There is no reason to enter a comfort room in the Philippines with a
mobile phone just to ask for help if there is no toilet paper. After this
text you will know how to solve this "problem" and you will know how to use
a tabo and how to feel more clean then by using toilet paper
The tabo in the comfort room
A pail with a tabo in a comfort room in the Philippines
How to use the tabo
This is usually pronounced as "tah-bow". We
Filipino often use this instead of using toilet
paper after using a toilet (bath room) in
cleaning our buttocks after a bowel movement.
First you should be aware that here in the
Philippines not all the toilet bowl have an
automatic flush. Instead we are using a pail or
timba with a tabo on it. Upon entering the
toilet, you should make sure that the pail have
enough water. If it's not full... start
refilling it while getting out of your pants and
panty. Yepp... use the hook at the door to hang
them there. This way you can be sure that your
clothes will not be soiled while you are doing
your business.
It might be a little bit scary at the start but
all you have to do is like this: sit or squat in
the toilet bowl then do your business. After
that get the tabo with your right hand and put
some water in, wet your left hand and get a
little soap and then wash your buttocks with
soap and water. After that get some more water
again using the tabo just to continue washing
your buttocks till it's thoroughly clean. Now
it's the time you need a toilet paper or towel
to dry your buttocks.
And after doing this for sometimes you will
realized that this is better than using a toilet
paper alone. This will make you feel much
cleaner and refresh than using toilet paper
alone.
And you should be aware also before planning to
visit the Philippines that not all the toilet or
bathroom here have a shower. And as usual, we
have the pail/timba together with the tabo for
taking a bath.
All you need to do again is put enough water in
the pail before taking a bath and use the tabo
in pouring the water all over your body.
