The Philippines is a noisy place, I don’t think anybody can argue against me on that. As I am sitting here at my desk writing this post, over the last five minutes I have heard all of these sounds outside my window:
- A rooster next door has been letting out his “cock-a-doodle-do” about three times per minute
- There is a house being constructed behind mine and they have been working since around 6am with lots of hammering, cement mixer sounds, general noise
- A few minutes a garbage truck was picking up garbage and honking his horn endlessly
- The construction crew is playing their radio quite loud
- Traffic is passing by on the somewhat busy street in front of my house – car engines, horns etc accompany the traffic
So, as you can see, there is plenty of noise to keep my ears full!
The truth, though, is that I am used to it (except the rooster, which is a new addition to the neighborhood). It doesn’t bother me much anymore. When I talk to, or get e-mails from other ex-pats who live here, noise is one of the most heard complaints about living here. And, the number one noise maker that I hear about are roosters crowing. Can you get used to it? What do you think? If you plan to live in the Philippines, you will have to get used to the noise here. There is no escaping it! You will experience noise like this whether you live in the middle of the City, or out in the Province. Adjust, or forget making the move!
As a friend and I often tell each other – we’re not in Kansas anymore!
About MindanaoBob
Hello Bob,
Yeash you’re right about the noise…the rooster in particular. I remember when I was there and lived in the house of my wife for 1 month and starting around 5:30 A.M. we could hear all the rooster of the neighborhood. One day I told my wife that it’s me who will wake them up he he he. But this will never stop me moving there. For me I think the worst sound is the honk of the cars…don’t you agree? Even in the filipino movie you cannot miss the rooster
. Since you are already the 24th there…I wish you and you’re family a wonderful Christmas. For us here for the first time of my life, this will be a Christmas without snow…green all around…a practice for the Philippines I guess 
Hi Patrice – you are right on target! Except, in my area the roosters crow all night long!
Merry Christmas to you and your wife!
I guess I,m lucky Living in the provence, but along a Hwy I get noise till 10:00 pm Then it,s quite. (I,m already used to the chickens)
It is just those Videokies that bother me now.
Hi Mindanao Dogg – I guess there are some advantages to living out in the Province! I am lucky, I don’t live near to any videokes, so that is a good thing for me!
Hi Bob,
I’m a pinoy transplanted here in Chicago. Although I grew up and spent most of my life in Manila, I have lived and vacationed from north to south of the Philippines. I was in my mid 30s when I migrated here in Chicago. Imagine my astonishment when I noticed how eerily quiet it is here. When I go to sleep, after the TV is turned off, silence envelops the apartment. I could actually hearing the incessant buzzing sound which is the proverbial sound of silence. The same was observed by some family members who came after. One actually sweras she feels secured whenever she hears footstpes of her 3rd flr neighbors.
Hi Roy – Ha ha… your story is funny, because it is almost like you are having the exact opposite problem of mine! It makes me smile!