There’s a secret I don’t mind sharing with every one I know (and don’t know). It’s about toilets. My husband and I both like toilets and give importance to them. We pay attention to toilets. No no no no, it’s not what you’re thinking. We don’t make out in the toilet. We’re both conservative so we don’t use the toilet at the same time. We have our own his and hers. We don’t share. My toilet is also sacred. I don’t want to disrespect it, only the ipises do it in my bathroom. It’s my office too. I write checks and count my mortgages inside that sanctuary cum home office.
(Photos of master baths from model homes)
(photos of model home)
Yesterday afternoon, Edmund and I spent an hour and a half on the phone discussing about houses and toilets. He said we are both alike. We both like toilets. kasi nga daw pareho kaming lumaki sa bahay na isa lang ang banyo and shared by many. Naiinis sya kasi pag marumi daw.
Well, husband grew up and lived in houses with only one toilet and bath. It’s for everyone else.
In Iloilo, when he was in high school, they lived in a Spanish house with only one toilet shared by a whole bunch of people.
In Binangonan, the same thing. Our house had only one TB on the ground floor. Aside from us, our maids used it, the house boys, the drivers, the workers. It was a public restroom. Add to that the number of people that swing by every day “Ka Felicing, magandang araw po, pwede po bang maki gamit ng inyong kubeta?” Twice someone fell asleep while sitting comfortably on the bowl. We had to climb the ceiling to wake the person up because kahit anong gawing katok sa pinto, aba ayaw magising, kala namin patay na. Nasarapan siguro.
Beginning when I was in high school, I was becoming suplada. I hated it when I saw our drivers and maids, neighbors, strangers, come out of our toilet. I would clean it every single time, I would scrub it and pour water several times.
There was a plan to extend the house, build an extra room for my sister and I with our own bathroom but it never happened. Nawala na sa isip.
When Edmund and I built our first house, we made way for 3 toilets inside the house, plus extra for the driver and maids. I didn’t want to share anymore my own bath. There’s one in the masters bedroom and one common on the second floor beside my daughter’s room. And one full bath on the ground floor. When my daughter was already nagdadalaga (high school) she wished for her own toilet and bath. Edmund and I didn’t know what to do. For many years, we planned on extending our house which would include a bigger room for her with her own private bath. We got a quote from a contractor and the cost was beyond our means at that time. Hindi na natuloy.
A boy came to our family and syempre our kalat was growing too. Agawan na sa banyo. Edmund was also patiently living with the inconvenience of waiting outside till I finish taking a bath. Since both of us work, mornings were busy times for the two toilets. No one wanted to go down to the shower downstairs. In other words, we outgrew that house.
We built from ground up the house we currently live in.
We made sure there’s a toilet behind us, in front of us and above us. The initial plan was for Edmund and I to have one big bathroom and walk in closet. Shared. But he objected. He didn’t want to be displaced again. He wanted to have his own bath. Fine. We split the space into two. His and hers.
It works fine. It contributes to a peaceful relationship. When I am tampo, I just stay in my toilet.
