Briones: Dealing with the noise

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Briones: Dealing with the noise

Ah, it’s that time of year again.

Don’t get me wrong. I’m not referring to the start of the Christmas season in our neck of the woods, which kicked off on the first of September. I’m actually talking about the ban on karaoke and videoke sessions in residential areas from Mondays to Saturdays.

You see, our youths, the hope of our nation, have resumed their studies for this school year, albeit they’re doing it at home because, according to news reports, only the Philippines, along with that basket case of a country that is Venezuela, have yet to reopen their schools.

The Human Rights Watch, in its 2021 world report, said the South American nation “is facing a severe humanitarian emergency, with millions unable to access basic health care and adequate nutrition,” which has contributed to the spread of the coronavirus disease 2019 there.

Thankfully, the situation in our archipelago is not as dire as that despite what some quarters say, although those who are directly affected might beg to differ.

I’m actually referring to Cebu City residents who are victims of noise pollution from entitled people who believe they can sing, which had prompted authorities to impose the ban in the first place.

Yes. There are those who insist, adamantly, that it is their God-given right to hold a microphone and scream at the top of their lungs songs from a bygone era. And I have no idea why many are drawn to the likes of Tom Jones, Engelbert Humperdinck and Eva Eugenio.

Anyway, clips from YouTube have given foreigners the wrong impression that all Filipinos are good singers. Don’t get me wrong. There are many out there who are. But you see, the country has a population of over 100 million and they all can’t carry a tune without any effort.

And that’s why the Cebu City Police Office has been patrolling barangays to remind residents about the ban, which runs from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Come to think of it, who has a karaoke or videoke session before breakfast?

The CCPO is only implementing the City’s anti-noise ordinance because an out-of-tune neighbor is definitely noise. It doesn’t want our youths to be distracted from playing Mobile Legends, I mean, their studies. Because that’s what young people do nowadays. They pore over their printed modules and do their assignments, while others take online classes.

At any rate, I’m glad the police are thinking about the welfare of our youths. It’s not as if they already have their hands full trying to apprehend quarantine violators.

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