Musika at Ingay sa Manito

Guhit ni Jean Marie Antiquiera, isang estudyante sa Community College of Manito (CCM) -- pagpapahiwatig ng isa sa mga problema sa ingay ng mga videosingko at iba pang maiingay na musika sa Manito.  Hindi niya napigilang iguhit ito sa isang pahina ng kanyang pang-akademikong kwaderno.  

          Love for music is healthy. It is good.

          Maganda at mahalaga ang musika.  Ito ay mabuti.  Ang mali ay ang ipagpilitang iparinig sa iba ang ating musika, lalo na at hindi sila interesado o sila ay naaabala na.

          What is wrong is forcing other people to listen to your music -- having a good singing voice does not even justify the indulgence.

          Among the many manifestations of Manito’s problems is the unbridled playing of loud music -- whether it be domestic playing of the videoke or “video singko” or by commercial establishments at night.

          The phenomen seems to be an evidence of the local government’s lack of control over public disturbances and annoyances and private individuals’ lack of respect for other people’s airwaves.

          The government, from the Municipal level, Barangay level and the local law enforcement agencies must work together to curb this problem.  On the other hand, private individuals -- citizens of this community -- must learn to self-regulate by remembering that their right to listen to music is limited only within the immediate confines of their own two ears.

          In case, this is still not understood, then let us see some of the problems loud music poses.


1. Individuals have the right to peace and quiet within their homes.

“Ang bawat isa ay may karapatang magkaroon ng kapayapaan at katahimikan sa kanilang tahanan.”

          They need to be able to relax or watch their own TV programs without being forced to hear the neighbor’s music or that of the local commercial establishment’s.


2. Commercial establishments cannot earn income at the expense of other people’s sleep and peace of mind.

“Walang karapatang kumita ang mga establisimiyento kung ang kapalit nito ay ang paniniil sa karapatan ng iba na magkaroon ng katahimikan at kahinahunan ng pag-iisip.”


3. One reason the current President limited karaoke music in his city was its effect on productivity -- we cannot be effective public servants, teachers, farm or industrial workers the following day when our bodies are deprived of rest and peace of mind.

          “Nilimitahan ng Pangulo ang mga karaoke sa kaniyang siyudad dahil sa epekto nito sa hanapbuhay -- hindi tayo magiging produktibong kawani ng pamahalaan, guro, magsasaka o trabahador kung gigising tayo kinabukasan na kulang sa pahinga at kahinahunan ng pag-iisip.”


4.  Manito is growing as an educational municipality but how can students from the elementary level, high school level and college level even study when loud music is constantly blaring in the airwaves?

“Paano lalago ang Manito kung ang mga mag-aaral mula elementarya, high school at sa kolehiyo ay hindi makapag-aral dahil sa ingay?"


5.  How can mothers who are nursing young children make their children sleep early with all the noise?

"Paano magpapatulog ng maaga ang mga nanay sa mga anak nila?"


6.  Senior Citizens.  The community owes it to our senior citizens to allow enough nights' rest to their frail bodies and protect them from further loss of hearing.

          “Paano natin mapoprotektahan ang kapayapaan at ang mga humihinang pandinig ng ating mga senior citizen?”


          How can this Municipality be conducive for tourism, education, productivity and for the senior citizens when we always have all this raucous?

          Again, we the members of the community must learn to self-regulate, to do that which is right.  At the same time our local government leadership must address the malady.  This is not such a hard problem as combating illegal drugs or poverty so we wait for decisive and concrete actions -- before we turn into a poor community with poor ears and low respect for other citizens.


“Let them who have ears, let them hear (and hopefully, act).”


-- March 6, 2017