Public Bathrooms in the Philippines
First thing – a bathroom in the Philippines is usually called a CR, or Comfort Room. If you ask for the restroom or bathroom, a lot of people might not know what you are talking about. For our British visitors, the WC or Washing Closet (right?) will be unheard of! Just ask for the CR and you will be in business!
A lot of people have commented, both here on this blog and other places that I’ve seen and heard about the state of public bathrooms in the Philippines. Some I agree with, some I don’t. In general, I feel that public facilities have improved a lot in the past 10 to 15 years. If you go to any place that is even slightly upscale, they will all have toilet paper now, and some even have soap for you to wash your hands! Mid and low scale places will not offer even toilet paper, so watch out for this. For safety sake, if you can find a way to carry some tissue or toilet paper with you when you go out in public, you may find yourself quite happy.
Another trend that I’ve seen lately is that a lot of public bathrooms here are beginning to have vending machines where you can buy toilet paper. At least this is a way to get it when you need it! Better than no paper at all. Another thing to look out for is for a small pail with a long handle near to some water source. This is actually used in lieu of toilet paper, you can use the water to fill the pail and use that to wash yourself strategically. This is the way that most people in the Philippines clean themselves after using the toilet. It is something that is very foreign to western tastes (hmm… maybe “taste” is not a word that I should use here!), but if you can force yourself to try, you will learn how to do this. It’s a good thing to know when no other method is available.
Another sore spot is soap. About half of the bathrooms that you find have no soap at all. Some have liquid soap. I like liquid soap, but the problem is that they usually put a small amount of liquid soap in the dispenser, then fill it up with water, thus watering down the soap to where it is the consistency of just water. I find that this does not work too well.
As I said earlier, public bathrooms are improving, and I expect that they will continue to do so. In the meantime, you will be good to do a combination of bringing your own supplies, and also adapting to the local custom if possible.
I recently visited the Philippines for the first time although I had been reading about it for many months prior to going. Thanks to Bob Nartins websites and a few others I was well aware of the typical CR situation compared to what we are acoustomed to in the USA.
When I travel I have medium sized camera bag for a carry on for air flights that gives me space for a few extra items. This time I packed it with a half used roll of toilet paper from home in a zip lock plastic bag as I had read about Airport CR’s. well in advance before I got there and I also packed a small barof soap in a zip lock plastic bag.
At home, I use Bounty brand paper towels for just about everything including cleaning my eye glasses, drying my hands after washing etc. I usually un-roll and fold a bunch of sheets of the paper towells, fold them and put them in one of the flap covered compartments of my camera case. I also pack a full roll or two in my suitcase.
Hotels without a shower or shower having cold water only were something new to me and in researching hotels at my destination I made sure it had hot and cold water. The well established hotel I stayed at had all of this as well as a toilet seat ( although slightly loose ). Toilet paper was supplied although the roll size was about half the diameter of what you would find in the USA and UK.
Whenever I go anywhere, I always have a few sheets of paper towell in one or more of my pockets and this proved most useful on my visit to the Philippines. Any public CR I used I don’t recall any of them having paper supplies. Most of the public CR’s that i used were in eating establishments. Out of theose that I used I found the best ones at Jollibee fast food establishments and I went to about 6 of them. They were clean, had liquid soap which appeared not to have been watered down and electric hot air hand driers .
Where I live in the USA we don’t have Internet Cafe’s and these were something I wante to experience as well as send a few e mails back to the USA. This is one place I really wanted to wash my hands. Can you imagine how many fingers use those keyboards ? Some of the cafe’s had facilities to wash your hands with soap and water and some had paper to dry your hands but you had to get the paper from the cafe attendant behind the counter. Once again, having paper towels folded and in my back pocket came in handy here as well.
Another hotel I stayed in for one night only, when I first arrived although the toilet in my room appeared to be visually clean, it had no seat. I had friends with me who stayed in the next room, I checked their toilet and they had a seat. I called the front desk and about 10 minutes later a maintenance person brought a new toilet seat and did an ” instant installation ” with a couple of nylon cable ties.
This made me wonder, is the lack of toilet seats due to the fact that people take them home for their own use from public CR’s ? That could explain the lack of toilet seats in many public places.
Fortunately I had come prepared and did not have any desparate situations, thanks to this website and Bob Martins other websites.
I think the British also call it the A let them explain why, as its quite funny.
All these years I thought the public restroom was the wall beside my house, or a tree, fence or anyplace for that matter, I’ve been meaning to install a soap dispenser and paper towels on my wall and just haven’t done it yet.
..I never leave the hotel before my morning flush….and I think I will never shake anyones hand in the RP again…….no wonder the Japs bow !!
Wow, you hit a nerve on this one Bob! Very lively topic…who knew?
Just got back from Cebu several weeks ago and I was pleasantly surprised…at least with the availability of toilet paper and soap. I’ve been reading here a couple of years and it seems the situation has improved on that front a great deal. I will admit that Cebu is more of an international city, so that may be the reason…but most toilets (except one, I can think of) looked very much like public toilets in the US to me (i.e., not too clean, but serviceable). So, it does sound like things are getting better in this very important area…and yes, it is important!
Excellant topic Bob…
I my add that we need to becareful about the water that is bought at the filtering stores and the ice cubes?
I have been to the comfort room many times at my home…and when I travel I have my own supply of tissue…what a wonderful life it is
Hi Bob,
The WC is actually a water closet, and did you know that the first flush toilets were invented by MR Harry Crapper, you can guess where the short cut came from!
A lot of years ago in UK some areas had flush toilets and some areas did not and still had the truck which would come around every week or so and lift a flap at the back of the toilet giving access to the diposits inside which was shoveled out by some council worker! These toilets got the nick name Dry Water Closets!
I bet you really wanted to know that!
Hi Bob
As I mentioned on another site the McDonalds which seem to be everywhere these days have some of the cleanest bathrooms.
Does this topic bring back some funny memories on my first visit. I had encountered western CRs up until we flew in Baguio. We went to the bus depot to catch a bus to Sagada. I needed to use the CR, and walked off in search. What I found was a line. A very long line, and as I got closer I could see peso being offered for tp. I wash shocked at the amount of paper offered. When it my turn, I just kept waving my hand to offer more, and more, and more. The ladies sitting there were speaking their own language, and giggling.
Once I stepped inside I was comletely disgusted, but when in Rome do as the Romans. I took my place with feet on the stool, and squatted. I was internally laughing, and couldn’t wait to share my experience with Melanie. It taught me to carry a roll of tp everywhere I went….vive la Phuilippines.lol……i2f
Hi Bob
Reminds me when we stayed at my sister-in-law house. She had a plastic bucket that you filled with water and threw down the toilet to flush away the ‘debris’. I only managed to get my stuff to float around the toilet and remain where it was. Had to call on the wife to help me flush it away. Gave everybody a laugh, but I never got the hang of that.
One question, how are you supposed to dry your nether regions?
John Rodgers,
Dont worry, youre not alone, my husband has troubles flushing the toilet as well, has to call me everytime he has to go do his thing. As bob said, it takes practice and lots of it! Ha-ha-ha.
I just say, “leave it to the women to take care of business” That got him cracking…..
its definitely an adventure , but to be honest the public bathrooms in most places in america are terrible also i found it to be as clean if not cleaner in sm mall the toilets(minus the seats). i was pleasantly surprised in Cebu at least at the big malls .you really have to bring your own tp though i always bring tp and have a couple baby wipes handy! now cr in peoples homes have a lot to be desired . its nice to say your gonna hold it in until you get home or back to the hotel but lets be realistic between the hot weather and the air conditioning in the mall and your stomach adjusting to the food and sometimes you forget to not put ice in your soda! a public cr is your only option!
When I’m out and about in the Philippines I carry a bag with the following items:
Toilet paper
Toilet seat cover (you can get them in the Camping Dept at Wally World in small portable pack)
Hand Sanitizer
Liquid Soap or Small bar soap
Baby Wipes
Napkins or Paper Towels
Disposable Plastic spoons/forks
One of my biggest pet peeve is using public restrooms. I don’t even like using the gas station bathrooms here in the States when were on road trips. Using the “Honey Buckets” when we’re in an outdoor public events, forget about it!!!
Hi bob,
how about a nature’s toilet? in some provinces, naughty kids climbed up the tree and position themeselves to drop their mini nuclear bomb. what else you can ask for? you have a clean tree branch you don’t need a toilet seat, and the leaves will be your toilet paper and there’s plenty of them!, and the kids are doing this while chomping on the tree fruit, that’s an instant solid food replacement. LOL!
SO where does the term CR originate from as i was thinking it was British and according to some perhaps not?
Could be worse . Heard of a guy that instructed the carpenter ( not the plummer ) to put in a double – bath meaning he wanted two cr’s separated by a wall because there would be two bedrooms , one on each side of the wall . The carpenter put two toilet bowls in one cr apparently thinking one was for the husband and one for the wife .
mental note : bring TP to PI for the CR. I guess I will need to buy Rose a big handbag.
How do they read there magazines while squatting, got to have some quality reading material for those moments..lol.
Salamat,
Danny
I would not say I’m the most traveled person around. But I have been to half a dozen countries and 20 or states in the US. One thing when I travel is assume the worst when it comes to facilities. I brought 6 rolls of Charmin with me on my visit to Gensan. My hosts thought I was kidding when I said I was going to bring it but I was taking no chances. The Dolores “comfort room” I had was sans a toilet seat. But upon request they got me one. By and large facilities in the Philippines remind me of the times I’ve been incarcerated.
Well let’s just say after visiting Mainland China 2x (OMG I am never going back) I find public bathrooms here A ok.
In China they have these holes with flushes – I almost fell in.
Then in the provinces there are these public bathrooms that are like trenches and its just OMG YUCK YUCK YUCK YUCK I could not even use it, the smell omg the smell and the sight – JUST DISGUSTING!
Hi Bob – I thought this article very amusing.We Brits call the CR the Lavatory.The Bathroom is where you take a bath.Most UK houses combine both toilet and bathroom and depending on size have a WC downstairs which comprises a toilet and sink only.
We have a joke in the UK “What hand do you use to wipe your sampot?”
Neither is the answer “we use paper” Marilou has one of those bags that contain everything including the kitchen sink so if I have to go to the CR you can be sure she will produce a toilet roll for my use.
Thats why there are no flies on me hahaha!
Regards.
Jim.
Hi Bob, I’ve only just got back from the PI. And yes, while I was there, I always made sure I carry a roll of “dunny paper” (it’s what we call them here in Oz) where ever we go. Diluted soap is better than none! Several times at SM toilets, no soap! We stopped over in Davao airport by the way, on the way from Singapore. I can’t remember if there were toilets there? I think there might have been? But what annoyed me most was that there was only 2 washing basins, and the women tend to monopolize this when putting make-ups on! I sort of waited awhile, but in the end I just sort of barged in, with an “excuse me” and washed my hands and got out of there as fast as I can!
I think there is no difference. Philippines is like USA 50 years ago. lol.
When I was in London with a friend, public toilet was hard to find. We came up in Victoria train station, toilet use costs 30 pence. About 25 pesos each use. It’s really good service – tissue, dyer, soap. Do you think it’s applicable in the Philippines?
You just made my day. Good advice, Bob!
Seems this is always a topic of importance to people who haven’t visited before.
If visitors eat the same things that 90% of their hosts eat for an extended period of time, they too will no longer need to rely on trees in order to maintain hygiene. 8P
Haha…I went to the bathroom at Olear swimming hole in Gen San and I couldn’t find the lever to flush the toilet, there was none. Had to ask my fiance outside how to flush the toilet and she says fill the bucket with water from the hose and pour it in the toilet. Same thing at Manila airport too, but the bathroom attendant did the pouring of the water into the toilet bowl.
Hi Jim – Those “pour in” situations always catch you off guard the first time!
The British call it a “LOO”, I should proof read better than that!
I hear you, brian!
Hi rc – Well, I am happy that you didn’t run into any “troubles” so to speak! Yeah, a decade or two ago, public bathrooms in the Philippines were really bad. I’ve seen huge improvements!
I guess, that is just one of those “faux pas”
Hi Folks,
A funny column this time Bob, but also, as usual, good information for the first time visitor. First time public CR experience, I was urgently caught out in G Mall, an emergency salmonella type affair you understand, and had to race to the CR only to find a queue. Luckily, the queue, like the red sea, parted, probably at the sight of a panicked white guy ready to break down the door. His need is greater than ours kind of thing. Of course, no toilet paper inside, but the enterprising toilet attendant who might have been running a little loo-paper sideline tapped the door and offered “tissue, sir”. I think I was even more happy to see his hand appear round the door with those tissues than he was to see my hand drop a P50 (the smallest note I had) into his when I was leaving.
The British rarely use the word bathroom for a public convenience because usually there is no bath in there, and it is in fact, only a toilet and not a “bath-room” at all. The use of the word “Loo” is quite common though, and actually originates from France I believe. In days gone by, they used to use chamber pots, which, when the job was done, they would hurl out the window to dispense the contents. At the same time they would shout “Guardez L’eau” (Watch out for the water). http://stormpoo.com/index.php?/about/2/
Vert funny Dindo, I can viualise you carrying you personal tabo around with you.LOL
It was not that far back that some places in the U.S. used corn husks to wipe.
Some of those toilets in the UK can be a real challenge to flush ! You have to move the handle or in the case of the pull chain type with the near ceiling mounted tank, if you don’t pull the chain at the correct velocity it just will not flush. I was a guest in someones home in England for a few days and no matter what I did I just could not flush the upstairs toilet with the ceiling mounted water tank. After a real feast one night, I awoke in the middle of the night and ” used ” the pull chain toilet and I’ll just say that the bowl was kind of full when I finished. That is when I first found out no matter what I did I could not get the thing to flush ! It was about 3 AM and I didn’t want to have to wake up anyone. I stood on top of the toilet seat to try to look in the tank to see if it really had water in it or if this antique looking toilet might have just been a decoration ! It had water in it. What an embarassment the following morning when I told my host I just couldn’t get that thing to flush. After that I used a first floor toilet, a bit more conventional and I could flush it with less trouble. I visited at that house over a period of about 5 years and I never could flush the upstairs toilet. My hosts that lived there of course had no problem with it.
in reply to Chris Dearne’s comment.
Atually I think you are refering to Thomas Crapper (not Harry Crapper). Contrary to widespread misconceptions, he did not invent the toilet, nor is the word crap derived from his name. He did invent the ballcock which turns the water off when the tank is full.
Didn’t know about the Dry Water Closets, sounds like a nice job
Thanks, Chris, for setting me straight on those water closets!
The first running water (flush) toilets were in use before the birth of Jesus in Rome. It has taken us 2,000 years to get back all they had. Far ahead of where we were just a 100 years ago. They had hot water baths too. Plus super concrete which we are just now starting to use.
Cheers,
Gary (in Michigan)
Vacant lot? The outhouse is really outside.
Hello Bob of NY, I cannot imagine a customer of a hotel checking out from the hotel w/ a toilet seat among his loot, let alone a mall rat stealing those toilet seats in mall CRs. How does one carry those? & what’s the street value to warrant such demand for stealing?
I personally have no need for toilet seats. If I need to use the toilet outside of my house, I arm myself w/ lots of TPs to cover the toilet rim itself. Sorry to be graphic about this. My point is maybe, just maybe, it could be that the contractor saves money by not installing the toilet seat
Since I paid full asking price for 2 rooms, one had a toilet seat and the other did not I feel I should have what I am paying for. As to what happened to the toilet seat that had been there previously, I havn’t the slightest idea.
In addition to one room not having a toilet seat, the Air Con barely worked ( and I am familiar with Air Con and Refridgeration systems so it was not a case of user failure ), The telephone did not work and there were several other discrepencies. This facility was not accridited with the Region 10 Board of Tourism ( as confirmed by the Director of the Board of Tourism Region 10 ) so I checked out after one night.
Hi erik – In most of the Philippines you indeed should be careful about the water, and ice. I am fortunate that here in Davao the tap water is excellent and will present no problems.
Hi Dan – That’s just for the guys in West Virginia.
Ha ha….
Hi Bob –
Sounds like an adventure!
Hi Dan – There is a certain gas station that I am aware of that has the cleanest bathroom I’ve ever seen! It’s always a pleasure to stop there when there is a call of nature!
Hi John – Welcome to the Philippines!
When in Baguio….
Hi Barry – When we first moved here, I had trouble getting everything to go down with a bucket of water. I’m a pro now, though!
Hi Gary – Wow, I didn’t know that!
Hi mike – The public facilities have certainly improved over the years!
Hi Miss August – Nobody can say you don’t travel prepared!
God I hate the missing toilet seat thing to, What’s up with that? Lets see let’s take the seat, the paper, and the soap. They also tend to just not have doors either. SM Robinson in Angeles is like that, so if you need to drop the kids off at the pool then your out of luck. God help you if you have LBM lol.
We always brink a small ziploc bag with some TP, if were going out or some wetwipes.
Hi Bilal! Wow! You are still alive! Haven’t heard from you for a long, long time! You’re all finished up in Iraq now?
How was the toilet paper situation in Baghdad?
I’ll have to think about this one, dans!
Been back for about 3 month, Back home in good old Guam at least until next year when it’s back to the sand box.
I would use the portable toilets in Iraq over 95% of the public one in the Philippines, They hosed ours down twice a day in Ramadi. Plus always at least 3 rolls of the good stuff
Hope to get back to the Philippine for New Years.
Hi Bilal – Having a few rolls of the good stuff is always a plus!
Hi alan – I’m not completely certain of the origin of CR as a name for the bathroom.
Hi Danny – ha ha….
Hi tommy – Wow! Philippine toilets are like those in prisons!
Hi Cheryll Ann – ha ha… I understand your reluctance to go back!
Hi Jim – On Facebook, I recently took a quiz, and at the end of the quiz, it said that it would issue you a “Bisaya name” based on your responses. The name it gave me is “Walay Ilo.” If you don’t know what that is… just ask Marilou! OMG!!!
Jim,
I’ve spent a fair amount of time in England. My Mum was from there and I have lots of Aunts, Uncles and Cousins and whatnot. Inevitably I would ask where the bathroom was and they’d laugh. But it did not take me long to just ask for the Loo. What I had trouble with was the weird way toilets flush. You had to do a tricky double flush-like thing. (I loved my Uncles outdoor chain-flush) Well, that and the waxed toilet paper one of my Aunts favored. Sigh. I do miss the Pubs there though. I went on a month long pub crawl and it had to be the best time ever I barely remember.
tommy
Hi tommy – WAXED TOILET PAPER???
Bob
Well, the lack of a seat, stalls etc was what gave me the flashback. To tell he truth….if you care to read it…..ok. My fiancée made all the arrangements. I’m not going to slam the Dolores but truth be told the first room we got was fraught with problems. I could tell my fiancée, Joy, was disappointed and worried how I’d react. I just laughed it off and made her laugh until her sides hurt. In fact, it was finally her patience that was lost and forced the issue of getting another room. I wish I had listened to her sooner. But I mean, I’m just a poor ole’ hillbilly from Tennessee. Used to hardscrabble living when the situation calls for it. But the lack of hot water, and for two days we had no shower water at all, that I found a nuisance. Especially since I was sweating like you’d not believe. It was 18 degrees when I left home and 95 there. Sheeesh, I melted.
The second room she demanded was like heaven after that room. But if I return I’d not hesitate to stay at the Delores. Or attempt to use any facilities, anywhere. Small price to pay for such a life altering trip.
Hi tommy – when you say “the Dolores” are you talking about the Dolores Hotel in GenSan?
Bob,
I kid you not. I did a cursory search online but couldn’t find a specific brand. Just folks talking on Rick Steeve’s travel site about it. Apparently long ago it was very common and still is used in some public places and by traditionalists. But why I could not say. I found no advantage to it. Maybe they thought you’d use less if you waterproof it? Beats me. Heh.
Bob,
Aye, The Dolores in Gensan. The one on Santiago Boulevard.
Hi tommy – I used to live in GenSan, so I know the place. That, in my opinion, is not one of the better places in town.
Bob,
I have no doubt there are better but for us it was the best. Price and location were key. It was just 5-10 minutes to her house etc. And the price was too good to pass it up.
Hey! Christine… I thought you were coming to Davao? I’ve been waiting to see you! I hope you had a good trip, though!
Hi Manong Bob, sorry, I ran out of time! I did get to meet Rusty thought. I’m waiting for him to publish the pics. Hopefully next year we’ll make it.
Oh Christine! I’m heartbroken that you chose Rusty over me! It’s Ok, though.. you just don’t know what you are missing!
Ha ha…. seriously, I hope you enjoyed your trip!
Hi Manong Bob, We’ll go to Davao next year for sure. It looked really nice from the Airport. Have a nice day and keep up with the good topics. LOL! This one is a winner!