No flowery words, just flowery shirts

HIS floral shirts are as bright and colorful as the lights he famously lined the stretch of Roxas Boulevard with, and have long been his trademark fashion. Asked how his penchant for Hawaiian shirts began, Rep. Lito Atienza happily obliged The Sunday Times Magazine.

“When I was a young boy, I was really attracted to this design. I’ve always wanted my clothes to be colorful even if others would tease me they look girly. I just never took them seriously.

“I remember looking at some Hawaiians shirts in Escolta back in the day and they were really expensive—around P12 that time. So I’d go Divisoria and buy printed fabric from P1.50 to P2.00 then ask my neighbor who’s a tailor to make them like those Hawaiian shirts.

“I believe that because we are tropical nation in a tropical climate and we have greens and flowers all around, we should reflect our character. When the Spanish came that’s when they taught us how to wear black and gray and then Americans with a necktie.

“When I led the National Housing Authority, I told the employees to wear floral. I led the Department of Environment and Natural Resources and did the same thing. It’s an ideology and belief that we should reflect our genuine character as people—joyful, happy and colorful.

“To be honest, I’ve lost count how many floral shirts I have, but I have several cabinets of floral shirts. I shop and I get them as gifts.”