Suspended Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama (right) carries Niña Dayday, who was born in a container van in the Devotee City five years ago. With them is Acting Cebu City Mayor Edgardo Labella. (CDN PHOTO/CHRISTIAN MANINGO)
Five years after giving birth in the Devotee City, candle vendor Emilia Dayday is back with her daughter Niña.
They were among more than five hundred transients who registered for temporary lodging at the Devotee City which opened yesterday.
Recalling her pregnancy, Dayday said she arrived late at the Devotee City. Soon after she was assigned a container to use, she she felt stomach pains.
Her mother Anna asked for help for the baby’s delivery. Four nurses assisted her while her mother prayed for help from the Sto. Niño.
It was 3 a.m. when Niña was born in the metal box. Then mother and child were brought to a hospital.
Dayday said she was worried about the hospital bill but the Cebu city government shouldered the expenses.
Councilor Roberto Cabarrubias said the peculiar circumstances of the child’s birth showed that Niña was a gift from heaven.
During yesterday’s opening of the Devotee City, Niña happily played with her five brothers and sisters and some newfound friends.
Dayday said she intends to sell candles at the Basilica del Sto. Niño. They will use the proceeds for their fare back to Pinamungajan town in south Cebu.
Suspended Cebu City mayor Michael Rama who attended the opening said that Niña will grow up strong because she was born on the feast of the Holy Child.
The containers used in the Devotee City were borrowed from 2GO Shipping Lines, an annual community project. Transients can stay there until Monday morning.
Devotees from different towns would flock to Cebu city to attend the feast of the Sto. Niño and sell their wares.
The transients used to sleep on the streets around the basilica until the Cebu city government started the tempoary dwellings, first as a cluster of tents, and in recent years with containers. It is equipped with sleeping quarters, a cooking area, toilets, and free electricity and water supply.