DECEMBER 29, 2025 — A year’s worth of savings vanished overnight after termites destroyed nearly all the cash hidden by a golf course employee.

Cirilio Bitang, a resident of Pasay, had carefully saved P25,000 from tips he received at work. By late November, he counted 50 crisp P500 bills, all intact. But on the morning of December 19, 2025, he discovered the shocking sight: 49 bills shredded and worthless, with only one surviving.

The money had been stored inside a wooden tip box placed in his locker at the golf course. 

“Hindi ko rin po napansin na ang dibisyon ng kwarto ay may anay na rin po. Kaya hindi po naagapan,” Bitang explained. 

(I didn’t notice that the room’s partition already had termites. That’s why it wasn’t prevented.)

On Facebook, he posted the caption: “Magpa-Paskong ubos ang ipon.” 

(Going to spend Christmas with savings gone.)

Despite his loss, Bitang offered advice to others. 

“Wag makampante sa itinagong pera, huwag po basta itago, i-check din po natin kahit every other day, at mas mabuti pa rin po ilagay ito sa banko. Iwasan po sana ang paggamit ng kahoy na lalagyan kung matagal itatago ang pera which is pinagsisihan ko po.” 

(Do not be complacent with stored money, check it regularly, and better keep it in the bank. Avoid wooden containers for long-term storage, which I regret using.)

Some netizens pointed to the importance of banks, while others questioned whether low-income earners truly have accessible, reliable options for saving. With rising costs of living, every peso matters.

Bitang’s story has become a cautionary tale, reminding the public that saving is not just about discipline — it is also about knowing how to protect (and perhaps also grow) your hard-earned money.

(Image: Cirilio Bitang)