Man loses P24,000 savings to termites: "Ubos ang ipon"
- A Pasay City Bayan Patroller was shocked to find his savings ruined just days before Christmas
- Termites destroyed 49 out of 50 ₱500 bills he had carefully saved for a year
- Only one bill remained usable after the discovery inside his locker at work
- The patroller shared hard-earned lessons on safely storing money to prevent similar losses
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A Christmas meant to be celebrated instead turned into heartbreak for Bayan Patroller Cirilio Bitang of Pasay City after he discovered that almost all of his savings had been destroyed by termites.
Source: UGC
The incident, which happened just days before the holidays, left him with only one usable ₱500 bill from the money he had patiently saved over the course of a year.
In a social media post, Bitang summed up his frustration and regret when he wrote, “Magpa-Paskong ubos ang ipon.”
The caption reflected the emotional blow of losing nearly ₱25,000 that he had hoped to use for the season.
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According to the patroller, he last checked his savings during the final week of November and confirmed that the amount had reached ₱25,000. At the time, everything appeared intact. However, when he opened his stash on the morning of December 19, 2025, he was stunned to find most of the bills torn and eaten by termites.
He later shared that out of the 50 ₱500 bills, only one was still in good condition and retained its value.
Bitang explained that the money had been placed inside a wooden tip box and stored in his locker at the golf course where he works. He later realized that termites had already infested parts of the room, a problem he failed to notice in time.
Reflecting on what happened, he said, “Hindi ko rin po napansin na ang dibisyon ng kwarto ay may anay na rin po. Kaya hindi po naagapan.”
Despite the loss, the Bayan Patroller chose to turn his experience into a lesson for others. He urged fellow savers to be more cautious, advising, “Sana ay magsilbi itong aral sa mga katulad [kong] nag-iipon.”
He stressed the importance of regularly checking stored cash and avoiding wooden containers, adding that banks remain the safest option for long-term savings.
Bitang ended his message with a reminder rooted in experience and regret.
"Hindi naman po masamang mag-ipon basta sa tamang lagayan, matibay at di kayang masira ng kahit anong hayop/insect tulad ng anay, ipis at daga."
In other news, the holiday festivities turned tragic for two minors who required finger amputations following severe accidents involving firecrackers. As of December 27, the Department of Health has documented 91 separate incidents of fireworks-related trauma across the country. Data indicates that young males are the primary victims, with the majority of accidents attributed to the use of banned or illegal pyrotechnics. In response to the surge, health authorities are intensifying their public safety campaigns, emphasizing the importance of immediate and correct first aid for blast injuries.
Still in other news, a 56-year-old resident was found dead in the coastal waters of Panglima Sugala, Tawi-Tawi, sparking alarm in the local community. Based on the severe wounds observed on the body, locals strongly suspect the victim was mauled by a saltwater crocodile. Reports indicate the man had ventured out to gather firewood for sale to support himself before the fatal encounter occurred. Local officials have urged residents to exercise extreme vigilance near the water, citing a concerning pattern of recent wildlife attacks in the region.
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Source: KAMI.com.gh
