What’s Inside Your Tita Survival Kit?

Every time the people I work with feel any sort of pain—migraine, menstrual cramps, toothache—they turn to me, because they know I always have ibuprofen in my bag. 

That’s the beauty of the tita survival kit—you’re ready for anything and you’re not the only one who benefits from it. 

Those fast-acting Advil Liqui-gels—ibuprofen—which I stock up on every time I go to the U.S., are a cornerstone of my tita survival kit—a collection of essentials I need to have with me wherever I go. I look at my (mostly male) friends who can leave the house without a bag and find myself thinking, “Nah, I can never do that.” Maybe in my 20s I could have gone out with just my phone and my wallet. But not anymore. I need my arsenal. 

What else is in my tita survival kit? My power bank. I recently switched to a sleeker one. For years, I carried a really hefty one, so hefty that some friends liked to tease, “Ano ba yan, parang baterya ng kotse!” It was heavy but bringing it was totally worth it—it could charge my phone five times over. I never had to worry about running out of juice. 

Pens are also part of my tita survival kit. You never know when you need to write something down so I always have two or three Zebra Sarasas and Lamy Safaris in my bag. 

Most days, I leave the house bare-faced. But even I know the power of flushed cheeks and rosy lips, so I always carry my little vial of Benetint—lip and cheek tint—in case I need a touch of color. I also always have a tube of hand cream on me. I’ve noticed my skin getting drier as I’ve gotten older so slathering on some cream has become part of my routine. And because I’m obsessed with my nails, I keep a cuticle oil pen (I always buy a ton when I go to Don Quijote in Japan) and a glass nail file in my bag. Another must-have? A pack of tissues. I make sure I never run out.

You’ll also find a Shupatto shopping bag inside my bag—perfect for quick grocery runs or unexpected trips to the mall. I love how compact it is and how it folds in one snap. Very handy. 

Other things I never leave home without are earphones, extra hair ties, pimple patches, band-aids, mints, and my water bottle—a 32 oz Klean Kanteen (because hydration is a priority).

Other “titas” weigh in

Monique, a 40-year-old public relations executive, has her own list of essentials for her tita survival kit: “Lip balm (‘Lips need to stay moisturized all the time’), water and coffee tumblers (‘Zojirushis are the absolute gold standard for keeping beverages hot and cold throughout the day and are sleek and slim enough to fit into my handbag’), large extra tote, lipstick of the day, power bank (‘I wanna make sure I can Waze home’), a small packet of wipes, alcohol, or sometimes hypochlorous acid spray for post-gym or when traveling.”

There’s one thing that’s always in the survival kit of Mirochka, a 44-year-old editor. “As a tita in a tropical country, sunscreen. The UV index goes up to 8 even when cloudy, no way I’m stepping out of the house without it.”

Sunscreen is also part of Marigold’s tita survival kit. The 30-year-old bartender’s other essentials include blush and lipstick, her power bank, water tumbler, a hand sanitizer that’s also a moisturizer (“It smells like piña colada, I love it,” she said), and a pen and tiny notebook.  

Most tita survival kits come together organically—they’re built over years of experience and lessons, like learning during perimenopause that when your period becomes wildly unpredictable, it’s best to keep a sanitary pad on standby at all times.

Put together your own tita survival kit

If you want to assemble your tita survival kit, here’s a starter list. Adjust and curate, based on your own needs.

Beauty staples. Lip balm, lip tint, oil blotter, powder, mascara, your favorite fragrance, hand cream, hair clamp, nail cutter, nail file, tissue, wet wipes.

First aid essentials. Pain relievers, antihistamine, diarrhea medicine, band-aids (bonus points if you include larger bandages for blister relief in case your shoes betray you), alcohol or sanitizer.

Instant refreshers. Portable fan, mints, quick and easy snacks like nuts or crackers.

Tech stash. Power bank, charging cables, earphones or earbuds.

“Just in case” pack. Safety pins, mini sewing kit, sanitary pads, stain remover pen, small scissors, compact umbrella, shopping bag. 

Liniments and inhalers. Oh yes, they’re such a tita obsession that they need their own category. Take your pick—Katinko, Tiger Balm, or the assortment of cult favorites that people like bringing home as pasalubong from Bangkok. I have a friend who swears by the Lavender White Flower Oil. My favorite used to be the peppermint-scented Gudetama-themed analgesic oil that was a collab between White Flower and Sanrio. It was such a good remedy for dizziness  but it’s become hard to find. These days, I use Pili Ani’s Minty Breeze Essential Oil Blend. But for muscle pain, my number one pick is the Efficascent Boost Pain Relief Massage Roll-On. I have multiple ones—in my bags, on my bed, in my suitcases. The roll-on format makes application easy and mess-free. I love using it on my neck, back, legs, even my feet. A true staple in my tita survival kit, that’s for sure. 

My tita survival kit will continue to evolve in the coming years and I will always be happy to bring it with me. It’s like a security blanket. There’s comfort in knowing you’re carrying solutions for whatever life may throw your way.