Newborn baby girl Chonalyn has just pushed the Philippine population to a milestone number of 100 million.

Born a little past midnight at the Fabella hospital in the capital Manila, baby Chonalyn brings with her hope, opportunities and challenges for the country in years to come. Nonetheless, health and population officials welcomed her into this world with a cake, clothes and an assortment of gifts.

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Juan Antonio Perez III, Executive Director of the Commission on Population, shared, "We are faced with the challenge of providing for all 100 million Filipinos."

The Philippine Statistics Authority said three babies are born every minute in the country, which has one of Asia's fastest growing population, and is the world's 12^th most heavily populated nations.

The United Nations Population Fund shared that although it is easy to look at the 100-million number as a mere statistic, we must look at population as an issue which also concerns human rights and opportunities.

Around 54 percent of the Philippine population is under the age of 25. This adds tremendous pressure on the government to make sure that the younger generation is provided with sufficient education, job opportunities and skills.

The lack of these basic rights often brings about major problems such as young women becoming victims of trafficking due to poverty, and the further bourgeoning of women having more children than they can afford due to lack of information on reproductive health.

According to Health Secretary Enrique Ona, the country's swelling population could pose as "a challenge for the government to provide every child the opportunities to live a quality life."

In 2012, President Benigno Aquino III signed a law that directed government-run health centers to provide free contraceptives but its implementation was delayed due to strong opposition from the influential Catholic Church. 

Despite opposition from the church, the Supreme Court ruled the constitutionality of Aquino's law in April, paving the way for its enforcement.

Tags100 million citizens, Baby Chonalyn, overpopulation, United Nations Population Fund