Millennials are fawning over the latest Lualhati Bautista-inspired shirt released by “Linya-Linya,” a local clothing line known for its witty and creative bookmarks, stickers, key chains, pens, and shirt designs. 

Bautista, who is known for her novels “Dekada ’70,” “Bata, Bata… Paano Ka Ginawa?,” and “Gapo,” is the inspiration of the artists behind Linya-Linya’s new design. It can be recalled that in December, the renowned writer had a viral post bearing the line ““Sundin ang tibok ng puso. Sundan ang sariling bahaghari.”

Nandito na ang limited edition shirt ng Linya-Linya at ng isa sa pinakahinahangaang manunulat ng ating henerasyon– si Ma'am Lualhati Bautista. ✨ pic.twitter.com/tX0Zj8oqAQ

— Linya-Linya (@linyalinya) March 5, 2021

According to Linya-Linya Creative Director Ali Sangalang, Lualhati’s line resonated with the brand for its message of hope. “This exact line resonated with us because whatever situation we’re in, we can always do something to create positive change. Imbes magpalunod sa ingay ng nangyayari sa labas, kailangan lang pakinggan ang sinasabi ng loob.” (Instead of drowning under the noise outside, we should always listen to our inner voices.)

For Bautista, the line rooted from her freedom and bravery to make decisions for herself. “Always make decisions freely. “Maging malaya lagi na magpasiya. Hindi ‘yung mga ginawa natin ang dapat nating pagsisihan kundi ‘yung mga bagay na ginusto at pinapangarap natin pero hindi natin ginawa. Dahil marahil natakot tayo, maraming tanong sa isip natin, o nag-isip tayo na baka mabigo lang.”

(We shouldn’t regret the things we’ve done, but rather the things we wanted to do and dreamt of doing but didn’t. Perhaps because we got scared, we had too many doubts, or we thought we’re bound to fail anyway.)

“Tayo higit sa lahat ang dapat manalig sa sarili nating kakayahan. ‘Di ba sinasabi na sa dulo ng bahaghari ay naroon ang pot of gold? Hindi ko ibig sabihing salapi o ano pang materyal na kayamanan. Higit dito ay ang kasiyahan na kumukumpleto sa atin bilang tao na nagpapatibay pa sa pananalig natin sa sarili. Naipagmamalaki natin ang ating sarili,” Bautista said.

(More than anyone, it should be us who believe in ourselves. At the end of the rainbow is a pot of gold. I did not say it was money or other material things. Above all these is happiness that completes us as human beings so we could improve ourselves.)

The limited edition shirt, which is 60% cotton, 40% polyester, 0% plastic, was launched to the public in March 2021, and can be purchased through Linya-Linya’s official website. 

The Linya-Linya x Lualhati Bautista special edition shirt is also available on Shopee and Lazada for just P799.