Mary Grace Joaquin holds her newborn, Zack Prince Ducusin.
TWO babies were born on Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2025 at the local hospital.
The first — named Melody — was born at 4:04 a.m., weighing 7 pounds 1.6 ounces and measuring 54 centimeters long. The mother declined to be interviewed.
The second New Year’s Day baby is Zack Prince Ducusin. His mother, Mary Grace Joaquin, said she began feeling contractions around 5:30 a.m. on Wednesday, and by 6:30 a.m., the contractions were frequent and painful enough that she asked her husband to take her to the Commonwealth Healthcare Corp. After almost 12 hours of labor, around 6:25 p.m., Zack was born, weighing 7 pounds 8.3 ounces and measuring 49 centimeters long.
Baby Zack is Joaquin’s second child.
“It hurt, and I was nervous,” Joaquin said of her experience, adding that being a New Year’s mom was not at the top of her mind, as Zack was actually due on Jan. 4.
Since giving birth, Joaquin has received a steady flow of well-wishes and congratulations from her friends, relatives, and coworkers.
