The advantages of being a ‘Tita’
It all started when an obnoxious co-worker began calling me “Tita” in work chat groups to most likely point out that I am older than the rest of the team. My first instinct was to vehemently deny it.
This ‘90s grunge-era, Doc Martens and black eyeliner-wearing, Red Horse-swigging, party-all-night girl, which I still feel like inside, could not possibly be a “Tita.”
But as I faced the mirror the next morning, I stared at my face and thought, “Well f*ck it, hello there, Tita.”
No, I didn’t cry or start looking for Vicki Belo’s clinic number to have my eyes Botoxed (but if that’s what fellow Titas want to do, I’m totally for it!). I was suddenly hit by the mad desire to tell every younger person who thought being a Tita meant you were past your prime—no, not at all!
We met at Via Mare (Tita Central), where we had coffee and bibingka (the Ultimate Tita Merienda), and chatted about our partner-Titos (still both in denial).
As I was sitting with my partner Tito (who is in denial of being a Tito) at the weekend market after purchasing flower pots for my thriving garden (yes, also a proud Plantita), I got to thinking that there are some serious advantages to being a Tita.
Here are some of them:
Titas are always prepared.
Have you ever known a Tita who didn’t carry tissue, potty cleaner, hand sanitizer, safety pins, mini sewing kits or breath freshener in their designer handbags?
Yeah, I thought not. Go ask your millennial friends if they have a safety pin in their bags and you’ll most likely come back empty-handed.
Titas have real friends.
So, of course, after the millennial co-worker threw down that “Tita” gauntlet at me, I met up with my BFF to ruminate on our mutual titahood.
We met at Via Mare (Tita Central). where we had coffee and bibingka with salted duck egg and Laguna cheese (the Ultimate Tita Merienda), and chatted about our kids, our respective partner-Titos (still both in denial) and about life in general.
I don’t discount that people younger than us have real friends too, but Titas have friends who have stood the test of time. I’ve been friends with my BFFs for more years than the barista at your favorite overpriced coffee place has been alive.
Titas rock; don’t let anyone tell you otherwise. Now excuse me, my Philodendron needs watering. Yes, I’m a Plantita, too.
Titas don’t need to prove anything to anyone.
While the younger ones are still in the process of showing peers and superiors how knowledgeable or how good they are in their fields, we’re at the stage where we pretty much know what we’re doing.
This comes from the many mistakes we made along the way—and the lessons we can’t easily forget. Every mistake taught us what works and what doesn’t.
Titas have the means.
Most Titas have the funds to get what they want, whether it’s microbladed eyebrows, Thermage treatments or the latest designer fashion item.
This is our reward for the times we’ve had to scrimp, save and budget, work hard, get out of bed when we didn’t feel like it, go to work and put on a game face when we had relationship problems or issues at home.
Now we can reward ourselves. The only budget a Tita may fall short of is, in fact, the budget of time.
Titas know what they want.
Many of my peers, including myself, have decided that we don’t have to do what we’re supposed to do—just what we want to do. I’ve had a few friends who’ve left their regular jobs and gone off to do their thing, be it teaching mindfulness, bamboo wand classes, baking cakes, cooking or becoming a diving instructor.
And so, as I stare down the path of Titahood bravely, my advice to you is this: If you wake up this morning with the sudden realization that you’re now one of us, I wish you the warmest welcome.
Titas rock; don’t let anyone tell you otherwise. Now excuse me, my Philodendron needs watering. Yes, I’m a Plantita, too.