Becoming a Tita is a lot like falling in love: “slowly, then all at once”

Having inspired by my own shock, I listed down my, my friends’, and the Internet’s “coming-of-age” changes in an attempt to profile the typical ategirl slowly picking up Tita traits since college graduation*. Let’s see how many of these are true for you too.

(*Using ‘grams by my favorite it-girls’ squad for no apparent reason. Also, they’re my Tita pegs.)

Appearance

1. We wear “Tita Garb.”

Scarf, shawl, cardigan. Takot lamigin. Also, no more pkpk shorts of yester-college-years because looking “professional” is now a consideration when shopping for clothes. With our own money.

2. We carry a “Tita Bag”

— an oversized bag which contains almost everything we’ll ever need if a zombie apocalypse breaks out! There’s tissue, alcohol, payong, toothbrush, water bottle, pamaypay, bolpen, charger, candies, sanitary napkin… Kulang na lang ammo (ammunition).

3. We wear moisturizer and sunscreen

because we deeply understand the importance of these two formulas in every aging respectable woman’s beauty regimen. Also, it seems our skin’s getting drier and the sun’s getting harsher?? Extra Tita points if you use essential oil/s (COCONUT OIL!!!) to moisturize your skin.

4. We have gained the command of a “self-possessed” adult.

People now take us seriously when we complain, request, and ask. Wait lang, when did the clerks stop calling us “Miss” and started calling us “Ma’am”?! Also, chances are we have been handed out a brochure to a condo or car or something.

5. We have gained weight that’s HAAARD to shed.

Throwback to the payat days in college and we feel a kind of loathing/longing for our “sexier” bodies and wonder at which point after graduation have we started eating like pigs. Our metabolism has slowed down and we only grow horizontally. Dieting is hard lol.

Overview

6. We can now hold our own at government offices, business establishments, banks

when we have to fix our papers, make reservations, appointments, do business, etc. And yes, we have a number of valid IDs in our wallet to prove we’re adults. Remember when we used to ask our folks to help us with filling out forms? Yikes.

7. We now talk about “grownup” concerns

with our friends. Concerns such as work/life balance, finance, personal development, wellness. Especially sex+protection with a nonchalance similar to when we’re discussing what to wear. At one point, the sheepish giggling and hushed voices of the adolescent years disappeared.

8. We have picked up a “domesticated” hobby

that we totally enjoy! There’s cooking, baking, crocheting, gardening… And, oh! The other amigas are into their own “domesticated” stuff too! Sometimes we exchange “finished products” for goodwill. Also, pwedeng pang-gift.

9. We love getting organized.

And it’s gotten to an insane level of OC-ness that makes other people uncomfortable. What can we do? We can’t stand seeing clutter and dirt at all! We’ve actually gotten into trouble several times for calling out people for their untidy work spaces. Heh.

10. We ache in places we didn’t know exist!

Not referring to heartaches or that ‘other thing.’ But years back, no amount of physical activity caused us soreness. Now, our lower back hurts at the end of the day, our joints ache randomly (RAYUMA???), and we’re more prone to muscle cramps. Help?

11. We’re always in need of a nap.

We’re easily exhausted! And heavy meals weigh us down more quickly than before. Remember our mom and dad taking siesta after lunch? Yes, we’re becoming like them.

12. We don’t know many Internet things now.

We were the trendsetters! Now, we have to google the latest buzzwords and acronyms in Internet speak. OMG WTH BBQ.

Social Skills

13. We’re easily tired from being out, hanging out with friends.

It started as ‘us missing our beds before it’s even midnight’ to ‘us passing on an invite to hang because we’d rather stay in bed’ even on a weekend! We used to YOLO until the morning light. Anyare?

14. We crave for chismis.

We barely see our friends now (for one reason or another) so we have to know absolutely EVERYTHAAANG when we catch up! Usually at a café. Best if at salon or spa for maximum wellness and relaxation. And yes, we have to know the juiciest details and dialogs, complete with reenactment.

15. We refer to everyone younger “bata,” “kids,” “youths.”

We don’t get the youngins’ tastes and trends. Nineties is the best generation ever!! We had our outdoor games, Tagalized cartoons, anime, toys, video games… “Oh, look! A hottie! Oh no, he’s still in school!”

16. We easily get annoyed by NOISE.

Gaggles of teens and loud, obnoxious people? Don’t get us started. We can’t count the times we have rolled our eyes and shushed them in public. Also, the music in the club is louder these days. Can the DJ turn it down?

17. We’re a “mom” to a dog/cat/plant/critter

coz apparently, we’re now “responsible enough” to own and care for another living, breathing creature. Perhaps having something that depends on us for survival gives us “purpose”?? Oops.

Habits

18. We look for soup and vegetables in our meal.

We can no longer subsist on rice and prito-prito alone. How did we do it when we’re younger?

19. We’ve become big fans of ‘organic’ and ‘natural’ everything

because health! Also, suddenly we’ve become sensitive to salty, sugary, fatty, processed foods. The mere thought of eating them already clogs our arteries.

20. We love cozy, semi-fancy restaurants!!

Jollibee and McDo will always have a special place in our hearts, but we have now developed a liking for restaurants with 300-peso meals and semi-fancy ambience. “Top 10 Restos in Places” are basically our bucket lists. Mostly because we can afford them now.

21. We keep the extra ketchup packets, single-serve sugar, creamer, siopao sauce, chopsticks, tissue, etc

for possible future use. Also, we ask the server to wrap our leftovers for takeout because it’s sayang and we paid for it and we can still eat it for n meals! Extra Tita points if you also take home all the freebies from every hotel room you stay in!

22. We drink coffee/tea regularly.

And it’s gotten to a point where we’ve become dependent on caffeine to be “productive” and awake and have a better digestion (and excretion). Have you noticed how we don’t like frappes anymore?

23. We’re thrilled when sale happens in the home and appliances section.

Hooray for 70% off on sheets and pillow cases and towels!! And yes, it would be nice to get a new washing machine and a microwave. Waiting for a friend at the mall? There’s a high chance we’re at Daiso or Japanese Home Centre, window-shopping and planning our future home’s decor.

24. We evaluate our purchases THOROUGHLY.

Price, quality, value, life span, reviews, pros, cons, compare, contrast. Gone are the days when we just dumped our items on the counter and our parents paid for everything. And, oh. Divisoria is Wonderland!

Other Info

25. We’re older than today’s popular love teams / celebrity sensations.

KathNiel, JaDine, AlDub, LizQuen, 1D, 5SOS, The Vamps, etc. Yep, we’re already fangirling over Jolens-Marvin, RicoYan-Claudine, and Wowee-Juday way before these youths came around.

26. We have a say on family matters now.

We have now found the voice to speak our mind and express our opinion on issues and concerns that involve the family. Our parents even consult with us sometimes. They listen.

27. We are pressured to find an S.O.

“May boyfriend ka na?” ―Mom, Dad, Tito, Tita, Lolo, Lola, mga kapitbahay

28. We don’t give a F anymore.

We’ve seen things, we did things, and we’ve lived a quarter of a lifetime on this planet already. We’re past that stage where we concern ourselves so much with other people’s opinions. No F’s given. Lol.

29. We don’t get pamasko anymore.

We’re now the ones who give pamasko to the little ones. From our own wallet. Ugh. Hang on, when was the last time we got aguinaldo from Ninong and Ninang?

30. We’re definitely called “Tita”

by a kid who’s an offspring of someone from our generation — a sibling, a friend, a co-worker. (“O, bless kay Tita.“) (“O, ba-bye kay Tita.“) The number of weddings, christenings, and children’s parties that we attend is steadily increasing. Wait. Is that the smell of pressure to settle down? Oh gawd, make it stop.

Don’t feel old yet? 🙂

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