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PHILIPPINE ARCHITECTURE
PRE-SPANISH COLONIAL PERIOD OR
PRIMITIVE UP TO 1521-TO DATE

INFLUENCES.
GEOGRAPHICAL
The Philippines appears like a broken rosary of islands f loating along the southeastern rim of
Asia, North of Borneo and South of Japan. She is bounded in the East by the mighty Pacific
and in the West by the shallow China Sea. Actt~ally the Philippines has 7,100 islands, and the
total land area is 115,707 square miles !299,681 sq. km ). The Philippines has a strategic position in relation to Asia and to the islands of the oriental to Asia and to the islands of the
oriental world. She lies in the path of anything that may pass to and from-,the far East. This
strategic position makes our cou ntry the trade center of the Orient, citadel of Christianity
and democracy in East Asia, and the melting pot of the world races and cultures. To sum it
all this strategic position is responsible in the contribution of different architectural ideas

which were used in our bu ildings.

There are three main regional island groups, Luzon , the biggest island in the North ,
VISAYAS, ~group of islands on the midrib of the archipelago, and MINDANAO, the second
larger island which is the home to the Filipino Muslims. Luzon and Visayas have tenaciously
hung on to the Christian Heritage of the Spaniards, creating a very noticeable Eurasian Segment, while Mindanao prides itself on being the home of the unconquered Muslims- the
original lndo-Malays who still have strong links physically and emotionally, with the rest of
Muslim Asia.
There are many volcanoes in the Philippines whose eru ptions caused much damage to lives
and property. The most famous are t he Taal volcano in Batangas, which is active and
famou s for its being the smallest volcano in the world, and the Mayon in Albay, Bicol,
famous the world over for its perfect cone . Others are Banahaw in Quezon, Hibok-Hibok in
Camiguin island, and Mt. Apo in Davao.

GEOLOGICAL
The Philippine,s is rich in natural resources that are yet largely undeveloped as compared to
other asian countries. Indigenous materials which was used in the pre-Spanish architecture
such as bamboo, coconut trees, palm, cogon grass, rattan, nipa are still very abundant.
About 44% of the land area is covered with forests. There are many kinds of trees which are
used for building construction. The sturdiest are molave, yacal and guijo which could withstand the weather and dampness used for posts and struct ural parts, as well as for exposed
balconies for framings, tanguile and apitong is perferred. In Baguio City and Benguet, and
Mountain in Provinces there is an abundance of pine trees which are used for panelings. In
the lowlands , the redd ish narra wood is popular as panelings and for furniture.

UTAilES

PACIFIC

OCEAN

SOUTH
CHINA

SEA

SULU SEA

699

In the llocos and Pangasinan towns are found the clay, which is used to manufacture sun
dried and oven baked red bricks. This was introduced by the Spaniards in the 16th century.
limestone, adobe stone, marble, gypsum, granite and many volcanic rocks and prevalent
everywhere in the country. Limestone is found in Baguio, Bulacan, Laguna, La Union and
Bicol. Marble is found in Antipolo, Bulacan and Romblon. Marble quarried from Romblon is
comparable to Italian varieties. Coral stones are much used in the Visayas.
The riverbeds, which abound in the Philippines as a rich source of white and gray riversand
as well as riverstones. The Philippines. although small
in area also yield a rich source of
!
metals such as gold, silver, tin, iron nickel and co~per, and also coal, asbestos, chromite,
manganese and lead.
(

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CLIMATIC

The traditional classification of climate in the Philip~es is based on four climatic types.

'",'"-.,

FIRST TYPE:

.............

Two pronounced seasons:

Dry -from November to April
Wst-during the rest of the year

All the regions on the western part of the islands of Luzon, Mindoro, Negros and
Palawan are of this type.
SECOND TYPE:
No dry season; very pronounced maximum rain period from Novemberto January.
In this class fall Catanduanes, Sorsogon, the eastern part of Albay, the eastern and
northern parts of Camarines Norte and Camarines Sur, a great portion of eastern
Mindanao.

THIRD TYPE:
Seasons are not very pronounced, relatively dry from November to April and wet
during the rest of the year. The maximum rain periods are not ver y pronounced,
with the short dry season lasting only from one to three months. Regions are the
Western parts of Cagayan , lsabela, Nueva Vizcaya, the eastern portion of the
Mountain Province; Southern Quezon , Masbate, Romblon Northeast Panay,
East ern Negros, Central and southern Cebu, part of Northern Mindanao, and most
of eastern Palawan .

FOURTH TYPE:
Rainfall more or less evenly distributed throughout lhe year. The regions affected
by this type are the Batanes province, Northeastern ~zon, the southwestern part
of Camarines Norte, the western part of Camarines ~orte, the western part of
Camarines Sur and Albay, eastern Mindoro, Marinduque:\Western Leyte, Northern
Cebu, Bohol and most of Central, eastern and southern ~anao.
Over 50% of the rainfall in the Philippines is associated with typhoo~ and tropical storms.
Typ.hoons are strongest in the oceans and they weaken as they hit lanq.

700

"""

'

SOCIAL/CULTURAL
The Filipino people ar~ not pure malay. They are a mixture of races. This came about when
foreigners came to these shores either to trade or to conquer the natives. Thus, some
natives intermarried with the Chinese, a few with the J apanese. Some with the Indians from
India, many with the Spaniards and later, with the Americans. The mixture of native or
Malay and foreigner..._ whether Chinese , Spanish or American, is called mestizo . In spite of
this mixture of races 'm. the present filipino people, the majority belongs to the Malay race.
\
The Filipino people hav'e--,many common traits. Perhaps the most important trait of the
Filipino is his hospitality. H~ welcomes visitors, whether Filipino or non-Filipino, with open
arms and a warm heart. He jgives his visitors the best i!1 his house and he would go to the
.e xtent of incurring debts
make his visitors contented, happy, and comfortable.

toj

The Filipino has close far;tlily ties. The family is the unit of society and consists of the
parents, the~randparenJe: and children. The head of the family is the Father, but it is really
the mother who govetr1s. The mother is everything to everybody in the family. She is the
first teacher of the children, the treasurer of the home, the accountant, the censor, the
laundry-woman and the cook. Thus in many Filipino families, the father even calls the wife
"Mama" or "mommy", he dutifully hands over his salary or earnings to the wife, who in
case of the father's illness, works to support the whole family. The problem of the family is
not the problem of the parents alone; they are the problems of all the adult members of the
f amily. Almost all the adult children helps in the education of younger brothers and sisters.
Respect for the elders is one of the best Filipino traits. The Filipino parents exercise a moral
influence over their children. The latter obey their parents willingly and help them in their
work. The younger men, and women do not, as a rule, disturb their elders when the latter
are talking or conversing with other people. Even among strangers, respect in shown by
filipinos by bowing to them or by using some words of respect. The Tagalog " po" is commonly used by almost everybody to show respect even to a younger man or women, if the
latter is a stranger.
The Filipino is sentimental. He feels sad when a family member or a friend leaves his home.
When one leaves, he gives a send away gift or pabaon, and when he arrives he usually
brings a gift or pasalubong. leaving home for another country is always sad and is accompanied by much crying and silent weeping. Almost the whole member of the family is present at the Airport or Bus Station for the send-off.
Several values of the Filipinos are those of life, such as customs, usages, traditions, etc.
which the people regard as necessary and important in their dealings with one another.
One of these values is "pakikisama: or sense of togetherness or comradeship. It consists
of doing somebody a good deed, such as helping a man build a house without asking for
compensation, or helping a man look for a job. " Utang na Loob " or debt of gratitude is
another famous Fili~ino value. A person who receives favor from another, whether this is a
friend or stranger, is~xpected to pay this debt of gratitude for doing the same, or more, to
the man who has do~ him some good deed or who has done him a favor. " Hiya " or
" Kahihiyaan " is anothet, Filipino value . It means sense of shame. to a high degree. Because
of this value, often, a Filipl{lo would do something foolish in order to save face. Thus even a
Filipino peasant although il\.poverty, will contract a debt or borrow money from relatives,
neighbors, or friends in order'to have a feast of baptism of his child. He spends the borrowed
money on food and other thin~ that would make his visitors happy and contented. He does
this in order to save face or "hlya". He does not war:tt his neighbors to think that he could
not afford to spend for his child's baptism.

701

In the different places of the Philippines, people do not have the same customs and traditions. There are still those who live in the caves and mountains. Some of these are the
T'bolis, and the Manyans. Other filipinos which we call the natives are those from the Mountain Provinces, and others are the llocanos from the North of Luzon, Pangasinan and Kapampangans of Pampanga from the Central Luzon and Tagalogs of Metro Manila and
Southern Manila, and the Bicolanos of Southern Luzon. There are the Visayans and the
Muslims of Visayas and Mindanao respectively. What is remarkable is that for a small island,
(although comprising 7,000 small islands) there are almost a hundred dialects. A f oreigner
will be surprised to find out that to travel eight hours from Manila to llocos, he will be en
countering different dialects every 30 minutes to 1 hour as he travels by ca r. On~ may be lost
in the splendour of its mountains and seas, but on practically every street corner, there w ill
be an English-speaking native swain who is able to point out directions. With an almost hunjred per cent literate population: the highest in Asia, it is the third largest English-speaking
group in the~d~-Alm-osrhal{ of its 54 million population is under fifty.
_,/
~

HISTORICAL

According to an old scientific theory, the Philippines .was once a part of the Asian continent
during the pre-historic times. About 25,000 years ago, the level of the seas rose up and
flooded the lower regions on the earth. The land-bridges connecting the Philippines and Asia
were submerged. Thus, it came to pass that the Philippines was separated from the big mass
of land that is Asia. The filipinos are virtually a race of races. They are the product of the mixture of various races.of the world.
Three and a half centuries of foreign rule-first by Spain and then by the United
States-superimposed a Western-style culture on the Muslim way of life in this outcrop of
islands. Spain gave the Philippines its main religion, Roman Catholicism. American Influence shows in the country's bustling, skycraper cities, such as Manila and Makati and in
the use of English as the main language.

FIRST FILIPINOS
The first inhabitants of the Philippines were immigrants of Malayan origin. They were a
primitive people, with no knowledge of agriculture, who lived by hunting and fruit gathering.
From C. 3,000 B.C. onwards, the Malays were joined by a more advanced race from Indonesia. Gradually the two peoples merged, building up in tribal system known as the
Barangays .
In the 13th century A.D. the Filipinos were converted to Islam, which reached them through
missionaries who travelled to the islands from the Muslim empires of Indonesia. Islamic influence continued unchallenged for 300 years, until the arrival of the first Europeans-Spanish
explorers - in the 16th century.

FOREIGN RULE
In 1521 the ~uropean explorer Ferdinand Magellan landed in the Philippines during his atto sail round the world-~ut killed by a Filipino Chieftain Lapu-Lapu. In 1564 Miguel
Lopez de Legaspi, brought Chrisiianity and w ithin 20 years established Spanish Control over
all the inhabited areas; with the ~xception of the Muslim areas of Mindanao and Sulu.
t~mpt

Spanish rule lasted until the end ~f the 19th century, when it was challenged by a growing
nationalist movement inspired by t~e Filipino writer and Patriot, Jose Rizal. An unsuccessful
revolt against Spain broke out in 1896. Rizal was executed , but the rebellion continued under
the leadership of Emilio Aguinaldo.\,

702
.......

Rebel guerillas fought Spanish regulars until 1898. In that year, was broke out between the
United States and Spain, the immediate cause being American indignation over the oppressive Spanish rule of Cuba. As part of America's Strategy, A-dmiral Dewey destroyed a
3panish fleet in Manila Bay, and American troops. landed in the Philippines, within months,
Spain surrendered and under a treaty, ceded the islands to the United States for 20 million
dollars.

---- --~

The Filipinos had believed that the United States would give them independence, but they
now saw the prospect of self government removed to the distant future.

Fighting soon broke out ; it lasted for two years before Filipino resistance was finally suppressed. But in 1935 the United States gave the islands internal self government, and promised that they would become completely independent in ten years' time.

JAPANESE INVASION
In December 1941 Japan launched. a surprise attack on the Philippines. Within a month
Japanese troops. had occupied Manila, where they set up a puppet government. After fierce
battles at Bataan and corregidor, American and Filipino troops were forced to surrendP in
May 1942. In October 1944 American Forces, under General McArthur returned to the country, completing its liberation by July 1945.

INDEPENDENCE
The Philippines became an independent republic in 1946. The country repaired the devastation of the second world war, notably under Ramon Magsaysay, President from 1953 to
1957. It survived a rebellion by communist guerillas, the Hukbalahaps (People's Liberation
Army) popularly known as " HUK's. The country also made slow but steady progress in developing its economy. This was aided by large-scale American investment.

Under President Ferdinand Marcos, re-elected to a second terms of office in 1969, discontent
again grew. Students allied with workers in mass anti-government demonstrations over the
issues of political corruption, poverty and continuing American influence. In the provinces,
Huk guerilla activity flared up again. Marcos placed the country Ul")der Martial Law, and in
1973 announced a new constitution which enabled him to rule w ith unlimited powers for an
indefinite period.

February 1986 is a date of people power. Due to discontent in the dictatorial type of presidency, a snap election was held. With the opposition to the present ruling party winning
according to Namfrel, an independent body to protect and Quick count the polls and votes,
the people were divided as the present administration insists through its legal election arm
body or comelec . That it was the winning party. In the end, the opposition initiated a Civil
disobed~nce to boycott peacefully all government crony businesses. Then Minister of National if'efense Juan Ponce Emile and Gen. Fidel Ramos supported by thousands of common
people' and sanctioned by the Catholic Bishops staged a peoples power rally . This forced
President Marcos to Flee the Philippines. The new President, Madam Corazon C. Aquino,
became the tirst woman President.
0

703

''

RELIGIOUS
The average Filipino is deeply religious and dedicated to his church and faith. The Cathedral,
mosque or chapel is the landmark of most communities; and although the constitution provides for separation of church and state, the advise and guidance of religious leaders remains influential in every area of social life, including politics.

.........

The Philippine Republic is the only catholic counfty,,east of the Mediterranean Sea, a legacy
of Spanish Missionaries who begun teaching in the ~arly 17th century, Catholicism has ben
fostered and expanded in the present century by U.S\German, and Belgian missionaries.
The Catholic educational association includes two Unive~ities (Santo Tomas in Manila and
San Carlos in Cebu City), one hundred seminaries and cof~ges and more than 400 high and
200 elementary schools. The church runs 13 hospitals, 9 a~sylums and shelters, 31epers colonies and many dispensaries. In recent years it has helpeqin the training of anti-communist
leaders within these groups.
/ .
The Philippine lndependeht Church, popularly known althe Aglipayan Church, was formed
in 1902 under the leadership of Gregorio Aglipay, a R~an Catholic priest, and lsabela de los
Reyes, a journalist politician. The doctrine was originally stated to be that of Roman Catholic
Church, but essential departured have appeared . For example, the vernacular replaced Latin
completely as the liturgical language and national heroes were added to the calendar of
Saints. The Aglipayan followers is strongest in Northern luzon. American Protestantism
entered the Philippines afte Spanish ceded the islands to the U.S, in 1898. The Prehysterians, Baptists, Methodist, Evangelical United Brethren , Disciples of Christ, Episcopaliens, and Congregationalists were all represented by 1902. It is reported that 80% of
the Protestant population belongs to denominations which are members of the Philippine
Federation of Churches, which is similar to the National Council of Churches in the U.S. The
association of Christian School and Churches includes Sillman University in Iloilo. There are
several Protestants hospitals of which Mary Johnson Hospital in Manila Protestant is best
known, and many clinics. In the field of social welfare. Protestant groups provide educational leadership, rnedical missionaries and agricultural missionaries.
Islam was introduced to the Philippines shortly before the Spaniards arrived. Muslim Filipinos, called Moros, are concentrated in Su lu Archipelago, southern and western Mindanao, and southern Mindanao . Numbering more than 1,300.00 in 1960, the Moros are
easily the largest Non-Christian group. They are culturally advanced and cohesive, and any
planning that concerns the southern Philippines cannot ignore them.

RELIGIOUS DISTRIBUTION
Most Filipinos (93% in 1960) are Christians. More -than 80% are Roman Catholics; 5% are
Aglipayans, adherents of the Independent Church formed by some Filipino in the early years
of this country as an expression of religion and political nationalism. About 3% belong to
various Protestant churches. Muslims, who live principally in Mindanao and the Sulu. Archipelago, constitute about 5% of the population about 1o/o belong to the Iglesia ni Kristo, a
Filipino church founded in 191 1.

ARCHITECTURAL CHARACTER

THE EARLY PERIOD OR PRESPANISH ERA (8TH15TH CENTURY)

Architectl!re in the Pre-Spanish era was expressed in the bahay-kubo style of dwell- ,
ings, which was cool and cozy and well adapted to tropical climate . Even before the /
Spanish colonial period, the Filipino lived in permanent homes and wore clothes and or/
namental handicrafts. Their houses were constructed of wood, bamboo and pal~
leaves (nipa shingles). They were grouped into Barangays along river Qanl<s.
/
!

704

In the N;>Jth . in the Cordillera mountains, the lfugao built a one-room house on stilts
with pyramidal roof. The structural parts of the house were built without nails and were
joined together by Iappin~ etc.
',

c:.oqon ij ra s s roof on

lcc.al stra1~ht st iCKs

<::allut '' RUNO '' tn terfurned
W! th ra tt.ah

bU1.::>1
' 1.dol '

c:.arv.ed w<Xl.d

Ql"

WOOd pr6ti"U~ IMlJ W OCJc!J

w nan.g

1-------'--~

17asKe.ts,.thr.t.Ke:ns

...~~~-L-----1 c: lrL.ular f 1xture

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ammal 1nseL t t?.a.rritt'

ladde.r

tb

ot- rt.movu:t r

1n the

eVtn1 n~

~~-----;

amt7ul7ulan
lD.at

pumpltDian

haf3PD and
dDtal

~----~~

hallp.an ~

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705

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707 .

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\ ') .. , Home..s

'll

11
:

1n Saq.aJa

.al"'e. p~n- uke ,W/

( str~w

tnatc.h

~~~.: .:. . r66fs sus pendeJ.

~~~~~~~~ ~n ptllars

NIPA HUTS
In the lowland areas, the nipa houses hilS at least three (3) different versions: llocos,
Central Luzon and Southern Luzon. The characteristic shape for all three is that of the
classic Malay Nipa House with the pitched roof with wide overhang wide windows, light
walls above stilts and front and back porches. In the farms and poorer villages, the nipa
hut is literally a grass hut, made of bamboo poles, a that~ h roof with woven split canes
for walls and split bamboo slats for flooring. This is locally called the " BAHAY KUBO"
{cube house). Structures at this stage were built without nails, lashing of rattan or strip
of bamboo were used.

tnatih

ste.!.p rC>Dfln9
L03011/h 1p21

S2iW21 h/~Otj6M
wa111n~

b.atalan

\.-1 b.arni76D posts

708

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r 6Df 6ver t?at.alan w/c..

s.erv.!s .also as Zl K1t.Lhen
thatc..h roof1n<3
r6Df
~X te.nSict"\

l?.at..a!an

n.aK43ta I! at
1111Kas.at?.at na ,
paKo

na y.ar1

sa K.aw..ay.an
0 ~hL>y

p.a t7.aon .an.g

halt~ ! sa lup.a

The Mindanao House in the.South, echoes the qualities of its Muslim population. It has
a proud, aggressive air with its prowlike roof, the polychrome, extravagant wooden carvings derived from the Malay Mythical bird, the sari-manok, the silken Muslim canopies
in the interiors. The Maranao crowned' his house with a majestic roof and deGorated the
protruding ends of floor beams with intricate carvings.

lNTERlOR OF' A 1-JIOP.O

HoUSE

711

Particularly in the Eastern and Southern regions where most people are sea-going, the
houses look like boa.s, many of them actually built on stilts buried beneath the water.

Ya Kan hous~s.
have stl.e.p ~tc.h

rt>6fs :and.
wooden -board
~r s~.e d -rna tt1114

~.d

"'''"u....u..... walls .

712

SPANISH ERA (16TH-19TH CENTURY! 1521-18981

In the sixteenth century, the scattered islands became a colony of Spain. W ith Spanish
power and the Christian faith came European Culture and new forms of building. On the
t ropical landscape rose City Walls, fortresses, government buildings, churches and convents, and grand houses. The builders of the period included Spanish friars, Chinese
and native art isans, architects from the peninsula , and the maestros de obras . The
natives learned t o work with brick and stone, and had to contend with the intricacies of
the baroque and rococo.

a. /locos Province - in the North

The Vigan House
The features of the !locos house are derived from the sturdier look and stronger construction of the whole house, a result of the llocano householder's cha racter. The
llocano believes in Frugality, solidity durability and no non-sense practicality. H~
encloses the space under the main tloor'"of the house with walls of limestone, coral,
even hollow-blocks and cemen t thus creating an extra floor of living space. The
llocano house is highly function al and relatively free f rom useless decorative items.

The other notable distinction of traditional !locos houses is a marked Spanish flavor.
Because the llocos provinces w ere amo.ng t he first to be settled by the Spaniards,
!locos towns enjoyed the best of Sj)ffnish culture longest and are today the most
typically Spanish in architecture. The best example is Vigan in llocos Sur w ith its ancient cobblestone streets, brick houses, tiled roofs, elaborate grillwork stone arches
and colonnades. Most Ilocos homes and towns display their familiarity with 17th century European technology in arches and domes, in the skillfully executed long spans
betwe.en columns and other typically European construction features.

713

VIGAN HOUSE RUINS

Vigan, llocos Sur, Philippines
Fragment of a ruin of an original Vigan House, Vigan House generally refers to Antillan design of brick, lime, and mortar wit h tile roofing and Phi!!ipine hardwoods. Built in the early
decades of the 19th century, these relics of Filipino and Spanish craftsmanship are being
restored by the government.
Presently there is no other place in the Philippines richer in Hispanic tradition than Vigan.
capital of llocos Sur province. un pedazo de Espana en el Oriente.

I '

714

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A spacious hall caida and a reception room sala occupy the center a!ld largest par
tion of the second floor with bedrooms on either side and kitchen, bath ~ and terrace
azotea in the back. The sides of the house are curtain wa!ls. bearing no weight since
the heavy tile roof is supported by sturdy wooden or stone columns and are therefore
no more than w ooden frames, trellises, sliding window panes made of squares of
mother-of-pearl , capiz shells, balustrades of wood or iron grills called v erandillas.
The second floor projects a good two meters over the first floor walls and adds to the
light, airy appearance of the house. The azotea or open porch is usually provided
with a ceramic balustrade, banks of flowering plants, large rain-catching jars. lt bears
much of the household traffic to and from the kicthen, other living areas and the
back stairs .
To sum up the characteristics of an antillan house, wide windows running along the
length and breadth of the house (to make air conditioning unnecessary), high ceilings, tile roofs in th'e traditional high -pitched design, eaves and overhangs, high :::eil ~
ings, polished wooden floors, are essential features. The generous use of jalousies,
sliding iowed windows, mother-of-pearl panes and panels, ceramic balustrades,
brick walls,. stone paving are other items of this traditional architecture.
c. Batanes (18th Century)

The not hern most frontier of the Philippine Archipelago, is the Batanes islands inhabited
by some 12,000 inhabitants called the lvatans, an ethnic group. lvatan towns were laid
out with a sharply angular corners at generally 90, streets are straight lined. That is
how these lvatan towns were laid out 200 years ago when the lvatans first came down
f rom their mountain-bound villages to live on the Littorals in more compact settlements.
The Dominican Missionaries, Fathers Baltazar Calderon and Bartolome Artiguez
selected the places where the towns were to be located. This done, ropes were used to
mark out the streets and the lots on which houses were to be built.
The IVATAN HOUSE
At the arrival of Western Civilization through the Dominican Missionaries and the representatives of the Spanish Government in 1783, the lvatans were dwelling in huts
made mostly of light and perislotable materials. The huts were low, partly because high
structures would have been easily destroyed by typhoons, and partly because Batanes
did not have enol,lgh suitable timber nor suitable tools for larger constructions. Cogan
grass was the chief roofing material. To close the sides of the hut, cogan and sticks
were used. Occasionally, th:JYalling of the house was made of stones held precariously
together by mud mixed with chopped cog on.
Once the Spanish government and the missions were established permanently, public
buildings like churches and tribunates {town halls). and other constructions like fortifica
tions and bridges necessitated stronger materials. Large timber from luzon were imported, and more advanced tools and Technology of carpentry and masonry were in troduced. Masons and carpenters from Cagayan, the llokos and Pampanga were assign ed to Batanes. Saws and other implements and tools were brought in. Most important
of ali, cal !lime) was introduced.
Lime was long known to lvatans before the coming of the Spaniards, but its only use
seems to have been as ingredient for the preparation of mamahen (betel nut chew
or buyo). The imported craftsmen under the direc tion of the missionaries and the
Spanish officials gave the nat ive population opportunity for apprenticeship in the
new skills of lime making and the use of recently acquired and more advanced tools.
The resuH was the gradual development of what is now known as the traditional
IVATAN- HOUSE made of thick (about 2 ~ ft. ) stone and lime wall with thick thatched roof made of several layers of cog on and held together by seasoned sticks or
reeds and rattan. The primary consideration in the making of the lvatan house is the
durability and effective resistance to the power of the str~gest typhoons.

- ~.

719

An lvatan house is cool in the hot season, and warm in the cold season. The traditional lvatan family usually owns two houses, one contains the living room (rakuh)
and the other contains the kitchen (kus.ina). The rakuh, or parlor, shares a space
with the sleeping quarters and holds all household furnishing and equipment that
should not be exposed to smoke.

The doors and windows of both the rakuh and kusina are comparatively fewer and
smaller than those of other rural homes in most parts of Luzon. The rakuh has
generally two doors and two windows, all found on three walls, while the fourth wall
is frequently windowless and facing the direction from which storm winds blow
strongest.

The kusina has no chimney in spite of the thick smoke that cooking generates, becai.Jse during windy days, a chimney can suck in wind that would scatter sparks from
the stove and thus start a fire because of the dry cogan and sticks that make up the
roof ..

There are two reasons for the separation of the two buildigns: An lvatan kusina at
cooking time is filled with smoke, there being no chimney, and the doors & windows - where there is one-are low and small. For this reason, the inside, of a kusina
is normally sootblack soon after regular use, and everything kept in it, farm tools,
baskets, etc. quickly become dark brown due to the cumulative effect of the smoke.
The other reason is security in case of fire. In recent times, fires have been very rare,
but in case either of the two houses burn, the remaining section secures the owner
against homelessness.

720

d. Bahay na Bato . . ... up to 1920's

In the nineteenth century evolved the bahay na bate (house of stone). a happy marriage of the basic native formhip-roof, elevated quarters, large windows, post-andlintel construction - and European influence - large, specialized interior spaces,
classical ornaments, and the use of masonry. The churches were on one hand , simple in plan and box-like in structure, but on the other hand, had richly decorated
facades and ornately carved altars in the baroque and rococo styles as interpreted, or
modified, by local artisans. In this period emerged a Filipino style, a synthesis of
native and western forms.

The bahay na bato is a structure that meets the challenges of the Philippine
landscape. It uses sawali {woven bamboo slats). This type of ceiling was
. cooler, readily available and surer protection against earthquakes. "There
was no danger of boards falling on your head when an earthquake happened. The roof of the provincial houses was made of Thatch.

SHI!!l..L.

House builders of any age have mined the materials from the sea, the
forest, the earth and from the farm. From the sea comes a variety of
capiz shells for windows, oyster shells which are ground for mortar,
and blocks of coral stone for walls . The same material is used for most
of the Spanish -type churches in the Visayas. The farm yields as much
building materials as the sea. For mortar, molasses {pulot) from sugar~
cane and egg white from the chicken coop are mixed with lime for
cementing purposes. In Vigan, the ancient builders used the sap of
the Sablot Shrub to mix with lime for cementing the old houses in
town. The abundant supply of Philippine hardwood (narra, molave,
tanguile , kamagong, mahogany, etc.) from the forests are used for
beams, posts, walls, and floors. And the good earth with its deposits
of local stones, bricks and tiles from Clay, and volcanic turf adobe
stones, becomes an inexhaustible source of building materials . .

The "bahay na bato'~ functions well in relation to Filipino lifestyle, customs and
values" , since the filipino has an extended family so that there are at least two or
three generations living under one roof. There is no sharp demarcation between
adult space and space for the ~hildren in the Filipino town house. Basically a closeknit family, the Filipino wants to share the warmth and kinship of each family
member thus there is no strict line of space that divides parents and children, old and
young.
It is common knowledge that children can play hide-and -seek, tug of war, etc . In the
upstairs rooms including the master's bedroom. " As long as the children do not
create a pandemonium or play too close to expensive furnishing. The Filipino house
is their one big playground until they grow up. Bedrooms were small and few (two or
three at the most) . In proportion to the number of occupants. Other rooms like the
sala or the upper floor landing can be transformed into sleeping quarters and the
filipino will not mind the arrangement at all. Many families in the provinces love to lay
out the mars in the living room during hot summer nights so that they can enjoy the
breeze that comes through the open ventanilla (transom).

721

Other features of the bahay na bato that make it a uniquely Filipino building concept
include the banguera , (dishrack) was a carry-over from the bangahan of the nipa
house, where pots are kept to drain, slat floors in the kitchen which is similar to the
sahig (floor) of the bahay kubo, and the fact that these houses are built on stilts.
Whether the posts are embedded on the wall or exposed.

A Banguera (Oishrack)

Another feature is the ventanilla. The idea of having an extra window for more ventilation is very filipino. There is also the presence of the media-aqua (awning)
popular at the turn of the century which gave double protection from sun and rain.
Movable walls, presence of barandillas or traceries on the wall and use of glass and
mirrors (espejol to create illusions. of transparency and space give the feeling that
there are no real physical boundaries in the stone house as there is none among the
family members.

722

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P'.....C::SIMIW!l ~ A I'UE.DRSNA~

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,INTR.At-1\.l

1 C&G8*"'\~

723

EXAMPLES
a) Late Spanish - Philippine period up to 1898 the roof ing is 45 gradient or less.
Building materials for construction were available frcm the local market, but certain items w ere imported from abroad . For instance, galvanized iron roofing
sh eets or clay roofing tiles or glazed bathroom tiles were imported articles, Fire
bricks, limestone, hardwoods, capiz shells (tor window panes) and lumber were
available locally.

Two-storied dwellings of wealthy Manilans often had provisions for the

garage of horse-drawn coaches quarters for stable boys and maids, commodious salas, as well as verandahs. Foundation works were simple. hardwood posts usually anchored on buried stones (piedra china ) or adobe are
examples. Wide windows and sliding window shutter were common; so
were high ceilings, heavy door jambs and carved doors; decorative iron
grills were of typical Spanish artistry .

--=--

;:[T[]\
[gJI -.

---=--_--__,__IQ_
~I

This latter part of the nineteenth century saw the rise of the first filipino architects.
Felix Roxas, trained in England and Spain , who designed churches government
buildings, and upper clas:> residences, and Arcadia Arellano, trained as a maestro
de obras, who Quilt houses that were remarkable for their elegance.

724

ANCESTRAL HOUSES OF NEGROS

The decades from 1860 to 1890 saw the scions of the Iloilo merchant families furiously
carving our haciendas from the wilderness and planting them to sugarcane. The success
in business of the hacenderos made them erect mansions and plantation houses. The
earliest houses had wall of plain planks held together by slats. The ground floor walls
usually rested on a low stone base of coquina or coral rock. The roof, hipped and very
steep, was always of 11ipa palm shingles.

By 1870, elaborate lace like grillwork with designs as intricate as handmade tatting
began to appear, together with carved exterior paneling . Transoms with floral and
foliate scrollwork pierced to increase ventilation made their appearance in the 1880's.
By then, wrought iron grills were decorated with cast lead ornaments which usually
featured rosenes and fleur-de-lis. The influence of art nouveau crept in the 1890's and
swirling vines and flowers giddily decorated staircase balustrades. Opulence became
the norm as fretwork arches appeared all over the salas and comedores (living and
dining rooms). The capiz shell windows, unique to the Philippines, were replaced by
etched glass panes imported frQm Germany, which gave way to colored glass towards
the turn of the century.

725

726

ANCESTRAL HOUSE IN NEGROS

TUAZON HOUSE, arlegui St. Manila
Built toward the end of the nineteenth century i~ an elegant structure of wood
and brick. Entrance to the house is through tall massive wooden doors, whose
panels are decorated with floral carvings. Light comes in through
wrought-iron grilles overhead backed with glass pane. A brass knocker,
shaped like a hand wearing a fob watch on its wrist, summons the caretaker
from within . The large gate is typical of the porte cochere built for horsedrawn carriages. Slabs of piedra china (once used as ballasts in chinese junks)
line the inner courtyard.

A long winding stairway, whose polish shines in the dim light, lead up to the main
house on the landing is a mirrored-hat-and-umbrella stand. To the right, the airy dining room is coaled (by the wind from the garden below) through long rectangular
swinging windows covered with opaque glass. The entire breadth of the room is walled in by pierced-through decorative sidings. Another steep flight of narrow step leads
up to the loft, where exces loads of accumulated memories are stored, kept in rows of
trunks. One corner is flushed with unwanted book shelves and aparador (wardrobe
cabinets). Two huge brass beds of Filipino manufacture dominate the center of the
room. Ivory saints encased in glass-domed virinas crowd the top of one aparador.
In the sitting room, two round marble-topped tables with heavy claw supports are
found. Overhead is a chandelier and multicolored tuliplike glass shades lighting the
outer recesses of the sala. Stately doors with heavy brass fittings .lead to the
bedrooms on both sides of the sitting room . The balustrades below the window
casings are also reinforced by sliding doors. Multicolored glass panes decorate the
panel above the window. The flooring of the house is of narra slabs 18 ~inches (0.46
m} wide.

727

[]01

AQUILINO CALIXTO HOUSE (1920)

Corner of Extremadura an.d Lepanto St. Manila

This two-storey house is built without using nails: Its parts were pains takingly
tenored and glued together , Section by Section. A latticed porch opens into the
spacious airness of the living room. Its ceilings are high in receding :;~tterns with
chandeliers at the center, and its doors tall, the partition walls are topped with delicate
wood panels perforated with floral scrolls. The allow light and wind to circulate
around the house . A grandfather's clock stand against one wall. Two corner cupboards and a mirrored sideboard holds the family porcelains and crystals.

728

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729
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