The Philippines is an archipelago made up of 7,100 islands populated by arich variety of cultural communities. Each community is unique: their culture andway of living partly dictated by the land where they reside, the climate, and theresources available to them. Each one is distinct, identifiable not just by theirphysical attributes, traditions, and way of life, but also their homes, their arts andcrafts, their body ornaments, and their fabrics.
OBJECTIVES
Identify Three cultural
communities in the Philippines
by studying the architecture of
their homes.
Define basic
architectural terms.
Focus on the lines, shapes, and
textures of the
houses. Write a comparative
description of the houses from
different provinces.
1.How do you feel when you go someplace you
have never been before? When the door is
opened, is it different from what you thought
it would be?
2.Do you notice anything similar in the designs
of the houses in Luzon. What similarities and
differences do you see among the houses?
3.How would it feel to live in these? Do you
think it is cold? Do you think it is hot? What
would it smell like?
There are many different cultural communities all over the Philippines. Their homes are
designed and built according to the climate and resources available around them. This lesson will
focus on three communities: one each from the three main islands of Luzon, Visayas, and
Mindanao.
Luzon
The first stop in this journey is the archipelago of Batanes in Luzon, where the Ivatan community
lives. It is a province consisting of ten islands, only three of which are inhabited. Itbayat is the
largest, but the main island is Batan, where the capital, Basco, is located. The third one is Sabtang.
The others, although uninhabited, are also named: Mavudis, Misanga, Ditarem, Siayan, Dinem,
Vuhos, Adekey, and Mavudis, also known as Yami.
Batanes is the northernmost province in the Philippines, which is why it is referenced by weather
stations when a typhoon enters the country. The climate plays a big factor in the development of the
culture and way of life of the Ivatans. They live in houses made of limestone.
The façade and the walls are approximately one-meter thick, which is able to withstand strong
winds and rain. The roof is made of thick layers of cogon grass, also designed to endure strong winds
and can last from 25 to 30 years with minimal repair.
One type of stone house is called the Sinadumparan, It has a two-sloped roof made of thick
thatched coy walls are made with limestone and irregularly shaped rocks (lagat and pilñit). The
windowless wall faces the direction where strong winds originate.
Visayas
The dark-skinned Ati community is an ethnic group in the Visayas, the central group of islands in
the Philippine archipelago. They can be found in Aklan, Capiz, Antique, Iloilo, and Guimaras, but they
are principally concentrated in the islands of Boracay, Panay, and Negros.
Because they are itinerant, the Ati built shacks or small houses made of woven leaves from the forest
with beams and columns made of bamboo. It is typically lightweight and can be easily transferred from
one place to another. The structure consists of two windscreens brought together to form a gabled roof.
The eaves or the extension of the roof almost reach the earth.
Mindanao
The third and last community in this journey is the B’laan or Bilaan, a tribal community of Southern
Mindanao. Their name is derived from the words "bla" and "an," meaning opponent people.
The Bilaan are known for their colorful ethnic art and handcraft, like woven baskets, brass
ornaments, and traditional beadwork. They are efficient hunters and food gatherers; they hunt wild
animals and plant grains, root crops, fruits, and herbs in the plains of cogonal land, now known as
Koronadal City.
They are one of the major non-Islamic tribal groups in the Southern Philippines. They live in South
Cotabato, primarily in Lake Sebu. Their traditional house is made of bamboo, wood, and indigenous
materials from the area. A part of the wall can be opened, which serves as a deck where the women
can weave baskets and create beadwork for garments and accessories.
THINK ABOUT IT
What makes the Ivatan, Ati, and Bilaan homes unique?
GREAT IDEA!
Each structure was designed according to the needs and lifestyle of the
communities. The Ivatan live in an island that is constantly battered by strong winds
and rain, so they needed sturdy homes that were rooted to the ground. The Atis,
however, need to be mobile, so they live in houses that are made of lightweight
materials that can be easily carried or dismantled. The B'laan are weavers and
bead makers, so they have a home that can be extended and used
for work.
Beam - a support for a roof or floor, usually going from wall-to wall
Column - usually a round or fluted post to support the beams or a roof
Deck - a platform like structure, typically made of lumber and unroofed, attached to a house or to other
building
Eaves - the lower portion of a roof that projects beyond the wall
Façade - the front view of the building
Itinerant - nomadic; people who travel or transfer from one place to another