Young mother in Albay gives birth to twins, claims one is a python

Friday, March 14, 2008

Young mother in Albay gives birth to twins, claims one is a ‘python’
Rhaydz B. Barcia

TABACO CITY: This story may sound incredible, but it’s true. Maricel Berzosa-Bellen, 24, of Sto. Cristo gave birth to twins, one a healthy baby girl, the other a seven-inch python.

Maricel, who had previously given birth to normal babies twice, narrated how on February 28 she went through labor pains and gave birth to snake before twilight.

“I was shocked and frightened when I saw the python come out of my womb. My husband Gil took the baby snake and placed it in a bottle of Ginebra San Miguel. A day after, I gave birth to a healthy baby girl at the Ziga Memorial Hospital, “ she said.

The child-snake was born on February 28 while the human sister was born on February 29 at around 9:00 a.m..

Maricel is a native of Sangay town in Camarines Sur province while Gil, 28, is a native of Sitio Banoyo, barangay Cawayan, Cagraray Island in Bacacay, Albay.

A week before she gave birth, Maricel continued her narrative, she dreamt twice that her daughter is a snake. “In a dream, I was told that my baby was a snake. When I woke up I told my husband. But Gil laughed it off and teased me that it might be a “sawa” (python).”

“Two days before I gave birth, I again had this dream that my baby was a snake so I told our neighbors.” Maricel said.

The “partera” or ‘hilot” (midwife) told her that her baby were twins and even encouraged her to be ready for any eventualities.

Unsure of the consequences and fearing the possible stigma as a likely consequence, Maricel decided to send the snake to Camarines Sur. “I asked my mother (Merlinda) to bring the snake to Camarines Sur because the snake sneaked out from the bottle and slept beside her twin sister (Jacquelin),” she continued.

On March 1, while her husband was still sleeping, a worried Maricel requested her mother to take the snake to Camarines Sur after people who had heard about what happened, some even gambling aficionados, came and offered to buy the baby snake at P50,000.

Her husband, Gil, confirmed that the snake was healthy at first, although it reportedly fell sick since it was brought to Camarines Sur.

“I placed our child snake in a bottle but it slithered beside her sister. I am not afraid of our snake child that’s why at first I was mad at my wife when she gave the snake to my mother-in-law. I will take care of our child snake and I believe that she will give us luck in our business and will be our protector,” Gil stressed.

Gil said the snake refused to eat pork and rice and prefers to have milk instead.
The couple lives in a squatter area where they run a “goto” business with three workers, earning at least a thousand a day.

This story has strong similarities to one mentioned in Warriors, Gods and Spirits from Central and South American Mythology written by Douglas Gifford where he mentions a snake sister.