If you are suddenly laughing inside the bookstore, chances are you caught Tita Witty’s “Ayoko na magtrabaho gusto ko na lang yumaman” planner or her memo pads that read “Huwag mong ipagpabukas ang kaya mong i-cram next week” or “Kapag nasa katwiran, i-undertime mo.”
For years, Tita Witty has been humorously publishing hugot lines in planners, memo pads, and stickers that spell out the thought bubbles of ranting office workers, coffee addicts, heartbroken best friends, and the like.
The brainchild of writer Chinggay Nuque and film director Antoinette Jadaone, Tita Witty began as a quiet protest against the ever-popular coffeehouse Christmas planner. And while it may not signal that you spent almost three grand on a planner, the colorful and hilarious Tita Witty version serves its primary purpose.
The disclaimer in the 2009 version immediately set the relatable tone: “Sorry, ang planner na ito ay: Walang stickers. Walang coupons. Walang free ballpen na may engraved logo sa gilid. Walang bookmark na ribbon. Walang authentic leather cover. …….Pero may kalendaryo. Promise.”
The planner was meant to be a fun project, and even the creators were surprised they got this far. “We started in 2009. Tonette had an idea for a planner, hindi kasing mahal ng Starbucks, but offering something unique. She texted three friends, ako lang nag-respond. I handled the business side, kahit wala akong alam,” she joked.
They tapped another schoolmate, Karl Castro, to be the project’s graphic artist. “Karl added to the humor, and to be clear, I was the boring part. Direk (Tonette) and Karl did the content in the beginning. I was working as a brand assistant at that time, and I was able to get a printer without a down payment because we started with no money at all. I had no idea na mababaon kami sa utang pag hindi nabenta yung first product.”
The first planner was sold via the media-sharing platform Multiply. They also joined bazaars and organized meet-ups. “I remember I was so excited nung may nag-order na hindi namin kilala,” she said.
Inspired by the encouraging response, Tita Witty became an annual fun project for the college friends. “We did not have a planner for 2013, because I switched jobs in 2012, and Tonette had her first film. But it did not bother us, parang wala lang, because it was not intended to become a business. But people were looking for it. They were telling us, ‘Ayaw niyo ng pera?’”
In 2015, when Direk Tonette did the movie That Thing Called Tadhana, Chinggay sensed that the filming schedule would delay the planner production. She started dabbling with a few lines that could serve as the starting point. As expected, Tonette was so busy Chinggay had to complete the planner on her own.
“By then, I quit my corporate job, so what will I do, right? I started writing one joke at a time, and then submitted them to Tonette, hanggang sa dumami ng dumami.”
Ten years after she took the helm, and forever guided by the vision and humor of Direk Tonette, Tita Witty continues her magic of bringing cheer to society’s hard workers, described as “the humor-loving Pinoy na gusto lang itawa ang pagod sa buhay,” according to the website.
Using a notebook with a quick-witted line like “Noon gusto kong makaakyat sa corporate ladder. Ngayon gusto ko na lang umuwi,” or a memo pad that says “Competitive ang salary ko, ako ang kinakalaban niya,” somehow directs the mindset to the funny side of life. In need of a gentle snicker? Tita Witty’s FB page is also an excellent source.
Aside from the planners, Tita Witty also has calendars, notepads, sticky notes, stickers, a guestbook, and the nostalgic slumbook. In time, her hugot lines will serve as journal prompts and more. The paper products are available at Fully Booked, online shopping sites, and through their official website.
