Couple in Ilocos Sur blessed with many twins
abs-cbnNEWS.com | 09/18/2008 5:54 PM
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In the town of Candon, Ilocos Sur, there lives a couple who has been doubly blessed as they follow the biblical command, "go forth and multiply."
Vic and Marianita Gagarao have become famous in the town for their reproductiveness prowess: they have 11 children, six of whom are twins.
Just how lucky are the Gagaraos?
According to Wikipedia, only "about one in 90 human births (1.1%) in the world results from a twin pregnancy."
Marianita was still weak from giving birth to twins when ABS-CBN recently visited her in her home in the town of Candon. She had just given birth to twins, Nicolas and Nicko James, last September 10.
"Noong nanganganak ako, talagang napapailing ako sa sakit (When I gave birth, I was wincing in pain)," she said.
Lying near her newly-born male twins were her other male twins, two-year-olds Michael and Marlon.
Helping Marianita take care of her young offspring were her female-male twins, Maria Victoria and Vincent.
Vic, the father of the three sets of twins, said being doubly blessed means hard work, especially since he and his wife have five other children.
"Naku, ang hirap mag-alaga (Oh my, taking care of them is difficult)," Vic, a tricycle driver, said.
The Gagarao couple would have had thirteen childen and eight twins, but in 2000, twins Victor and Vic Jr., died.
Despite the difficulty of having 11 children in these hard times, the Gagaraos vowed to give their children the best education available, plus all the helping hands they can get. -- report from XENIA RIBAYA, ABS-CBN News Ilocos Sur
