The Curious Case of Pinoy Titos
Aging hits Filipino men in different ways. Some go quietly into dad-mode. Others? They evolve into pinoy titos — meme dealers by morning, unsolicited advisors by night. One moment they’re debating phone specs, the next they’re explaining compound interest over barbecue.
Titohood doesn’t arrive with age. It sneaks in with the cologne, the coffee obsession, and that strange need to always carry a reusable water bottle. And while the species varies wildly, these two examples capture the vibe with uncanny accuracy.
Rico Blanco
He’s the one who appears unannounced and disappears just as quickly. When he talks, people listen—not because he’s loud, but because he only speaks when it matters. He wears jackets and boots even in the heat, prefers vinyl over Spotify, and drinks coffee like it’s a spiritual experience. He might party for three nights straight or disappear for a month—it really depends on the moon. His Instagram? Cryptic. His whereabouts? Unknown. And honestly, he prefers it that way.
He’s the “cool tito without trying,” they say. The one who used to be in a band—or maybe still is. He switches between long hair and a Gen Z fade, makes thrifted clothes look expensive, and never explains his tattoos. He exists somewhere between then and now—a little timeless, a little lost. He’s not confused about his age; he just doesn’t care.
He’s got a rescue cat that treats him like a tenant and a bookshelf full of things you’re not sure he’s read. He believes in energy over schedules and if you ask what he does for a living, the answer will be vague.
Of all the pinoy titos, he’s the mysterious one. You don’t find him—you just stumble into his aura.
James Deakin
He’s the one talking about stocks while everyone else is just trying to eat. He works out daily, packs his own salad, and still finds time to juggle three side hustles. He reads business books before bed, listens to productivity podcasts and Taylor Swift in traffic. He’s always flying off for work—but the captions sound like he’s off to meditate in the Himalayas.
He’s big on personal growth and even bigger on making sure you’re growing too. Ask how he’s been, and you’ll get a five-point plan on building wealth, managing your energy, and finding your purpose. Somehow, it never feels like a lecture—probably because he’s cracking jokes while breaking down your life.
He likes coffee, of course. Chances are, he’s learning to roast his own beans. If he hasn’t launched a coffee brand yet, he’s drafting a pitch deck for one. On weekends, he’s either modding his Seiko watches or planning an adventure to a remote island—just to finally use all the survival gear he impulse-bought.
He builds his day like a launch sequence. His outfits follow suit: collared shirts, well-fitted jeans, and a prized rotation of sneakers from Monday to Friday. He goes for fresh, spicy scents in the day, switching to smoky, woody ones at night—because even his scent is on the agenda.
That’s the entrepreneur tito. Don’t worry, he already sent you a calendar invite for your glow-up.
READ: ‘Petmalu’ No More: Pinoy Slang That’s Past Its Prime
So, do they remind you of someone? Of course. They’re everywhere. Maybe that uncle who suddenly drops wisdom at family dinners—but only after finishing his second beer. Or the one who’s always on his phone but somehow knows every piece of gossip before anyone else.
Some of you younger ladies might even be dating one—because pinoy titos and their energy are hard to resist.