Mommy Jasmine Mallapre was taken by surprise when her baby boy’s beautiful smile went viral within a day of his birth.
Unlike most newborn babies who cry as loud as they can, Jin Riley flashed his doctor a smile — just minutes after he was born.
That smile of his eventually touched the heart of many Filipinos, especially Doctor Yong Larrazabal III who shared the baby boy’s “face of hope” on social media to remind his fellow healthcare workers that their battle against COVID-19 also safeguards a better tomorrow for Jin Riley’s generation.
“This is such a wonderful reminder why we do what we are doing because we are not just fighting the pandemic for what’s left for us today rather for what’s ahead of this baby,” Dr. Yong, who is also the president of the Cebu Doctors Group of Hospitals, said.
As of writing, his post has already earned 15,000 reactions and 4,200 shares on Facebook.
Now a mother of three, Mommy Jasmine couldn’t believe her eyes when she saw the photo of her cheeky newborn smiling already.
In the time of COVID-19, giving birth posed its own difficulties, especially for the Mallapre family. Since they live in Danao City, in the northern part of Cebu, they had to think long and hard if it was safe enough to give birth in Cebu City, which is considered the epicentre of COVID-19 in the province.
Giving birth in the city would also mean that they would be away from their two other children for 14 days as they adhere to their barangay’s order of a home quarantine once they’re back in Danao.
“When I gave birth on April 20, I was scared for our safety (lalo na) sa aming baby. We live in Danao City and actually, (nag-aalangan kami) if dun ako manganak sa Cebu City kasi i-ho-home quarantine kami after for 14 days under barangay monitoring. This means our two other children would not be with us,” the 27-year-old mom told The STAR.
“But nag-pray kami before we went to the hospital, and we felt comforted naman, so we know everything would (turn out) well,” she said.
A week after giving birth to their third child, Jasmine assured her baby is good and healthy.
Reymann, the father of baby Jin Riley, said he agrees with the sentiments of Dr. Yong — that despite the trials of the current situation, there is still hope.
“We should never forget to smile, just like what he (baby Jin Riley) did in the picture. I do hope that this photo will give even a little hope and smile to everyone who sees it,” he said.
