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Tiny Fighters: 20-Month-Old Filipino Conjoined Twins Gianna and Olivia Arrive in Saudi Arabia for Life-Changing Surgery

Tabloid PH Newsdesk

Feb 22, 2026 — 1 min read

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A pair of Filipino conjoined twins — 20-month-old Gianna and Olivia Manuel — have arrived in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, for what could be the most important medical procedure of their young lives. The twins are the fourth pair of Filipino conjoined twins to benefit from the Saudi Conjoined Twins Program under King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center (KSrelief), which covers the entire cost of treatment.

The girls traveled to Riyadh with their parents, Ginalyn and Oliver Manuel, and are now undergoing a comprehensive series of medical evaluations at the King Abdullah Specialized Children's Hospital. Philippine Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Raymond Balatbat visited the hospital on February 17 to meet the family and convey the Philippine government's support.

Remarkably, Gianna and Olivia aren't the only Filipino conjoined twins currently in Saudi medical care. Ambassador Balatbat also visited another pair of Filipino conjoined twins who arrived in 2025 and remain under close medical supervision while awaiting their own separation operation. Both pairs are being monitored by renowned Saudi pediatric surgeon Abdullah Rabeeah, who heads the program and has led numerous complex separation surgeries worldwide.

The Saudi Conjoined Twins Program is a flagship humanitarian initiative that has provided life-saving surgical interventions to conjoined twins from around the world — completely free of charge. The program covers surgery, hospitalization, and all related medical care, offering hope to families who could never afford such procedures on their own.

The Philippine Embassy in Riyadh expressed deep gratitude for Saudi Arabia's humanitarian outreach, calling the initiative a reflection of the strong ties between Manila and Riyadh that go beyond labor and economic cooperation. For Ginalyn and Oliver Manuel, the journey from the Philippines to Riyadh represents both their greatest fear and their greatest hope. Prayers up for Gianna and Olivia. 🙏

Source: The Manila Times

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