PUBLIC TOILETS HOW ADEQUATE?

PUBLIC TOILETS, HOW ADEQUATE?

How much gains have women had in this society? How do we measure the gains? What have been the reactions of women to the movement for equality?

When we started the equality movement again way back in the 80’s during the martial law regime, many raised their eyebrows, women included because they had thought that it was only a copycat of the movements in the west. But by giving it a thirdworld perspective, the conscious women readily joined the bandwagon, including nuns.

The thing that made the movement highly embraceable, it that is an acceptable term, is that it encompassed not only the reading women at that time but also all other ages, from the girls to the elderlies. I remember very well Mamita Pardo de Tavera chairing many of the meetings in a very cool way, she with a Spanish background. I am sure the movement came as an enhancing aspect in the other activities then that included toppling the dictatorship.

Before, the term feminist was a curse word, but later on, it caught on as a legitimate term that should be respected even by men. The word feminist is meant for men as they must believe in equality, too. Today, that term sounds very ordinary. “Feminista yan,” meaning someone who is active and who will defend women at all costs,” which is still quite narrow, I must say. Not all women could be defended in a strong manner, especially those who reach the highest rungs of political power and do not do anything for the women’s and masses’ cause.

I am now venturing into getting a proper assessment of our gains because I find it rather constricting in some sections of our society, especially the way the comfort rooms in public places have been constructed. You see, Folks, as a writer, I go out all the time and have to use these CRs here and there. And here are my findings:

1. Unisex?: Some CR’s are unisex which is hardly sanitary, like those in Starbucks and other restaurants. Because the men’s bowls are situated beside that of the oval one, we can hardly be sure if all the guys shoot their thing in the hole without splashing any drop around. And because there is only one toilet bowl, then it is possible that some men could use that automatically without regard if it, with the wooden seat in place,  is for women’s use alone or not.

Hence, I would like to campaign that women’s toilets should be separate from men’s by a wall.

2. Hooks: Many CR’s do not have a hook for hanging bags. When women travel, we always carry an extra bag of sorts, for buying foodstuffs and the like for use at home. Now we have to devise ways of using the toilet by hanging our bags by the door, or placing them on  top of the cover of the water closet so as to be able to sit properly and do our thing.

3. Mothers and children; I pity the mothers who carry their children in tow and have to help them relieve themselves while having to think and be creative in putting down their things. In one mall, at least, I have seen a folding wooden panel for placing babies who need diaper change.

4. In Manila, especially along Ermita, the toilets are terrible, except for those three or four-star restaurants. Hardly do the owners care for their toilets. Some do not even have a proper lock. Flushing is “buhos” system. And I am wondering what the health and sanitation department of City hall is doing about that.

5. Bugged women’s toilets: At UP Arcade, you will see a toilet for women, with cubicles. Overhead, you will see the lamp connections with wires branching out. I have been told by an ex-intelligence officer that if you see that kind of contraption, you will find that as a signal that the place is bugged. Is it true? I have been wondering because in many toilets at UP they all have these branching wires of the lights in the ceiling.

If what he said is true, I dread the use of “intellectual freedom” at UP.

I think that the UP officials, especially the office working on sexual harassment issues, should investigate the matter and re-wire all those lights in the women’s toilets.

Now, I will try to investigate also other places that have similar set-ups and report them here at this site.

6. Children’s toilets:The first time I went to a children’s school for music run by Prof. Carmencita Arambulo, I noticed that the toilet bowls for the children were all small and only a few inches from the floor. They were geared truly for the size of the students. I think the construction of the those toilets showed really a great concern for the welfare of the children.

Hence, I believe that children should also have their own toilet seats which they can climb on to easily.

7. Number of toilets: I notice that the number of toilets per establishment is rather disproportional to the number of guests they have. For example, one restaurant in Makati I had gone to, had only one toilet for women and men, but the number of guests they could accommodate in the place could run up to 100.

Now how would the guests manage should they find themselves all wanting to go inside them?

      7. Sidewalk toilets: Now, the MMDA put up those sidewalk toilets for men right there in those pedestrian sidewalks where people pass and near streets where jeepneys ply their routes. Where in heaven’s name did they ever get that idea? You could see here that B. Fernando, the czar of that agency then, had a very narrow view of people’s needs.

When people pass those toilets, they cover their noses right away because of the stench.

They jump over the urine that scatters around; or totally avoid going through or being near it at all. Meanwhile the jeepneys cannot avoid them because they right there beside the roads.

You can see here, Folks, that those who designed and put up those toilets did not research on their effects on the people and the environment. In London, public toilets are located underground and there is always someone who checks them every time someone uses them. That is how conscious they are about their usage.

I think that all local government units – especially the health and sanitation sections, the mayor’s office down to the barangay level should put up standards, then visit and check all public establishments that have toilets, and examine them if they meet the standards. It is high time that our society be meticulous in their treatment of the people even where it concerns their private activities in public. Public places should be closed right away when their toilets do not follow or meet the standards until such time that the owners are able to do so.

Health concerns should be comprehensive not only in alerting the public about epidemics but also in poking into the small corners where lurk bacteria and viruses that could bring in diseases. 

A healthy mind in a healthy body and a sanitary place is a policy worthwhile keeping.