Ang Toilet

I read SassyMoon’s “Toilet Talk” entry with great interest. It wasn’t about our stinking politicians, but if it were, the title would have been just as appropriate. She was ranting about the sad state of toilets (or rest rooms as we call it) in our country. Also how people who live in developed countries take toilet paper, water and soap for granted, when back home, these amenities are luxuries to die for.

Then I was surprised to know that in some malls you have to shell out P10 to use a restroom! I remember, 10 years ago, this was an unheard of thing in Manila. Sure, I did encounter this in Baguio City once, where toilets charge 50 centavos kung ihi, piso kung dumi. Kapag nagbayad ka ng piso, bibigyan ka ng tabo. But in malls in Manila, never seen that before. Paying a fee to use a toilet? Aba, para palang takilya.

I’ll be interested to see a photo of the MMDA pink urinals Sassymoon mentioned. Hindi ko ma-visualize e. To MMDA’s credit at least they’re doing something to put a stop to Pinoy males’ practice of urinating kung saan saan. Natawa nga ako sa comment nung isang reader. “sa kunsumisyon siguro sa kanila ng MMDA chief, ginawa na lang kulay ng mga bakla ang urinal nila.”

Ang layo talaga ng agwat ng third-world at first-world. I remember when I stayed with my Japanese host in Oita, Japan back in ‘82, nalito ako sa pag-gamit ng toilet bowl nila. Hi-tech talaga. Para kang nasa cock-pit ng jet fighter.



First time kong nakakita ng toilet seat na may mga push button, noon. There is a button to raise the cover and the toilet seat. The moment you sit down, you hear flushing sounds. Sound effects lang ito para hindi marinig ang pag-iri mo. And when you’re done with your thing, you push another button for warm water to squirt on your behind. Then there is also a button for liquid soap and another button for a blow dryer para patuyuin ang wetpu mo.

So far sa Japan pa lang talaga nauuso ang mga hi-tech toilet seats na yan. Dito naman sa amin sa NZ, medyo hi-tech na rin. Sa tapat ng bahay namin, ni-renovate yung park at naglagay sila ng public toilet.


Ang galing nung toilet. When you enter the toilet, may maririnig kang "You have 10 minutes to use this toilet" at may background piano music pa. Yung toilet paper, de-push button ang dispenser. Kapag tapos ka na, itatapat mo lang ang kamay mo sa soap dispenser, tapos water, tapos hand dryer. Hindi mo na nga kailangan i-flush ang bowl kasi automatic nag-fla-flush kapag naghugas ka ng kamay. After 10 minutes kapag nasa loob ka pa may maririnig kang "Your time has expired, please leave immediately". Dapat lumabas ka na non, dahil kung hinde baka iba na marining mo "Hoy! Ano ba? Kanina ka pa diyan a. Ako naman!".