SANITATION, proper hygiene, and good food were on the day’s menu when four men visited a modest merienda spot known for its coffee, smoothies, and baked treats.
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This time, everyone opted for cool refreshments — iced coffee and fruit juices. Hot drinks were off the list. But their mood quickly soured when they discovered that the seemingly pleasant café turned into a disappointment the moment some of them stepped into the toilet.
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“These ensaimadas and cookies are a great choice. But who owns this place that they can’t even bother to notice their toilet needs to be clean and decent?” fumed the incensed businessman.
“We eat here, and when we pee, you feel like vomiting instead of enjoying your food,” he added.
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“Yes, when you build a resto, the owner must realize that the toilet is an important part of the dining experience,” chimed in the oldie-goldie Lolo.
“Often the toilets are so small you can hardly move. Why call it a ‘CR’ or comfort room when there is hardly any comfort at all? The floor tiles and walls are cheap, the floor is yellowish. Resto owners must invest, because toilets can also be an attraction for diners.”
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“We keep hearing about this so-called accreditation by the country’s tourism agency, but it seems the toilet issue isn’t even a strict requirement,” the hotel manager remarked.
“The government doesn’t seem to care, and tourism investors complain about the decline in visitors. Yes, I also observe that many establishments in the pancit-and-siopao category have very poor sanitation and hygiene when it comes to toilets. They’re rarely maintained. Often the toilet bowls don’t flush, sometimes there’s no water for washing hands — very common indeed.”
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“Does our government not realize that dirty toilets also turn off tourists? This leaves travelers with a poor impression of Filipino culture, as though we don’t care about cleanliness or waste disposal,” the resort owner added.
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“On the other hand, we salute those food operators who give value to clean toilets,” the teacher said. “Even the big fast-food chains don’t assign a staff member solely focused on keeping toilets clean, despite earning millions.”
“We believe talagang hindi malinis ang Pinoy. You see Filipinos throwing trash anywhere — even tossing tin cans out of their cars onto the road. Hay naku,” the hotel manager ended the talk, munching his cookies./PN
