2 New Year babies born in Fabella 

MANILA, Philippines — Two baby girls were born two minutes apart at midnight yesterday at the Dr. Jose Fabella Memorial Hospital in Manila, giving their parents new hope at the start of the year.

Melanie Soriano, 26, gave birth to a healthy baby girl named Nathalie at exactly 12 midnight, according to the hospital management.

Two minutes later, Jennilyn Musca, 27, gave birth to baby Ashley.

The mothers could not be interviewed yesterday as they were placed under isolation after undergoing swab tests as part of hospital procedure amid the pandemic.

Two New Year babies were born in Fabella at midnight of 2021 and 2022, when pandemic restrictions were more stringent for nursing mothers.

Before the pandemic struck in 2020, four New Year babies were born between 12 midnight and 1 a.m. at the Manila-based hospital, known for specializing in oby-gyne.

No babies were born in Fabella at the midnight hour in 2019.