The residents of the Philippine town of Sibonga witnessed a double Christmas miracle last year all thanks to an incessantly barking dog and a caring motorcyclist.
Junrell Fuentes Revilla, 36, was riding his bike on Christmas Eve morning when a black stray started barking at him. Pulling over to heed the dog’s message, the motorcyclist was led toward a bundle near a garbage dumpsite.
![Motorcyclist Junrell Fuentes Revilla holding the newborn baby boy he saved from a dumpsite. (Courtesy of <a href="https://www.facebook.com/sibonga.wcpd">Sibonga Police Department's Women and Children Protection Desk</a> via <a href="https://www.facebook.com/hopeforstrayscebu/">Hope for Strays</a>)](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fimg.theepochtimes.com%2Fassets%2Fuploads%2F2021%2F01%2F06%2Fdog-and-stranger-helped-save-a-baby-Sibonga-Cebu-2.jpg&w=1200&q=75)
The baby received treatment and is now safe under the care of the Department of Social Welfare and Development. The police launched an investigation, asking the residents of Sibonga, 50 kilometers southeast of Cebu City, to contribute any information that may lead to the identification of the mother, reported Cebu Daily News.
The founder of Hope For Strays, Gea Chei Ybarita, told The Epoch Times that the baby boy was placed in isolation for two weeks owing to the pandemic. After the quarantine period, the boy was discharged from the hospital and placed in the safe care of Sibonga MSWDO social welfare.
Ybarita said the investigation to locate the baby’s family “is still ongoing.”
![Blacky, identified as one of 10 dogs owned by Kuya Lyndon Olingay of Barangay, Magcagong. (Courtesy of <a href="https://www.facebook.com/hopeforstrayscebu/">Hope for Strays</a>)](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fimg.theepochtimes.com%2Fassets%2Fuploads%2F2021%2F01%2F06%2Fdog-and-stranger-helped-save-a-baby-Sibonga-Cebu-5.jpg&w=1200&q=75)
Hope For Strays shared that their organization functions with limited resources with nothing but a bike for their outreach ventures. Nonetheless, the rescue group didn’t hesitate to partner with @pawssionproject to organize a fundraiser for Blacky’s family in hopes to give back to this amazing family “for having raised such an intelligent and friendly dog.”
![Hope for Strays, in collaboration with @pawssionproject, presenting Blacky's family with a reward for the smart dog's heroism. (Courtesy of <a href="https://www.facebook.com/hopeforstrayscebu/">Hope for Strays</a>)](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fimg.theepochtimes.com%2Fassets%2Fuploads%2F2021%2F01%2F06%2Fdog-and-stranger-helped-save-a-baby-Sibonga-Cebu-7.jpg&w=1200&q=75)
“This is a reminder to everyone that dogs ... too can save lives.”