Friday, July 09, 2004 Bittersweet homecoming for Manzo twins By Oscar C. Pineda
CEBU CITY -- The Manzo twins returned home Thursday, separated at last by surgery, but they might not keep their home for long.
After a shower of blessings, Jomarie and Carina Manzo, parents of the conjoined twins who were separated through surgery in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, now face eviction.
The owner of the lot where they live has offered a relocation site in Barangay Paknaan, but Opao Barangay Captain Joy Ouano said the City Government also has another relocation site in Barangay Tingub, also in Mandaue City.
Ouano and Barangay Councilor Rafol Macalolo-oy welcomed Princess Mae and Princess Ann Manzo, now eight months old, who arrived at the Mactan airport Thursday.
The babies were joined in the abdomen when they were born on Nov. 12, 2003 at the Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center.
Saudi Crown Prince Abdullah Ibn Abdul Aziz Al Saud, when informed about the twins by someone who read online the Sun.Star articles by journalist Aledel Gonzalez-Cuizon, shouldered all their expenses, including travel, accommodations and medical bills.
Carina and her sister Jocelyn, left with the twins last Jan. 20, 2004 for Riyadh, via Manila.
They returned to Manila last Wednesday, where Joemarie met them and the whole family was whisked off to Malacaņang to visit President Arroyo.
Two Cebuana nurses from King Abdul Aziz Hospital, Maria Cleofe Cabinatan and Seferina Supeņa, accompanied the twins on their return, having timed their vacations with the Manzos' homecoming.
The nurses said the King Abdul Aziz Medical City and King Fahad National Guard Hospital worked together during the surgery, led by Dr. Abdullah Al Rabeeah.
Before their separation, medical officials in Cebu were hopeful that the procedure would succeed, since tests revealed that the babies have separate intestines, spinal columns, pelvic bones and organs.
Random kindness
But the parents were worried about the expenses ahead.
For that, they received help in taking care of the twins from Carina's sister Evelyn Cabradilla, sister-in-law Mielyn Pacquiao-and strangers halfway across the world.
Upon their arrival in Mactan, the couple was ushered into the VIP room, clearly overwhelmed by the attention.
Joemarie told Sun.Star that Dante Sullivan, vice president and chief executive officer of AMA Computer College, pledged to sponsor the twins' education from kindergarten to college.
But behind his smile, Joemarie was worried his family could lose their present home.
Macalolo-oy confided that the couple is facing eventual eviction, since they are squatters.
Will the kindness of strangers save them again?
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