The Legend of the First Termite (Original translation of Filipino fiction)

                          The First Termite

Once upon a time, there was a child named Ranay. She was a voracious girl living in the poor town of Sto. Cristo towards the north.

Although their way of living is impoverished, she was still taken good care by her parents, who gave her delightful foods.

Ranay is the only child. Her parents thought that they will never carry a child because her mother has advanced in age but still she came to life and was born.

Ranay was loved by her parents very much. They almost treated her like a royalty princess.

Her parents refused to let her do any housework and she was provided with excellent food. Ranay gets used to relying on her parents because of all the comforts they give.

Ranay grew up and the only task she knows is to eat and eating was also her past time. Her parents are now so emaciated so they could only provide for her needs.

Ranay cravings have advanced that any food she tastes are all savory.

Rice, bread, fruit, meat, sweets and so on. Sometimes, even just the food her parents are supposed to eat were still for Ranay.

Then came an event Ranay did not expected. Both her parents died simultaneously.

Because the only thing she knew was to eat, Ranay did not know how to survive, live on and work on her own.

It didn't take long, she got so skinny and died because of hunger.


A long time has passed after Ranay's death until one day, one of their previous neighbors noticed that their house is getting compromised, it is slowly collapsing to the ground. 

When they check it, they saw an insect eating the wood which the house was built in.

Then, they remembered Ranay. Perhaps they said it was Ranay. They called the insect Ranay and in the long run it was reduced to Anay or "Termite in English".


This story was translated into English from our local Filipino language.   


Image Source: [1] [2]

Tagalog Folklore Reference: [1]


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