LET’S take a little break from all the political news stories and burning issues of the day to discuss some light topics that nevertheless carry some relevance to people like you and me.
Specifically I want to talk about personal hygiene which remains a major concern for women travelers like myself who had been blessed enough to now enjoy periodic overseas trips to places I can only dream about in my childhood.
The latest trip I took happens to be a homecoming in Cagayan de Oro City where I’m now vacationing with my husband Ronnie. As with all overseas trips, it took sometime to arrive here in the City of Golden Friendship from my current home in Rockingham, North Carolina in the US.
Along the way I had some observations on the current state of restroom facilities both in the Philippines and abroad. Let me start at the Narita Airport in Tokyo, Japan where Ronnie and I spent some time prior to heading to the Ninoy Aquino International Airport in Manila, Philippines.
We took the flight to Tokyo from Los Angeles and after settling our nerves and things, I wanted to freshen up. So Ronnie and I along with a Filipino-American friend from Rockingham named Cora Munsee—who hails from Bohol province—took turns freshening up at the restrooms.
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Cora and I went to the women’s restroom and we were surprised to meet a Filipina cleaner there who came from General Santos City in Mindanao, Philippines. She showed us where the restrooms were which were housed in very spacious ‘cubicles’ for want of a better description.
Inside one of these cubicles, I saw a dashboard on the side which showed pictures of how to sit on the toilet bowl and how to use the bidet and a dryer.
Without hesitation I did my thing whille thinking just how clean the rest room I was in.
Following the instructions I pushed a button and the water coursing out of the bidet was quite comforting to me after hours of using wipes. Out of curiousity I looked around and got concerned after not seeing any toilet paper or paper towels.
I looked at the dashboard and saw an icon which I pressed and viola, I felt the cool wind emanating from the dryer, hahaha. I must say, the Japanese really thought of everything when it comes to personal hygiene and comfort in building their restrooms.
Even in the US where we live we don’t have both a bidet and dryer. From that one experience using airport restrooms in Tokyo, Japan I learned some valuable things which I hope that American and especially Filipino airport officials and management learn and adapt in their respective facilities for the benefit of their travelers and clients.
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Yes there are feminine wipes and sprays but there’s something different and comforting about using water and soap, particularly feminine hygiene soap in washing one’s privates. That’s something that women experience in their daily hygiene routine and sorry boys, you can’t relate to our struggles in that area,
Anyway, it’s nice to see that the Ninoy Aquino International Airport in Manila already had bidets installed in their restrooms. Since the airport caters to both domestic and international travelers, having bidets is a requirement ideally in every airport in the country. What’s different is the use of tissue paper and paper towels in the restrooms.
I think that by installing both bidets and dryers, the Japanese are serious and committed in reducing the consumption of paper which is sourced from the trees cut down to build our houses and offices. There are signatories from all over the world pledging to reduce consumption of single use plastics and paper.
But going back to restrooms, I wish they would add showers in their restrooms or toilets so the travelers can clean up especially after a long layover. In the Philippines we depend largely on tourism for our national income and in rehabilitating our airports especially NAIA, we should include the improvements in our restrooms.
Remember, women passengers especially overseas travelers are the best ambassadors of goodwill to their countries of origin. God willing the long delayed upgrading of the Laguindingan Airport will include improvements in their restrooms.
