World’s 8 billionth baby is Filipino

The eighth billionth person was born on Tuesday in a state-run hospital in Manila, marking a new record for the world's population.

Maria Margarette Villorente, from Tondo in Manila, gave birth to Vinice Mabansag via normal delivery at Dr. Jose Fabella Memorial Hospital in Manila on Tuesday, past midnight at 1:29 a.m.

"So we just witnessed the world's eight billionth baby in the Philippines. So we waited around two hours starting at 11 p.m. last night and the baby was delivered at around 1:29 a.m., normal spontaneous delivery," said Dr. Romeo Bituin, the hospital's chief medical professional staff.

Villorente expressed her happiness about her daughter being referred to as the "8 billionth baby" of the planet, calling it a blessing for her.

Vinice is the fourth child of Villorente, 27. Her father is Alvin Mabansag, a 29-year-old vendor.

Villorente said she was forced to go to Fabella after she was rejected by a Quezon City hospital. She did not elaborate on why.

Daily Tribune was able to interview the mother through the help of hospital director Dr. Esmeraldo Ilem and nurse Lorna Ochoa of the media relations office.

Lyneth Therese Monsalve, the chief administrative officer of the Commission on Population and Development, said they are hopeful Vinice would one day serve as a benchmark for development.

"We are looking at, particularly the local government units, for the possible interventions that they have to give for these babies and the coming other babies for that matter in terms of health, education, then housing when they grow up," Monsalve said.

UN welcomes milestone

Just hours before Baby Vinice was born, the United Nations predicted that the world's population would reach eight billion on Tuesday. It had even set up a countdown on its website to commemorate the event.

"The milestone is an occasion to celebrate diversity and advancements while considering humanity's shared responsibility for the planet," United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres said in a statement on their website.

The UN linked the "unprecedented growth" of the population to a longer average lifespan brought on by advances in nutrition, healthcare, and other fields and high fertility rates in some countries.

Popcom, however, estimates that the population of the Philippines will increase more slowly in 2022, with a fertility rate of 1.9, meaning that a mother will give birth to fewer than two children.

According to the report, the Covid-19 pandemic's effects and Filipinos' increasing awareness of family planning caused the reduced fertility rate.