Where are the portalets? Pay restrooms a booming business at Luneta

MANILA, Philippines — Restrooms seem to be a good business around Luneta Park on Sunday, as Pope Francis is scheduled to hold his concluding Mass at the Quirino Grandstand in the afternoon.

An office building near the park charges P5.00 to those who want to do bathroom duties.

This is despite the government’s deployment of portalets around the park for the millions of devotees expected to attend the biggest gathering in Pope Francis’ five-day visit in the country.

Emilia Perez, 57, from Caloocan, fell in line as early as 3a.m.and got inside the Luneta quadrant soon after the gates opened at 6 a.m.but had to get out because she claimed not to have seen the portalets.

“I needed to take a leak and I didn’t see the portalets. I would have to fall in line again. But that’s okay,” she said.

But she said she no longer expects to get back in as it was hard to get around because of the crowd.

“I thought they would place portalets every quadrant,” Dora Jaco, 59, of Makati, chimed in.

A nearby hotel was also charging P50 for walk-in guests.

Photo by Frances Mangosing/INQUIRER.net

Emilia Perez left and Dora Jaco right. Photo by Frances Mangosing/INQUIRER.net

RELATED STORIES

Luneta crowd swells ahead of Pope’s Mass

Rain won’t stop culminating papal Mass