Monday, July 13, 2009

Restroom for Bading

I spent my worthwhile weekend in a secluded beach resort somewhere down south of Leyte. It is at the most tip of the Leyte island and bathed by the blue open ocean so that big waves smash into enticing surf to the black sandy shore. There are also huge rock formations that display artistic boulders I almost indulged a raw rock climb if not for the risk of being hit by the waves.






I stayed at Kuting Reef Beach Resort. The resort is ultimately the best place to sojourn to in Southern Leyte if you need to relax and run away from the hurly-burly of a cosmopolitan life. Private casitas for romantic accomodations and cabanas designed for barkadas or families of almost impeccable choice of interior are nestled amidst the coco grove. A huge “quiet zone” signboard makes the cogon-roofed resting abodes a sacred mecca where no one makes unnecessary noise but the symphony of coconut leaves dancing to whistle of the sea breeze and boisterous waves.





The resort can very well compete with Tambuli in Cebu. And I would not retract that.

I also adore the boardwalk that almost resembles the coffee shops in the streets of Paris, cozy and romantic at dusk.


I was also personally enthralled when I checked the clean and fragrant restrooms in the resto and discovered that between the restrooms for the women and men lies another separate restroom which was marked “Bading”.

I could have not mistaken it for a storage room labelled as such. I knew it was a restroom alright. And it was dramatically situated between the usual restrooms I would find in resorts and hotels. I was struck laughingly. And I thought it was politically appropriate.

Intrigued as I was, I asked the receptionist as to why did the resort came up with the wild idea of building a separate restroom for the pink patrons. She divulged promptly “ Kasi Sir madami kaming mga bading na clients lalo na ung mga galing sa Japan.” I knew she was referring to our transexual Pinoy entertainers in Japan who had undergone sex organ transplant and might need enough room for their very personal restroom rituals of some sort. Apparently, there are plenty of whom in the Bisayan speaking parts of the island province of Leyte.

Collectively, I admire the resort for its beautiful landscape and homey casitas and cabanas and its aspiration to become a paradise for the weary urban warrior who needs tranquillity for the soul and I think it is a promising tourism destination down south. I also commend the courteous and polite servers and room attendants who are always equipped with answers to every question and need of the clients, not to mention their sunny-warm smiles to which Waraynons are known for.

Above all, I personally salute the think-tank behind the “Bading” restroom. For whatever it is worthy of, I believe the Kuting Reef should be very well lauded for its sensitivity to particularly cater to the third-sex and make sense without being discriminating at all.




*visit the website kuting-reef.com for more pictures