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An interesting, albeit random, YM
conversation with Millie sheds light on some cultural differences we
take for granted regarding our bathrooms.

 | tabo rules! i remember going to my uncle's house in the states and there was no tabo in sight. tons of toilet paper though, but i dont think that would complete my ordeal. fortunately there was a small decorative vase! voila! :-) |
 | Hmmm, I'm thinking the ancient greeks* probably had intimate contact with a tabo. Otherwise, they wouldn't have seen a giant tabo in the sky when they looked up at night.
*o kung sinuman ang nagpangalan sa Big/Little Dipper. |
 | kagey wrote on Mar 21, '06, edited on Mar 21, '06 sige nga... what is the english for tabo? is it, as the greek called their celestial tabo, a dipper? |
 | beats me. dipper seems sorta right, but doesn't quite fit. parang dapat meron pang ibang word. |
 | kagey wrote on Mar 21, '06 hahaha! I just got graphic images,funny.  same here. wam, TMI pare. medyo TMI. ;) |
 | english for tabo: asswater-vessel |
 | hmmmm...pardon my innocence, este, ingnorance pala. it's either i'm really older than you guys or i'm just not too familiar (or both) with the term TMI...what does it mean?...Tabo Mo Ito?...Tabo Mo Ingatan?...Tabong Madumi Itapon? ;-) |
 | kagey wrote on Mar 21, '06 hmmmm...pardon my innocence, este, ingnorance pala. it's either i'm really older than you guys or i'm just not too familiar (or both) with the term TMI...what does it mean?...Tabo Mo Ito?...Tabo Mo Ingatan?...Tabong Madumi Itapon? ;-)  Too Much Information :) Although I like Tabo Mo Ito. |
 | HAHAHAHA! ok salamat po! :-) |
 | kagey wrote on Mar 21, '06 asswater-vessel  A good effort Li but a little to task-specific. Paano na yung mga gumagamit ng tabo para maligo? O magdilig ng halaman? O mag-igib ng tubig galing sa lumulubog na bangka? |
 | ubb622 wrote on Mar 21, '06, edited on Mar 21, '06 ..or it's simply a bucket, no? Let me do some personal research on this... In the visayas it is called a "Kabo", in other regions the "tabo". As far as i recall, i was born and they were around made of plastic. I wonder if they were made of tin before plastic manufacturing came to the islands, and if so, were they called "tabo" or "Kabo" too. I wonder if the early industrious filipino used a chinese "scupidor" for the purpose, similar as to the vase of wam ... |
 | ..or it's simply a bucket, no? Let me do some personal research on this... In the visayas it is called a "Kabo", in other regions the "tabo". As far as i recall, i was born and they were around made of plastic. I wonder if they were made of tin before plastic manufacturing came to the islands, and if so, were they called "tabo" or "Kabo" too. I wonder if the early industrious filipino used a chinese "scupidor" for the purpose, similar as to the vase of wam ...  i remember when i was a small child back in the province, we had two variations. the plastic and the tin. psychologically, i prefered the plastic coz you can feel the chill by just holding the handle of the tin one, hence, the water would be colder...at least that's what i thought. |
 | ubb622 wrote on Mar 21, '06, edited on Mar 21, '06 So there is a tin version. Interesting. Museums should archive one. Never seen one.
Well this is the quick find on the net. No implicit mention of "tabo" as a popper dipper, seems we Filipinos are a bit shy about our bathroom manners. Oooh, the mystery of the "tabo" =)
TABO English Definition: (noun) a dipper; scoop; usually a coconut shell or an empty can Source: http://www.seasite.niu.edu/Tagalog/
KABO kabo: bucket; ladle (from www.bisaya.com)
Being the curious me ,I searched in english and came up with this:
DIPPER dipper n. 1 a long handled container for lifting water or liquids: panalok, kutsaron 2 coconut shell or can with- out a handle: tabo, panabo
Related:
tabo t´abo' n. a dipper, scoop, usually a coconut shell or an empty can · magtabo', tumabo', tab´uin (mag:-um-:-in) v. to scoop water with a coconut shell or an empty can, to use a dipper or a coconut shell or an empty can. Tumabo siya ng tubig sa tapayan. He scooped out water from the earthen jar.
mug mug n. 1 a heavy china or metal drinking cup with a handle: taro, saro 2 a drinking vessel made from coconut shell and used in barrios: tabo, lumbo (Tabo in relation to mug!!! Eeeeck!!!)
scoop scoop n. 1 a ladle: sandok, pansalok, panalok, tabo, panabo 2 act of scooping: pagsalok, pagsandok, pagsagap · v. 1 to take up or out with a scoop or as a scoop does: sumandok, sandukin, sumalok, salukin 2 to hollow out, dig out, make by scooping: maghukay, humukay, hukayin, hukayan, magbutas, butasan, butasin 3 to scoop out, e.g., water from a small boat, to bail: maglimas, lumimas, limasin |
 | this has turned into a thoroughly engaging research topic for history class or somesuch subject. hehehe. grade: 98! |
 | ubb622 wrote on Mar 21, '06, edited on Mar 21, '06 Millie! There is one more useful feature of the "tabo". As civilized as we seem for having toilets, some parts (many actually) of the islands don't have good water delivery and the toilets can't function as they were intended to. The "tabo" in this scenario becomes a water scooper from the "balde" (pail, bucket),that you find permanently installed under the shower faucet, to the toilet bowl. By increasing the the volume of water in the bowl (with the use of the "tabo"), the weight of the water, scientifically moves masses our of site and into the sewers. Voila! |
 | wow..so much information and discussion has turned up thanks to a lil thing called a tabo. hehehe. interesting! |
 | here's another site that ended up having an extensive discussion on this too. natawa lang ako sa question nung isa: "How about using tabo after making "pupu"? Sorry (I'm hiding my face), I can't help asking. A lot of people stil use this for that purpose, huh?" . Thanks kage for posting this topic..hahahaha. |
 | 'Sus!...yeh!...thats HOW i was introduced to the tabo,staying at my families house in the province.There's a 44gallon drum of fresh water in the bathroom which contains both a tin "dipper" and also a plastic one.The tin one is used for "flushing" [because like Wam said,the tin makes the water colder so it's not so fun to bath in freezing water] and the plastic one is used for bathing.Complex system.hahaha!
I freaked out the first time I saw all this water and dippers and no toilet paper.I think I was like 13 yrs old and yelling from the bathroom at my Mum outside "MUUUMMM!!!! WHAT DO I DO?!?!??!"....I realised at that moment that I was so out of touch with "the pinoy half of me". |
 | Hahaa! I'm a paper over-user... I've learned to be an expert plumber. I can unclog almost any model of toilet from around the world. Hahaa! |
 | ewwwwwwww!!! doesnt that get "messy"? |
 | kagey wrote on Mar 21, '06 you ALL have way to much time on your hands. haha. who knew a random conversation held over YM would yield such a dearth of information. i now know more about the tabo than i ever cared to know.
everyone gets a B+! |
 | i think 'Sus deserves an A++ for time and effort he's put into researching.hahahaha! |
 | kagey wrote on Mar 21, '06 i think 'Sus deserves an A++ for time and effort he's put into researching.  sus gets an A+ if he had provided us with visuals to go along with his research materials. hahaha. |
 | Of course not. If properly trained you don't even break a sweat. I'll show demonstrate. When you are here. |
 | Now that I think about it, how do people work WITHOUT a tabo? I can't even imagine bathing my baby as a newborn without it. It's just really essential in the bathroom. I have a total of 3 for my household: One for toilet business, one for the baby's bath, and one for cleaning chores. ;-) |
 | kagey wrote on Mar 24, '06 oooh! i was watching that "world's apart" show on axn last night and they were in india right? and guess what? they had a tabo too! and it was for bathroom use din (bathing and bowel movements). |
 | It seems it's an asian thing and it seems it may also be linked to socio-economic conditions and the lack of water delivery =) |
 | kagey wrote on Mar 24, '06 It seems it's an asian thing and it seems it may also be linked to socio-economic conditions and the lack of water delivery =)  impressive sus! your grade has been bumped up to an A.
meanwhile, i can't believe this conversation is still going strong. hahaha. |
 | ubb622 wrote on Mar 24, '06, edited on Mar 25, '06 i can't believe this conversation is still going strong. hahaha.  ...it's something many can relate to, i guess. Just like putting on pants while standing up. One leg first then the other... some have modified and jumped into their pants just to be a bit different, but it stays the same really. |
 | HAHAHAHA!!! this is hilarious!! you're going strong sus!.. |
 | So, what's the Indian word for 'tabo' then? Lionel will give bonus points to anyone who can figure that out.
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 | ubb622 wrote on Mar 25, '06, edited on Mar 25, '06 So, what's the Indian word for 'tabo' then? Lionel will give bonus points to anyone who can figure that out.  KurcxI, cmcw, foeI... but this is Punjabi. And i have no idea how to pronounce that. I wonder if Sanjay still talks in Hindi... |
 | Wala dipper eh or tabo. But scoop is "chamachA,karachhA " |
 | I guess it is best to take a Travel-lite Tabo if one goes to India, unless you can pronouce the word well. And who knows what scoop might be in India...maybe they'll pass you a ladel. |
 | kagey wrote on Mar 27, '06 Now THAT I'd love to see in The Amazing Race.  Had I tried out for The Amazing Race Asia and gotten in, I would have brought a tabo with me... just for you guys! But no, I didn't join e. Hahaha. Next surf trip na lang. |
 | What to do with a tabo... ...lets make artsy painted tabos and bring it to another level =) |
 | hey! i think that would make a great project, like The Tile Project (http://www.transculturalexchange.org/tileproject/) my girlfriend was involved in. Send out a hundred identical tabos to a hundred artists, get them back and install them. |
 | kagey wrote on Mar 27, '06 wow. i am so game to do this. and to make it more inclusive, i would like to invite the shutterbugs to photograph a tabo is an ingenious manner. :) i'll host the photos on my pbase. |
 | ..flower power tabo, industrial tabo, buffalo man tabo, sea scape tabo, Piccaso tabo, Dali tabo, Super Friends tabo, tabo with holes (hahaa!), it's endless!!! |
 | kagey wrote on Mar 27, '06 I'll ask my girlfriend to dress up as Dream again and pose with a tabo.  Ayus! "The Endless Tabo Series" A friend of mine likes to dress up as Death And I'll see if I can reassemble my Delirium costume and fill up a tabo with fish and butterflies. |
 | Coolness! I'll have to find myself a muse soon. I'm plucking images in my mind, of jugglers or clowns tossing artsy tabos in the air, or Piccaso not knowing how to use one and actually sitting on one...
A One Lone Clone tabo! Haha! YES! YES! You can have acid42 draw that mustache on you! Perfect! |
 | If any of you see a super mini-tabo let me know. I think i want to make a mini-tabo keychain =) |
 | waahahahah this sounds like a prah-jeck! |
 | I'll let you know once i've bought a tabo (you can design it yourself, like your addicolor addidas)... meet you at the parking of saGuijo (no we aren't fishing at Brokeback Mountain). There's this nice piece of what seems to be rejected wood there...in the dark it actually looks like a painting. I can use that as backdrop. Yes, you; didipusrex, shall be the muse....I'll need to find those plastic mustaches too... The Landmark toy section perhaps... |
 | kagey wrote on Mar 27, '06 Project Tabo is well on its way! Woohoo! |
 | HAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!...oh 'sus!...i have a keychain [from a tupperware party] and it's got a mini tabo on it,AND it's bright yellow.I'll try find it and take a photo. |
 | pucha! winner na winner 'tong tabo post mo, kage.
sus, if you're gonna have one made as a keychain, dapat yung tin version! =) |
 | kagey wrote on Mar 29, '06 pucha! winner na winner 'tong tabo post mo, kage.  I accidentally created a monster thread. Hahaha.
Mabuhay ang mga gumagamit ng tabo! |
 | Sorry =( This tabo has a mind of it's own.... |
 | hey i just asked my friend in China to look for a tabo there, take a photo and find out the vernacular word for it. if you have friends in other countries, why not ask them to do the same? heee! |
 | kagey wrote on Mar 30, '06 f you have friends in other countries, why not ask them to do the same?  I already know (from the convo that spawned this thread) that there is no word for tabo in Australia. Right Millie? ;) |
 | ACCCTUALLY...things that look like a tabo are called "scoopers" or "scoops"...but they arent used for the same purposes.So I guess that was useless information.hahahaha! Because it's the function of the tabo that makes it so unique right? |
 | ubb622 wrote on Mar 30, '06, edited on Mar 30, '06 What do they use scoopers for in Australia? I doubt you have to empty a speed boat of water like we do with out banka? (although the high-tech banka now have a water pump to take the water outboard...but! there is always a tabo just in case the water pump fails). |
 | scooper? as in pooper scooper? pareho lang pala, e! |
 | Ok, I will contribute to this thread and to this project. I will take my lowly, green plastic 100% Pinoy tabo with me wherever I travel and take travel pictures with it. Sort of like the Gnome Liberation Front. How's that sound? |
 | kagey wrote on Mar 31, '06 Are we really taking your green plastic 100% Pinoy tabo to the wedding we're shooting?  Please please please take the green plastic 100% Pinoy tabo to the wedding! Is it a boy tabo? It could wear a bow tie so it's not underdressed.
I too shall begin taking a tabo with me whenever I travel. And I too will take photos of it in scenic locations!
Who else is with us on this?
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 | kagey wrote on Mar 31, '06 who knew that a blog about bathroom differences between australia and the philippines would lead to this? |
 | Sure, why not? I'll ask the bride and groom to pose with my tabo. :D |
 | this is like a disease. kumakalat na talaga.
i'll join in. just have to find a portable one, though. do you think they have one that's built for the traveler? |
 | There are mini sized one's. But the large one is fine if you pack it right. You could put socks and breakables in the tabo and stuff it in your suitcase or back pack. You maximize the volume space of the tabo plus you protect delicate gear too. |
 | I suppose it wouldn't be hard to design one that 'collapses' like those free collapsible 'glasses' they used to give out as promos with juices and stuff back in high school. It'll basically be a telescoping structure - when flat, it's like a small pan, but when extended it becomes a small pail. The challenge is how to design a handle that's strong enough, but can also be portable... |
 | kagey wrote on Apr 3, '06 free collapsible 'glasses'  I have two of these! I use them for surf trips.
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 | or, they can be made of waterproof cloth, with a rigid yet flexible wire rim, so you can fold them up. kinda like those travel doggie water dishes you can buy in the 88 peso Japanese stores. Daiso! |
 | you think there's money in producing a collapsible tabo? malaki kaya market n'yan? |
 | kagey wrote on Apr 3, '06 I honestly do not know if Pinoys would buy a collapsible tabo. Why buy one when any available water receptacle can become a tabo? MY San cookie tins, plastic soda bottles, a kaldero, discarded de lata cans... |
 | Guys look! This is what i initially had in mind,(though i've been derailed many times) then we can have the artist pose with their tabo. If it fits their character or if they want to. We can even get space at saGuijo's Theo Gallery (well, if they'll have us and think we aren't crazy) I know Karlo wants to commision a master piece from Lala... |
 | kagey wrote on Apr 5, '06 guess what my officemate found for us? check it out! now na! |
 | grabe talaga kumalat 'to... |
 | huwaw! cross-domain pa! it's busting out of multiply. might as well post the tabo chronicles on my LJ and buzznet. |
 | yeah, it's a doozy just to try and keep up with all the links. sino ba dapat ang link-master ng The Great Tabo Experience? |
 | kagey wrote on Apr 5, '06 i'll volunteer to keep track of the links. kasalanan ko din naman kasi itong tabo invasion. |
 | baka naman better that we open up a blog (e.g., blogspot) na pwede tayo lahat contributors. at least centralized.
hey! being a bit organized never hurts.
syet. lumalabas ang pagka-OC ko. |
 | kagey wrote on Apr 5, '06 baka naman better that we open up a blog (e.g., blogspot) na pwede tayo lahat contributors. at least centralized.
hey! being a bit organized never hurts.
syet. lumalabas ang pagka-OC ko.  ayus! game din ako sa OC idea mo. :) |
 | Somebody should really get travellingtabo.com or taboproject.com (I think the latter is more inclusive), then we can load it up with WordPress or something... |
 | Meawhile, I took the liberty of putting up taboproject.multiply.com... Now if only I can figure out how to post links in that thing... Oh, and as soon as y'all join I'm transferring admin to some of you... hopefully those who have enough time and HTML + CSS skillz to dress up the page. :p |
 | kagey wrote on Apr 5, '06 Meawhile, I took the liberty of putting up taboproject.multiply.com... Now if only I can figure out how to post links in that thing...
Oh, and as soon as y'all join I'm transferring admin to some of you... hopefully those who have enough time and HTML + CSS skillz to dress up the page. :p  Ayus! I have rudimentary html skills. For the blogspot code, you can check mine out and then view source na lang I guess. It's fairly straightforward naman.
(A part of my brain still can not believe how far the tabo thread has come) |
 | Googled tabo last night... kage's blog (this one particularly) was at number 143. May tabo kasi na lugar sa Nepal at dami hits yun. La lang...just curious =) BUT WE'RE THERE! |
 | we're famous! well, almost. if we can get the diasporic filipino community to contribute to the diasporic tabo threads, then, we'd be really famous. |
 | hell! there's that term again! does this mean diasporic = tabo? |
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