Lugue, Blessy Mae ARC1413 HISTORY OF ARCHITECTURE

Palomo, Hannah Beatriz SEPTEMBER 16, 2019

Torrefiel, Ma. Angela Nicole G.
Vasquez, Cydray

PRE-SPANISH ARCHITECTURE

BONTOC HOUSE (FAYU)

Bontoc house is originated from two morpheme words

“bun” which means “heap” and the other is “tuk” which
means “top” when combined means mountain

Location: Mountain Province

Afung, is the traditional type of bontoc house for married

couples in babarey village in the settlement area in
bontoc community. It is a house within a house that is built directly on the ground. Comprised of
shelter for people, and pounding area.

Geography
The Bontoc is a group of former headhunters that has
traditionally lived in the steep gorge region along the upper
Chico Rover system in the Central Mountain Province of
northern Luzon. Also known as the Bontok, Bontoc Igorot,
Guianes, Igorot, they have traditionally lived by hunting, fishing and farming.

Lifestyle
The Bontoc use dams, diverted streams and wooden troughs to irrigate agricultural land. The entire
community participates in the construction and maintenance of the irrigation system. In the old days,
dogs were used to hunt wild buffalo and wild pigs were trapped in pits. Snares are still used to trap
birds and cats. Fishing is done by diverting streams to catch fish in nets and traps. Domestic animals
include pigs, water buffalo and cats.

Political System
Ato is a social, political and religious institution at the heart of the ili. It is a council house where the
elders hold various ceremonies and meetings. As the basis of means of social control, it is where the
members learn the customs, laws, taboos, history and oral tradition. The male council of elders is
called Inutugtukan. There are 3 types of Social Class namely, Kachangyan; those who are traditionally
rich, Waday ngachan na; middle class and Pusillawa; the poor. Inter village relations are determined
by pechen.

Retribution:
Ifontok’s way of
Justice
Male relatives of a
murder victim is
morally obligated
to avenge his
death. A
beheaded man’s
spirit became a
pinteg, a diety to
which the people
pray for good
luck, identification
of thieves, and
recovery of stolen
objects.
Parts of Bontoc House
Structural & Materials
Structural
● corner posts side walls are built as supports to the roof
● front side walls are made of wood connected to the posts
● rear wall is made of stone mud
● floor is the earth itself often covered with hardened mud
● roof framin" is made up of a rid"e post supported by two queen posts its peak or attic is
called (faey)
 ● roof of the house is well.thatched with cogon grass
● queen posts are made to rest on a central horizontal beam

The steep roof of the Bontoc House is made out of Cogon Grass while it is supported by
wooden posts.

References

Faner, C. (2013). Architecture in Bontoc. Retrieved from

https://www.slideshare.net/CarlaFaner/architecture-in-bontoc?fbclid=IwAR1j9Evyhe8_-Q
cTlxIAQ2lNGn1Q-5RPbjGCtyO3CoKRXqA9fXlRo-un6h8

Fernandez, R, (2015). Diksyunaryong Biswal ng Arkitekturang Filipino. University of Santo

Tomas, Manila, Philippines. UST Publishing House.

Hockings, P. (1993). Encyclopedia of World Cultures, East and Southeast Asia. G.K. Hall &
Company

Magarro, L. (2019). Pre-Spanish Architecture of Luzon Bontoc. Retrieved from

https://www.academia.edu/14191917/PRE-
SPANISH_ARCHITECTURE_OF_LUZON_BONTOC_Fayu