A few days ago, as I was out doing errands and on my way, I met a neighbor who stopped me for some small talk. We were talking about New Year's celebration and had confessed to her that my husband and I will be just home watching the dropping of the humongous ball at Times Square to greet 2009 on TV. I added that I missed the noisemaking celebration we do in the Philippines. You see, New Years Day, is by far different from the American way of greeting it. Silence is highly favored here in America even during holidays such as Christmas and New Year's. Otherwise, cops will be knocking at your door ready to nab you.
Filipinos, just like at Christmas Eve, wait for its oncoming with another festive midnight meal and a family celebration called Media Noche. At the strike of 12:00 a.m., people blow horns, bang cooking pot lids, toot horns and jingle coins on their pockets. To top it all, firecrackers and fireworks are lit to add more excitement to it. In short, New Year's Day is another Christmas Day. Though fireworks are banned now, Filipinos are still unperturbed and continue to blow up pyrotechnics.
In America, certain big cities do it with fireworks (But not firecrackers) with the un-exciting dropping of the ginormous disco ball (duh) amidst spectators waiting for it to fall. After it falls and the synchronized howling of "Happy New Year!", couples kiss each other. If you do not have a partner, you have the chance to grab a total stranger and snitch a kiss.
Anyway, as I babbled about our New Year's noisemaking festivities, she said the Philippines is perpetually noisy. She told me she had been there and could not stand the chickens in the neighborhood where she stayed. Apparently, she was jangled by the chickens' and roosters' clucking and crowing at the crack of dawn. To be roused from her sleep by these creatures made it sound like they were extremely infernal animals from hell.
"Do chickens in the Philippines know what time is it?" she asked me. I responded, "Oh actually they do. They know that it's time for people to wake up." Honestly, I think that roosters crow at dawn to protect their turf. It is after the night that they begin searching for places and spots to find food or insects. Insects don't come out at in the cold, early morning temperatures. While waiting, hens and roosters chuckle and crow to warn other fowl that they are in place at their spots and that no one should come near their turf to snatch some insects away from them. Singing (or crowing or chuckling) is actually for territorial purposes and happens several times a day--morning, noon and night. It is in the stillness of the dawn that usually their chuckling and crowing are prominently heard.
The neighbor smirked. Then she niggled, "My stay in the Philippines was not good. I am sleepless all the time. What bothers me most are the creepy atrocious lizards on the ceiling and the walls. I was awake the whole time staring at them wondering and being scared if they fall on me while I was asleep."
"Oh, they are tiny harmless animals. Usually they don't fall unless you agitate them. The truth is we welcome the presence of lizards. They eat the mosquitoes. Most Filipino homes have lizards around and they don't mind their presence."
Her eyes grew round. I thought she became appalled. "We usually recommend Westerners to stay in a hotel whenever they are in our country, unless they really want to experience the way we live."
I remembered I told "lizard stories " to my husband. He squirmed when he heard me telling these. I also had read a blogpost authored by an American woman recalling how she freaked out when she saw lizards in her visit to our tiny country.
Over the years of my stay here, Americans still wonder why chickens and roosters in the Philippines create so much noise. Of course they do have chickens and roosters---they're just present in farms. Or in hick towns. And that is probably why a majority of Americans are often stirred by the sounds of these animals. It's not only in the Philippines that these animals make these noises. They chuckle and crow everywhere oblivious to wherever the location is.
The house lizards are a different tale. The Philippines is a tropical country where reptiles can abound. These beings cannot live on cold temperatures so they find their living around in warmer temperatures such as in the tropics. In fact, lizards can be found in Texas where the temps are warm and tropic-like.
So, the next time you fly to the Philippines, do not fear. Embrace the warm and colorful atmosphere that is entirely different from mainland USA. Just check-in at a hotel where there is usually air-conditioning and distant from places where the chickens and roosters are.
Well then, now there are a few hours left, and sans the merrymaking, I want to greet you all with a "Happy New Year!"
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haha, my niece and nephew freaked out about the butiki back home, too! so funny...
Posted by: GEMMERZZ | December 31, 2008 at 01:49 AM
I have not thought about chickens and lizards in that perspective. A lifetime of living in these islands perhaps had me tuned out this household noises. It's a matter of supreme indifference to me. It's such a delightful surprise then - no offense to you my western bros and sis - that this upends your equilibrium.
Indeed we'll have another noisy new year celebration in the Philippines. New year is not complete without the noise and without losing a finger here and an eye there from firecrackers.
From these islands of pesky roosters and creepy lizards and acrid smell of firecrackers - here's goes, happy new year to you and your family. :)
Posted by: jan | December 31, 2008 at 02:49 AM
Happy New Year dear!
Posted by: marie | December 31, 2008 at 09:54 AM
Another great post My friend . it makes me chuckle. Im American but my new Son -in-law is a "city boy' not akin to the farm life. we had to litterally "talk" him in to having a fresh farm egg cuz he Saw where they came from. Too funny. He would rather run to town n get a "real"one from the grocery story. seems no one is able to think on their own anymore. thanks for the greeting, and you have a peaceful and prosperous New Year SSNUFFY
Posted by: Al SSNUFFY | December 31, 2008 at 09:55 AM
I was in Times Square in New York in 1999 to watch the "disco ball" drop. It was absolutley freezing - but fun. In the UK, we tend to have a massive noisy party, pretty similar to the Philippines, complete with fireworks and usually lots of alcohol.
As for lizards - I've travelled around a lot and encountered lots of them. I've found that the vast majority are scared of us. In Thailand in November we were eating breakfast in our hotel in the open air and a massive lizard, the size of a dog, ambled through as if it owned the place. I ran to my room to get my camera but missed it. In the meantime, Mrs PM said that quite a few people actually left, leaving their breakfast half eaten.
Anyway, I hope you have a great 2009.
Take care
PM
Posted by: Plastic Mancunian | December 31, 2008 at 09:56 AM
funny but true!
hick, hmm...like that word.
HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!
Posted by: stilettoed praline | December 31, 2008 at 09:56 AM
That's so funny... Come to think of it, I haven't seen a single lizard here for the last 9 years! Maybe bec it's too hot here. Lol!
Happy New Year!
Posted by: Ria C | December 31, 2008 at 05:26 PM
Very Interesting post! Happy New Year, my friend!
Posted by: Lori Laws | December 31, 2008 at 06:25 PM
Your post is as usual very descriptive and funny. Yes, Americans are not used to chuckling chicken noises and the presence of tiny lizards in ceilings of a Filipino room. It just shows how widely divergent are the living conditions in the Philippines and the US are. Thanks for your usual vivid post. Happy New Year my friend. God bless you always.
Posted by: Mel Alarilla | December 31, 2008 at 11:41 PM
A friend of mine who had a foreign visitor back then in the Philippines, idk what country he was from, said that lizards can only be found in their zoo. lol
and btw...
I miss the noise too!
Happy New Year
Posted by: paige | January 01, 2009 at 12:46 AM
hahaha very funny...this one is nice bingkee! you sure got a lot of good articles =)
Posted by: mye | January 01, 2009 at 09:25 AM
The very first post that made me laugh in'09. :-) Happy New Year, Bingkee!!!
Posted by: Kate C. | January 01, 2009 at 09:26 AM
Hi binks, I celebrated the new year countdown in the motherland yesterday. It was awesome....sounded like a battle field ....but still awesome. I love the chicken noises.
Posted by: jose | January 01, 2009 at 09:55 AM
Hi Bingkee! Hopping here to wish you a blessed and prosperous 2009 ♥ Filipinos' ways of celebrating are really one of a kind that surely being missed by others who are abroad. I can't wait to visit my family in Tondo for the coming 2009 Sto. Niño Fiesta ;)
Posted by: crissy | January 01, 2009 at 11:47 AM
Hi Bingkee, thank you so much for this post, again I am glued!!! It is very well written, so filled with humor, and yes, so right!! Happy New Year!!
Posted by: betchai | January 01, 2009 at 05:51 PM
HI Binkee,
T.Y for commenting on my post related to the very first topic aning entry nimo. Lagi oi way lami jud intawn ug ting okasyon dri sila ray nalipay oi.. ako ani hinoktok sa suok whoaa kafaitz jud.
Tuod, mao pud nay reklamo sa ako bana ng mga manok lagi oi kay saba kuno. Usa pud baya nas ako namingawan dri sa ilang Merika makabungol sa kahilom jud.
About anang mga gagmayng mangamang sa bongbong, katawa kos ako amigo merkano kay iya jud gi kodakan ang TAPAY TAPAY BA ni stay siya balay sa iya uyab whole night daw siya wa natulog ug gipang tuck in niya ang iyang habol sa gihigdaan kay mamaak nya kuno giatot oi haha.. katawa ko mag huna huna lagi intawn pud... kadaku niyang taw nya ka gamay sa tapay2x mao ray kahadlokan hehe...
P.S DILI KO MAGPA COMMENT UG WAY BLOGGER ACCOUNT KAY DAGHAN MGA PINAY WAY KINABUHI MANG HARASS SA AKO BLOGS MAG CGE PANG COMMENTS UG NASTY. NYA UG AKO E ALLOW BE D KO KA TRACE KINSA SILA. Sensya na guapa!
Posted by: Pinay Endeavor | January 01, 2009 at 10:30 PM
I loved both the chickens and the geckos in the Philippines and when we left, I missed them both.
Posted by: Denise | January 03, 2009 at 01:00 PM
Mae this is so funny since I just came from Cagayan for the New Year festivities. As expected, it was so noisy and so much fun. Anyway Happy New year to you and your husband.
Posted by: Leyn | January 03, 2009 at 08:11 PM
Hi bingkee! It's different now here in Davao for the last few years...Firecrackers and fireworks are banned in the city so it's silent here during the holidays. Also just want to share, my friend told me that chicken err should I say rooster do chuckles every hour from night until the morning... I don't know I also want to make a personal observation wih regrds to that. And yeah lizards, the dinosaur creatures at the ceiling are so cute that I even don't like watching them... hahahahhahah... I like your blog...Keep 'em coming!
Posted by: JD | January 05, 2009 at 09:15 AM
I found it!!!!
The link did not work but I found this in your archives .... Thanks and I will see you on the BIG board of Poultry :-)
SpeedyCat Out
Posted by: Eric "Speedcat Hollydale" | February 03, 2009 at 02:58 AM
If they(americans) don't like the noise of chickens and lizards then don't visit the Philippines...simple as that...LOL.
But if you want to meet beautiful Pinay then learn to love it...hahaha
Posted by: abigail | September 16, 2009 at 05:41 AM