give birth to a boy at the platform area of the Pedro Gil station. Castro received recognition from LRTA management and was absorbed for employment because of her invaluable service.