Filipino Conjoined Twins in Saudi Arabia for Separation Surgery

Date: May 18, 2025 | By: NewsMakers Web Desk

Filipino conjoined twin sisters, Klea Ann and Maurice Ann Misa, arrived in Riyadh for a medical evaluation under the renowned Saudi Conjoined Twins Program. Their arrival marks a hopeful step toward a life-changing separation surgery.

Upon their arrival at King Khalid International Airport, the twins were immediately transferred to King Abdullah Specialist Children’s Hospital, part of the Ministry of National Guard Health Affairs, according to the Saudi Press Agency (SPA).

The twin sisters, accompanied by their parents, traveled from Manila to Saudi Arabia following royal directives. They are the third pair of conjoined twins from the Philippines to be enrolled in this globally recognized program.

The medical team overseeing their case is led by Dr. Abdullah Al-Rabeeah, a world-renowned pediatric surgeon, adviser at the Royal Court, and director general of KSrelief, Saudi Arabia’s humanitarian aid agency.

The twins’ parents expressed deep gratitude to King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman for their compassionate support and the comprehensive medical care their daughters are receiving.

In an interview with Arab News, the twins’ mother, Maricel Misa, shared her emotional journey. The mother said that the girls were born seven years ago, and since then she has been praying for an opportunity like this. “We saw a post from Saudi Arabia about Filipino twins who had surgery there, and I commented, hoping for help. Someone noticed and contacted us,” she recalled.

Living modestly on Lubang Island in Mindoro Oriental, the Misa family could not afford the expensive surgery. Their prayers were answered when they received a call from the Saudi Embassy in Manila offering medical assistance.

The Saudi Conjoined Twins Program, established in 1990, has successfully separated over 140 conjoined children from around the world. Among them were:

• Ann and Mae Manz (Philippines): Separated in March 2004, joined at the abdomen, pelvis, and perineum.
• Akhizah and Ayeesha Yusoph (Philippines): Separated in September 2024, joined at the lower chest and abdomen with a shared liver.

Dr. Al-Rabeeah emphasized the program’s humanitarian mission, stating it reflects “the Kingdom’s principles of mercy and human solidarity without discrimination.”