Last Christmas we came across a request for LDS Charities to help finish a Comfort Room (CR). That is the Philippine terminology for bathroom. It was a small cement structure divided in half with room for a toilet on each side. They had started it but only had done about half the work and needed a little over $200 dollars to finish it. LDS Charities would not consider funding it because it was a communal toilet for a squatter’s community. We don’t do projects where there is no clear title to the land or at least written consent from the owner. It was really unhealthy situation, these people were doing their business wherever. I wrote about this group in our blog dated 12/19/10. Anyway Dennis and I decided to forgo Christmas gifts for ourselves, no big sacrifice because we want for nothing, and pay for materials to finish the CR. We didn’t think anything of it; we just took their list and went to the hardware store, bought the supplies, had it delivered to the site, and took the next flight back to Manila. With the exception of one person we tried and have been successful in remaining anonymous. To our surprise our simple gesture has turned into a big deal and a real blessing for Sitio Fatima, Barangay Tugbongan. Members of the local LDS Church along with community members made it a work project and finished the work. The whole community turned out for the dedication ceremony, including the Barangay Captain and council members, even the mayor came. The officials gave speeches, the local Catholic Priest blessed the toilets and refreshments were served.
The first picture shows men examining the two door CR. The second shows the water seal toilet, it is flushed by scooping water from a near by bucket into the bowl. The third is people sharing a celebratory snack.
