A woman who risked her life to rescue two pet dogs from a burning building earned widespread praise and went viral online after a harrowing fire in Mandaue City, Cebu province on Wednesday, Dec. 10.
Ei Mei Lee Maningo was hailed for her bravery after ensuring the animals’ safety before making her own escape from the blaze in Barangay Guizo.
A three-story building occupied by H & E Industrial Inc. caught fire past 7 a.m. The blaze began on the first floor, while the second floor served as a stockroom and the third floor housed stay-in workers, including Maningo.
Thick smoke billowed from the building, but Maningo was seen on the balcony calmly taking instructions from firefighters.
Onlookers urged her to hurry down, yet instead of saving herself immediately, she prioritized rescuing two dogs, tossing them one after another to safety.
As the smoke grew denser, she briefly disappeared from view, sparking panic among those on the ground.
Moments later, she reappeared and, with remarkable composure, climbed over the railings and descended through a ladder set up by firefighters.
The harrowing fire was extinguished at 8:22 a.m. with no fatalities or injuries reported, though property damage was estimated at P2 million.
Maningo’s actions were lauded not only for her calmness under pressure but also for her heroic decision to save the dogs.
“She chose love over fear. When the fire broke out, she refused to leave her dogs behind, proving that family isn’t just who we live with, but who we fight for,” the Animal Kingdom Foundation said. (Calvin Cordova)
