Baby girl from Taculing named after COVID-19

Covid Marie Tupas with her parents John and Colline. (Photos courtesy of Adrian Prietos)

By Glazyl Y. Masculino

BACOLOD City – Couples often name their children after their favorite celebrities or favorite characters from books and movies.

But for a young couple from Barangay Taculing here, the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) crisis did not dissuade them from naming their newborn baby girl Covid Marie.

Covid Marie was 2.6 pounds when she was delivered by her 20-year-old mother, Colline Tabesa, to the world around 12:20 p.m. on April 13, 2020.

Naming the baby after COVID-19 got the nod of her 23-year-old father, John Tupas, who is an E-Trike driver. She is the couple’s first child.

According to the couple, they decided to give their baby after the pandemic as they believe that the baby symbolizes new hope for people to continue their lives with positivity amid the health crisis.

For them, the baby gives them joy, despite the ongoing crisis. They said they wanted to inspire people.

The parents’ hope is for their baby to be able to finish her studies and become a doctor someday.