Filipino infant is British Columbia’s first baby of 2023

British Columbia, Canada’s first baby of the New Year is Gabriella Louise Camayang, born at 12:02 a.m. on Sunday, Jan. 1. Proud parents are Arben Camayang and Thea Villanueva. FACEBOOK

British Columbia, Canada’s first baby of 2023 was born to Filipino parents at two minutes after midnight on Sunday, Jan.1.

Gabriella Louise Camayang was born at Abbotsford Regional Hospital and Cancer Centre and weighed five pounds, 10 ounces.

She is the first baby of parents Arben Camayang and Thea Villanueva of Abbotsford, who immigrated separately from the Philippines and began their relationship in Canada.

Villaneuva was still three weeks away from her due date, but a routine checkup with their doctor on the morning of New Year’s Eve raised worries about her blood pressure and led to the decision to induce labor, according to a Dawson Creek Mirror report.

After five hours of undergoing the procedure, Villanueva gave birth to  Gabriella Louise V. Camayang  at 12:02 a.m. at Abbotsford Regional Hospital.