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!
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.
Shoot, the noise won’t bother me. I’ve been married a long time, used to it now.
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!
I hear roosters all day combined with endless barking from 3-4 extremely poorly disciplined dogs in my neighborhood, and i live on the 16th floor in a residential building. I have to be honest, i can’t understand how people stand all the noise!
Is there anyone i can file a complaint to? Seriously, the caretaker of some rich guys plot of land next to the condominium building i’m staying in keeps bringing more animals, roosters and dogs, its kinda getting out of hand and no one gives a damn of course! I don’t know what to do, any advice anyone? Im sure everyone in my building and other buildings in the area are being disturbed.
You can file a complaint with your Barangay Captain. But, be very careful in doing so, because you can make your life hell by filing such a complaint, especialy that your neighbor is rich as you say. Mostly likely, nothing will be done about the problem and you will get lots of personal problems.
You’re right that there’s no escaping it. At our place in town, the rooster and dog noise is constant. The traffic does die off at night, but picks up again VERY early in the morning. I’ve simply gotten used to it, except for the dogs of our own household. My wife and I are trying to wife trying to get them to reduce the number, but it’s an uphill fight. Our farm is somewhat isolated. We’re about a 20 minute walk from the barangay proper. Our nearest neighbors are about a 10 minute walk away, uphill, through pasture and crop land. I haven’t heard roosters there yet. Everyone has them, but they are far away. But, once we are settled in, we’ll start our own flock. I actually like hearing the roosters. I grew up in the country, and it’s a pleasant, nostalgic sound to me. We do hear the dogs, but again, it’s far away and muted. We had a dog with us when we stayed there last December. I hope we can find another as good as that one when we move in. He doesn’t bark at every little thing. But, if anyone came within a hundred feet of our place, he sounded off. That’s a good thing to have out in the country. However, it was December. There was no escaping the amplified music and speeches. Each neighboring barangay took turns holding Christmas festivals. PA syastems in the RP have only 2 settings on them; off and max. There was a wedding in a neighboring barangay, in the valley, miles away. I clearly heard a set of old Western swing music. There were some Bob Wills fiddle tunes, and “Deep in the Heart of Texas”. I waited in vain to hear “San Antonio Rose”. It all balanced out though. When it was our turn, we went to the barangay hall and participated in our own fiesta that could be heard up on the mountain. I did have to wear foam ear plugs before I could enjoy it though.
Take care,
Pete
Hi Cordillera Cowboy – Thanks for sharing your story, it’s a fun read. I have grown more used to the noises, and mostly they don’t bother me any more. If the neighborhood dogs get overly rowdy, the barking will wake me up. Thankfully there are no roosters in the neighborhood where we now live. Life is good.
i came to your site since i am so desperate with the noises too. i returned to my old home only to find out that there are so many dogs barking at night and 3 roosters ( for cockfight, living inside a cage near the corner of the street) making their noise in the early morning, all simultaneously every 10 seconds. these dogs have different pitch levels too so its really a noise for me or for anyone. some howl some bark but its monotonous. since our windows are made of glass, i think chances are more that noise will pass through it more than if were made of walls. we live in the city and so many vehicles are passing on during daytime. i have no qualms about vehicle passing since they emit low pitches except tricycles ( whose motorcycle sends those loud start up noise right through). those dogs, mostly stray and some or mostly the neighbors’..well, i noticed that the dogs bark only when tied. i guess not owning one makes me innocent too. once the tie was unleashed, the dog behaves again. so this goes on morning and night with in between breaks. the roosters on the other hand have time frames for their noise. their pitches are high and very constant. since i think more than 2 roosters are inside the cage, they make their noise together. they are like alarm clocks in the morning but sometimes i really dont need them to wake me up. i could not even snooze on them like i can on my cellphone.. lol! all throughout the day, the noise of the roosters and the dogs sorrounds the neighborhood. i just wish that rains would come again so that the noise would be lessened since they have to bring the chickens to a safer and dry place, and it wont be near here. we decided, in then end, to have another window ( double glazed) installed. more spending because of these neighbor’s self-centered way of raising their animals. sacrifice rather than not having a good night sleep every night.