Philippine culture as seen through the nation's toilets

-
What by most standards is already a "squeaky clean" society apparently is not enough for a people who set high standards for themselves. The Singapore Government has set a goal to make their 30,000 public rest rooms even cleaner than clean. According to the Restroom Association (Singapore) (RAS), only 500 of these public toilet facilities were "up to its standards".

What are these standards that even antiseptic Singapore's toilet facilities struggle to meet?

The "basics" according to the RAS include "working facilities, lack of litter and odor, and the provision of basic amenities such as hand soap and toilet paper". Hmmm, by Filipino standards that is already a toilet fit for a coño kid (child of a descendant of a Spanish conquistardor). Given a top rating of five stars, in Singapore a "four-star toilet should have a diaper changing station or urinal for children and a five-star should have eco-friendly features such as water-saving taps".

Tough standards by any measure, but then...
"For us, toilet etiquette reflects Singaporeans' culture. It tells people how civilized we are," RAS President Tan Puay Hoon told reporters on Thursday, when the association unveiled its 70-page report on public restrooms as part of a campaign to improve island-wide toilet cleanliness.

I wonder then what that makes Filipinos given the sort of toilets we have grown accustomed to in our land? Indeed, the toilet habits of Filipinos are quite evident everywhere -- in our fouled up esteros (storm canals) and pungent alley walls.



Perhaps even before we take up lofty crusades against "corruption" and "injustice" we need to set our sights on a more visible challenge -- one that is far more telling of our character as a people.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular this week

Roundabouts to "solve" Manila traffic - a microcosm of flawed Filipino thinking

-
Image
Roundabouts (or "rotundas" as they are more commonly known as in the Philippines) are being touted by the cash-strapped Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) as "an alternative measure to ease traffic congestion". According to a "simulation study", the MMDA foresees a "200% increase in the speed" of areas where roundabouts can be successfully implemented. ABS-CBN News reports that MMDA spokesperson Tina Velasco expects the following specific benefits coming from the increased use of roundabouts in Metro Manila's intersections:
Read more

English vs Tagalog - Manuel Buencamino comes out a chump telling James Soriano off

-
Image
As usual, ProPinoy.net resident Mr Important is trying to be cute in his latest blurb where he presumes to tell current hero of the Illustrado class, James Soriano a thing or two. Too bad that thing -- even two of it -- falls short on sense . Nice try, Mr Manuel Buencamino. But do think again . English is just another means of communication . That is true -- among a people who have strong traditions of scientific, technological, and commercial achievement . Thus among successful societies, it does not matter whether you speak English, Japanese, Korean, German, French, Swedish, or Singlish. These languages -- and the people who speak them -- are peers among themselves.
Read more

Where Asia wears a smile

-
Image
Filipinos have always prided themselves in being a "resilient" people. So resilient, in fact, that even the worst disasters and tragedies couldn't wipe our silly smiles off our faces. Smiling is so ingrained in our character as a people that I dare say President Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III couldn't really be blamed for the reflexive smile plastered on his face as he delivered his official statement on the 23rd August hostage crisis that resulted in the deaths of eight Hong Kong tourists. He is Filipino after all. And that is what Filipinos do -- smile .
Read more