Noisy neighbors who love to sing karaoke late at night are a common issue in many communities.
In a recent episode of “CIA with BA,” a concerned resident sought advice from Senator Alan Peter Cayetano in the segment “Tanong ng Pilipino” regarding a neighbor who frequently hosts parties until 3 a.m.
The senator initially responded with humor, acknowledging that this is a widespread problem: “Napakaraming nakakaranas ng ganyan. Ang [mga] Pinoy po, ‘pag nagkakatuwaan, gusto talaga mag-karaoke at hindi sapat na sila lang [ang] nakakarinig, ang gusto nila buong barangay.”
Sharing his personal experience, he mentioned that since moving into his neighborhood in 1991, there has always been at least one karaoke session every weekend. While he and his neighbors tolerate the noise during the day, they politely request a lower volume in the evening.
“Pababayaan muna naming magka-kapitbahay mga 10 in the morning, 1 p.m., 2 p.m., 3p.m… pagdating ng alas-siete ng gabi, pagsasabihan na, ‘Pakihinaan naman ng konti,’” he said.
Beyond the cultural aspect of Filipinos’ love for karaoke, he also explained the legal basis of noise complaints. He cited a Supreme Court ruling emphasizing it is not just about the intensity of the noise but also how it affects people’s well-being.
“Meron pong sinabi ang Supreme Court na hindi po ‘yung lakas o intensity ng tunog kundi ‘yung health ng kapitbahay. For example, kahit na ito’y hindi kalakasan pero nakakairita, or hindi kayo makapag-concentrate or ‘yung mga anak mo hindi makapag-aral — ang tawag diyan ay nuisance o perwisyo,” he shared.
This means that even if the music is not extremely loud, it can still be considered a disturbance if it disrupts someone’s daily life.
To address such issues effectively, Kuya Alan advised that the best first step is always to communicate. He reminded people to be understanding and to avoid getting angry when they are the ones being asked to turn down the noise. If the problem persists, he advised residents to escalate the complaint to the barangay or even report it to the police.
“CIA with BA” airs every Sunday at 11 p.m. on GMA7, with replays on GTV the following Saturday at 10:30 p.m.
