The Tabo

had a little Promdi Poll last year asking my readers what they think is the ultimate sign of Promdi-ness. The choices were:

• Using panghilod when taking a bath
• Using tabo when taking a bacth
• Leaving shoes/slippers at the doorstep
• Using hands when eating

The panghilod won the poll as the ultimate sign of promdiness and in my opinion, most true-blue Ilonggos used it too. A friend told me that her tita uses panghilod (lugod in Hiligaynon) even in the States.

Although it did not win in my little poll, I think the tabo has a very special place in Pinoy’s identity. It did not win because it doesn’t represent the promdis alone but Filipinos as a whole. Aside from the balikbayan box, one thing I believe is a tell-tale sign that a Pinoy is in the house is a tabo (dipper) in the bathroom. We use tabo in many different ways. We use it instead of the shower when taking a bath and of course when washing our self after using the toilet.

We Pinoys use tabo in practically everything productive we do at home, we use tabo in the absence of a faucet, we also use it when watering the plants, in cleaning and laundrying, etc. The tabo is unmistakably Pinoy and very important to us that no matter where we are in the world, it goes with us as well.

While searching for some interesting articles on tabo, I came across this funny Multiply site dedicated to this ubiquitous Pinoy “gadget”, The Tabo Travel Troupe. Take a peek at their website and see how much Pinoys attached to tabo and where they are willing to take it with them.

At home or at the place of work, more often than not, there’s a tabo in the toilet.  Here’s our little pink tabo at the office and it’s been quite useful.

I sympathize with our OFW kababayan in Australia who had to contend with using a bottle instead of tabo when cleaning himself after using the toilet. It got him into trouble with his boss who is not tolerant with our culture. Amador Bernabe was given a choice wether to do it the Australian way or be dismissed.

They accused him of being  messy in the toilet but he denied it. After a heated argument with his boss, he chose to leave since he believe it is some sort of discrimination. Pinoys cried foul and because of the media attention, Bernabe was called to come back to his work. I have not updated whether he did return to work. I think as long as he is not messy in the toilet, they should let him be. Strange as it may seem to them, they should just respect other people’s culture.

Well, at least Bernabe can tell all those Australians “My bum is fresher, cleaner than yours”.

I will no longer ask if you have a tabo. If you don’t, then you’re from a different tribe. Here’s another poll for Pinoys. It’s important that you answer truthfully for it will serve as basis for tabo manufacturers to determine the color preference of Pinoys.

Tagged as: Filipino, filipino culture, Pinoy, Tabo