MANILA, Philippines – When Maria Estanislao and Elain Matalote clocked in for their shifts as chambermaids at a Hotel Sogo last September 9, they thought it would be just like any other night. Little did they know that in a few hours, they will be getting the surprise of their lives: a pregnant woman would unexpectedly give birth inside the hotel and they would have to deliver the baby.
The said woman checked-in with her husband around 5 a.m. early Sunday morning at Hotel Sogo – Recto Avenue. After checking in at Room 205, they called the front desk to order room service. Shortly after, room attendant Kenneth Cornejo, who was on his way to deliver the couple’s order, saw the panicked husband asking for help because his wife was amidst labor contractions.
Housekeeping Supervisor Andronico Sy, along with Estanislao and Matalote, rushed to the aid of the couple. Sy tried his best to calm the husband down, while the chambermaids tended to the wife. Estanislao, a former volunteer midwife, assessed the situation while front desk personnel phoned emergency hotlines. Upon realizing that the woman was about to give birth and the emergency medical team was still on their way, Estanislao requested for hot water and clean towels so that she can assist the wife in delivering the baby right inside the hotel’s guest room.
At around 8:20 a.m., the baby was out of the womb. The ambulance arrived after a few minutes to take the mother and her baby girl to the nearest hospital. As of writing, both the mother and daughter are doing well.
Estanislao and the rest of her colleagues were all presented letters of recommendation, courtesy of Hotel Manager Paul John Teope, for their kindness and action beyond the call of duty.
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