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