A Filipino couple was interviewed by local TV show Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho (KMJS) for one crazy reason—they have 17 children. Carna Condat, 42, and her husband, Jesus Arce, 50, live in a small hut in the mountains of Camarines Sur. Their youngest is barely one year old, while their oldest ones moved away after starting families of their own. A few of Carna’s pregnancies ended in a miscarriage.
Carna and Jesus with their children | KMJS
The children’s clothes are old hand-me-downs, and their slippers are worn out. They go many days without eating a proper meal, oftentimes sharing just rice between them. The family’s struggles paint a stark picture of poverty in the country.
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Most shockingly, while interviewing the couple, KMJS unearthed a disturbing tidbit about their relationship. Carna revealed that she was married off at the very young age of 12 to Jesus who was 8 years her senior. She bore their first child just a year later at 13 years old. The years following, she got pregnant regularly and even started giving birth by herself at home due to lack of funds to visit a hospital.
Carna and Jesus tried using condoms but gave up after catching their children playing with them. The pair never used any form of contraception again.
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Worryingly, their fifth child, Aiza, seemed to be following in their footsteps, getting pregnant at just 16 years old and giving birth at 17.
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The TV show brought Aiza and the couple to a local health center to attend a seminar on family planning.
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Afterwards, Carna was taken to a private room and given a contraceptive implant. According to the midwife, it will help her avoid pregnancy for the next 3 years.
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She was happy to hear that she could spend the incoming years focused on raising her baby boy. After 17 children, he may just be their last child.
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Meanwhile, watch the full video below.
