The mad rush of toilet paper purchases we have seen in Australia due to a pandemic makes me wonder why. People are fighting over a thin sheet of tissue paper to use to wipe there bums. I guess it is partly because they do not know how to keep their bums hygienically clean.
As a general rule there is no need for toilet paper in the Philippines. They have a tabo and a bucket of clean water. Something you may want to know about now rather than later experience. Nothing worse than being caught in a toilet without toilet paper when the need arises and you don’t know how to clean yourself.
So… what do I do? Lets get to the bottom of this. No pun intended.
Yes We Have No Toilet Paper
When you are in the Philippines you will be introduced to a Tabo. An item of great need and usefulness. Remember the name you may need to call for it. A saving grace at the time of a great need.
The porcelain throne and toilet paper that reign supreme in most of the ‘civilized‘ western world is not a worldwide standard. Oh! you might say.
Toilets
A squat latrine (or squatting latrine) is a toilet used by squatting, rather than sitting.
There are several types of squat toilets, but they all consist essentially of a toilet pan or bowl at floor level. Such a toilet pan is also called a “squatting pan”.
The only exception is a “pedestal” squat toilet, which is of the same height as a sitting toilet.
Squat Toilets
Squat toilets are used all over the world, but are particularly common in many Asian and African countries. In many of those countries, anal cleansing with water is also the cultural norm and easier to perform than with toilets used in a sitting position.
The term “squat” refers only to the expected defecation posture and not any other aspects of toilet technology, such as whether it is water flushed or not.
Asian Toilets
Squat toilets are also referred to as “Asian toilets”, “Indian toilets” or “Turkish toilets” by people in Western Europe because they can be found in those countries. In Japan squat toilets are referred to as “Japanese-style toilets”. Conversely, sitting toilets are often referred to as “western-style toilets”
There are two different attitudes towards squat toilets, largely dependent on what users are used to, or whether the toilet is at a public or private place: Some people regard squat toilets as more hygienic compared to sitting toilets. They might be easier to clean and there is no skin contact with the surface of the toilet seat. For that reason, some people perceive them as more hygienic, particularly for public toilets.
Sitting Toilets
Some people regard sitting toilets as “more modern” than squat toilets. Sitting toilets have a lower risk of soiling clothing or shoes as urine is less likely to splash on bottom parts of trousers or shoes. Furthermore, sitting toilets are more convenient for people with disabilities and the elderly.
Many areas in China have traditional squat toilets instead of sitting toilets, especially in public toilets. Nevertheless, sitting toilets have increasingly become the norm in major urban areas and cities. Sitting toilets are on the one hand associated with development and modernization, and on the other hand with reduced hygiene and possible transmission of diseases.
The Tabo
The tabò (TAH-boh) is the traditional Filipino hygiene tool primarily for cleansing, bathing, and cleaning the floor of the bathroom. The tabo could most commonly be found in the provinces though it is also widely used in the cities.
The tabo is the Filipino’s version of dipper that is also well known in other Southeast Asian countries that use their own version of a dipper. The “modern” tabo was created during the introduction of plastic by the Americans, using modern material to create the dipper instead of traditional coconut and bamboo. Back then, the tabo was called a sartin, from the Spanish sartén.
The early tabò dating back to the pre-colonial period used to be made out of coconut shell and bamboo, and it was not used as a toilet implement.
All-purpose Household Object
The tabò and its equivalent in many traditional homes in Southeast Asia is not so much a toilet item as an all-purpose household object. It is found at the entrance of the house, next to a terracotta water jar, a palayók, so guests can wash their hands and feet before entering the house.
The tabò reflects an obsession with cleanliness, one which seems to have declined over time as the palayók and the tabò disappeared, or, in the case of the tabò, was relegated to the toilet and limited to its present, less sanitary function.
The plastic tabo is kept mainly in the bathroom and is used as a water dipper for various functions. The emphasis is on properly utilizing the tabo or else a mess will be made in the toilet. Its primary purpose is to clean. It is used to clean the toilet floor, to get water to flush the toilet, and most importantly, to get water for personal cleanliness: for washing the anus after using the toilet, for washing hands, for shampooing, or for bathing the whole body.
No Toilet Paper
Filipinos use the tabo in addition to or instead of toilet paper to wash after using the bathroom. Not all toilets in the Philippines have an automatic flush, so instead, a timbâ (generally a plastic pail with a metal handle) and a tabò kept floating inside it is used. Upon entering the toilet, the pail should be checked if it has enough water. Filipinos thoroughly wash their hands after going to the toilet, using water and any available cleansing agent be it soap or a laundry detergent bar.
The traditional tabo was developed in a pre-toilet era. It takes less water than the plastic one, not enough for flushing the toilet. The plastic tabo takes just about the right amount of water, which can have enough force for flushing, but that also requires some degree of artistry in the way one douses the water.
Ever since the first human being descended on the Earth, squatting has been the most natural posture to finish one’s daily “business”. With the advent of civilizations, human habits (discipline), shelter (housing), clothing (cotton & silk), food (farming & cooking) and several factors evolved but the seating posture for defecation remained the same i.e squatting posture.
The Western Alternative
Invention of the Flush Toilet
When the flush toilet was invented during 16th century, it caught some eyeballs but was still limited to royalty who adored it’s seating posture which seemed more “dignified” (since it’s posture resembled sitting on a throne). Over the next few centuries, it gradually witnessed penetration into the masses of western world (Europe & America), and by 19th century, it had become the norm for them. However, eastern world (India, Pakistan, China, Japan, Korea) chose not to switch and stuck on to doing their business in squatting posture.
Over the last few decades, bowel related diseases like hemorrhoids, appendicitis, constipation, irritable bowel syndrome have been on the rise especially in the western world due to several reasons including diet & lifestyle. That triggered a series of experiments and research studies in which scientists & doctors began to notice an interesting pattern. They noticed that the probability of such diseases was higher when one used the western toilet. Further research on this topic revealed that the seating position for western toilet was actually against human anatomy.
The Comfort Room
Here in the Philippines, the bathroom is referred to as the Comfort Room or the CR for short. Using the CR in the Philippines is a very different experience than in other parts of the world. Most toilets do not have a seat and are merely a toilet bowl on the floor.
The average American uses approximately 57 sheets of toilet paper per day, amounting to 3.2 million tons of toilet paper consumed in America annually and 54 million trees cut down each year to support such practice. On the other hand, the average Filipino produces zero paper waste whatsoever. A Filipino accomplishes this magical task with the help of a tabo, a water dipping cup.
It may sound complicated but just imagine that the bucket of water is a shower. Pour some water down your crack and hand wash your ass. Use the bar of soap you packed to clean your hands later on.
CR Process
The idea is to remove your clothing and hang it on a hook behind the door or on the wall. When stripped take your position and do your business.
After you finish using the toilet, you fill the tabo with water and pour it to clean yourself. If you are squatting over a toilet bowl, you might consider putting one hand on the back wall to brace yourself as you pour water down your front or back. For particularly messy dumps, you then use your hand to clean yourself, along with more water.
It may sound messy but in actual fact it is a very clean method of taking care of ones business.
Consider shaking yourself dry a little if need be. There will be a towel to wipe your self dry before dressing. Following the gravity-assisted flush, proceed to wash your hands and hope that there is soap.
How do you say where’s the toilet in Filipino?
“where” is “nasaan”, “the” is “ang”, “toilet” is “cr” (nowadays we use the word “cr” meaning “comfort room” but before in the old time.. filipino says “kubeta”.
“NASAAN ANG CR”
Your CR is also your Wash Room
The CR or comfort room is also multipurpose. It will take care of your toilet needs and it will also be your wash room. A place you can wash yourself clean.
Occasionally if water pressure is adequate you will find a shower hose attached to the tap in the CR. With water pressure, something not always present in the Philippines, you will be able to have a stand up shower.
Unfortunately water pressure is late to arrive and so you will delve into the big bucket of water and the trusty tabo to soak your self down. In the humidity and heat of the day this is actually a very nice thing to do.
Conclusion
What you will find is that the CR, or bathroom is a very clean although wet environment. A place to wash, and do your toiletries safely and cleanly. But until you first give it a go, you will live in anticipation of a new and unique adventure awaiting you.
Don’t be afraid. The tabo will save your life. You will come to appreciate the benefits of a tabo and a drum of water not just for toiletry but also washing, bathing, and cleaning. It is more fun in the Philippines