Yaya Lita, Who Has Been With BigBoy Cheng’s Family For 20 Years, Helps Curate His Collection

The hardcover book Hypefather: The Bigboy Cheng Collections (P1,699, Lazada). But inside these pages, BigBoy Cheng also pays tribute to a woman who makes the collection possible: his loyal Yaya Lita. She’s been with the family for more than two decades. She started out taking care of BigBoy’s children, but soon, as his collection grew bigger, it also became her job to make sure that every item—which, according to the book, range from P1 million vintage Voltes V toys to P5.8 million Air Jordan 1 pairs—is kept spotless.

The following is an excerpt from Hypefather about Yaya Lita.   

“Ang gastos talaga ng boss mo!” BigBoy’s mother would often say, recalls Yaya Lita, who is an integral asset in maintaining the streetwear enthusiast’s vast collection and a valued helper who has been with the family for over 20 years. She laughs fondly at the memory, but offers a more sympathetic response: “Pero passion niya iyan, diba?”

BigBoy began seriously pursuing his passion over a decade ago—a hobby that has taken both him and Yaya Lita around the world. Together they line up for morning-to-evening shopping sprees in Hong Kong, Singapore, Los Angeles, and Yaya’s favorite city, New York, where she has been four times now. 

Once the purchases arrive home, it’s Yaya Lita’s job to make sure every item is kept clean and properly preserved. “Yung bilin niya lagi, kailangan malinis. Number one rule talaga niya ay wag papatayin ang aircon. Kasi sobrang mahal ng mga sapatos niya,” she shares. With BigBoy as collector and Yaya Lita as curator, the two work together to create a space that's as much closet as it is museum—he, and even his mom, often bring friends over to showcase the massive stockpile.

“Ingat ha, kasi mahal iyan,” BigBoy often tells her candidly. And while she doesn’t exactly share her boss’ hunger for luxury apparel, she does get to enjoy it, noting that BigBoy often gives his collectibles away to those closest to him.

“Sobrang bait niya po. Pagdating sa financial, wala akong masabi. Kasi, sa kanya, kung aangat siya, pati mga kasama niya, kailangan umangat din. Kaya kami, mahal na mahal namin siya. Kung may blessing siya, bine-blessing-an niya rin kami.” Through her time in the household, she’s been able to buy her own house, her own plot of land, and help out her family.

“Pati nga ako, napabili na rin e,” - Yaya Lita on Yeezys

But her boss’ influence is apparently hard to shake off, swaying Yaya Lita to occasionally take part in his hobbies. “Pati nga ako, napabili na rin e,” she says, professing a fondness for Yeezys.

It should come as no surprise that BigBoy doesn’t wear everything he owns—it would be impossible for him to do so. “Hindi na ako nakikialam diyan,” says Yaya Lita, by now used to her boss’ idiosyncrasies. And just like BigBoy, she knows that’s beside the point: “Kahit mahal, may halaga,” she says. 

Or as BigBoy puts it, “There’s value when you keep and collect things.”

Hypefather: The BigBoy Cheng Collections (P1,699) is available at Secret Fresh and Lazada.