Horn Horn OPEN THE GATE
My friends here in the Philippines seem to sleep through everything, how I so wish I would have adapted to that.But not yet!!
One of the things that I have wrote about before is the constant use of the car horn at all times for no apparent reasons even when you are stationary too.
I have seen and heard so many drivers who are approaching their homes sound the horn loudly and aggressively as to ensure someone in the house opens the gate for them. It does not matter that there is a car next to them or pedestrians who all have to react to the sound of the constant horn, in fact the more noise they make I think the more important they feel.
If the gate remains closed for too long the horn becomes more rapid and everyone has to listen to it even if it is the early hours of the morning. I have even seen a man get out of the car and shout and scream for someone to open his gate as he has the keys in HIS hand.The noise of his shouting is just as bad as the noise from the car horn.
Maybe he can drive but does not have the capability of getting out and opening the gate driving in and closing it. Is this laziness or some class system that seems to be accepted by most? To me its disrespect to his family and staff and his neighbours too, but I can make a very good assumption that he probably is unaware and does not care.
Hi John - In every house I have lived in since moving in the Philippines, it is not possible to open the gate from the outside, it can only be opened by somebody on the inside. I think this is a security thing. If it can be opened by somebody outside, it could possibly be opened by people that you wouldn’t want inside your gate.
Evening John
I know what you are talking about with the noise in the Philippines. You have the crowing roosters, honking horns, and loud stereos and filipinos sleep through all of this. I need some background noise like a fan, TV or radio then I can sleep through most noises in the Philippines.
We could start a company adapting automatic garage door openers to gate openers but they would still use the horn after loosing the remote.
John,
I agree about honking. Drivers honk if they are cutting you off, you cutting them off and just to let you know they are there. Plus so many have horns like police sirens, car alarm signals and all other tunes avaliable. I have thought of getthing train airhorns and installing it in my little Kia. That might give a little shock.
About honking to open gate. I live on a main road that is just 2 lanes and no real shoulder to park on. When I am heading home, I text Elena or one of our neices that I am on my way. Then I honk as I pass and then go down the street U-turn and by the time I come back they are ready to open the gate.
Also many homes have a servent, maid, houseboy, what ever. The employee is to do everything and I have noticed the home owner will never lift a finger if they can gat someone else to do it for them.
As Bob always says, “We are not in Kansas anymore”
Bob
Good point. I had not even considered that however I agree with Bruce as a text nation lets tell the family or staff that the car is coming, plus I accept the large gate might be closed but the “normal” gate must have an outside lock. Of course this will mean the use of the feet called walking and then opening the big gate.
Larry
You indicate it can be noisy here, where would you get that opinion. lol
Hi John - Sorry, I disagree on this one. Sometimes it takes hours for a text to go through (not normally, but it does happen). Sometimes maids or houseboys don’t always have a cellphone. For me, I have no problem with the driver giving a beep to get the gate open. Maybe it’s because I drive, and you don’t!
Hey John! - Yeah, it’s pretty natural in the phils. On some provinces, before cars/buses overtake, they have to honk first to let the car in front of them know that they’re going to overtake. & yeah also with the honking to open the gate, you just gotta get used to it. getting loud in the phils. is pretty natural you know….with the fiestas and parties, etc. Also, when I was growing up, I wake up at 5-6 am from the loud noises the chickens make in our backyard. Then throughout the day, my neighbor blasts off some 80s music and then at night, people gather at his place to sing karaoke.
Laura
I have mp3 now in my ears most of the day, it helps!