One mundane evening some two months ago, I was flipping through cable TV channels looking for something interesting to watch while I tried to bring myself to sleep. After scanning several channels, I stopped at the vision of an old man walking through a dry brush gingerly leafing through leaves and branches as if trying to find an old familiar spot. He was carrying a tabo (dipper). It only took me seconds to realize that he was looking for his outdoor “toilet”. I pressed the volume button on the remote control to listen in on the commentary of the news reporter. He went on to say that in this far flung barrio in the southern part of the Philippines, the local population had yet to see the day when a basic toilet would be installed for their community’s use.
I was appalled to hear that millions (I forget the exact number but am sure you could google it if you want proof) of Filipinos still live without access to a toilet. The sharp realization of our sorry state as a nation sunk in. How much would it cost to construct a public toilet anyway? You would think that each barangay would have the money to spend on something as basic as this, which in my opinion is a human right for health and sanitation. Sadly, it seems our leaders are too entrenched in witch hunting (insert: GMA’s arrest) to bother with our people's basic needs that are until now, sorely unmet. But I digress...
As I sat and watched interview after interview of man, woman and child sharing their desperate call for basic sanitation, I was led back to a memory some 15 years ago about a then new yaya who was fresh from the barrio. Her name was Annette, she was 17 years old. We were her first employer. Seeing that she was clearly inexperienced in cleaning and keeping house, my sister took the liberty of showing her how the bathroom was to be cleaned. My sister brought Annette to the water closet, described what kind of cleaning implements were to be used, how they were used and finally pressed the silver lever to flush. Annette jumped at the sight and sound of water flowing down the toilet. My sister was surprised beyond belief as she watched Annette look on in amazement at the mad rush of water and subsequent emptying and filling up of the bowl. It was clear that she had had an a-ha moment. “Ganon pala yon, mam?” It was the first time she had seen a toilet flush.
Fast foward 15 years later... watching this documentary, I think to myself, not much has changed. On TV were Annettes who had yet to see with their own eyes, how a toilet bowl flushes.
Incidentally Nov. 19 was World Toilet Day as declared by the World Health Organization. So how timely is it that I am to blog about this toilet story just 4 days after? Yes, God always has a plan...
Tomorrow is Thanksgiving Day and it is fitting that I take a moment to give thanks for the little things in life that I often take for granted. Thank you God for indoor plumbing! Beats digging a hole in the ground any day!
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