Poets tell us that music is food of our souls. I fully agree as it soothes the spirit and connotes peace and tranquility. To appreciate music in such form, one needs a specially built music room or an earphone to experience the true purpose of music.
But somehow music, or more appropriately, NOISE appreciation has been redefined in Malls, public transport systems and other public places (including government buildings) of the Philippines. In most shopping malls, cacophony of songs from different stalls in ear-drum splitting volumes compete with the in-house music of the mall, complimented the sound generated by video games, karaoke stalls and the nerve-wracking bells from several stalls selling ice-cream and sweets. It is a jungle out there and definitely a no man's land for those with low noise tolerance.
What is surprising is that nobody notices, and nobody complains. Are we a nation of deaf people? No wonder, even our complaints are not heard by our leaders in government. They themselves have been afflicted by deafness.
There is certainly a law on noise pollution. The level of noise in these malls, jeepneys and buses and internet cafe's are way above normal tolerable levels and needs to be curbed. Each and every one of us has music preferences and that should be respected. Clearly, the playing of songs in public places are violative of individual rights to a peaceful surrounding. This is not to ban outright music, but to minimize its volume in appreciable levels.
There are few establishments that are quiet (Shangri-la to name one) because no songs are played and stalls do not also provide music. If music are played to entice costumers, it certainly will repulse me. Who will enjoy shopping when you are bothered by a loud music that is not even your choice and you need to shout to top of your voice to speak? Most retaurants, internet cafes too have blarring music. As many business transactions are done in restaurants, a peaceful and quite restaurant is hard to come by. Internet cafes are places where a lot of people work and study but could not concentrate because of too much disturbance both from music played and the rowdiness of people playing interactive games. Could we not classify internet cafes and gaming cafes separetely?
Even the MRT 3, the ads played on the speaker on a very loud volume is repeated over and over ad nauseam from end to end of the line. It plays continuously only to be interupted at every station by the driver for information.
We are a nation of deaf people, literally and figuratively. I call on our people and government to see, in case they could not hear, that noise levels in public places needs to be curbed at healthy decibels.Could the Department of Health of the Philippines do something about this? Could our politicians who are deaf by qualifications, do something?
Have'nt you noticed lately hearing aid stores mushrooming all over the city?
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