DON HONORIO VENTURA STATE UNIVERSITY

Villa de Bacolor, Pampanga

College of Engineering and Architecture
Department of Architecture
HOUSING 423
Special Saturday Class
Module 3: Philippines Cultural beliefs in
Housing

Ar. Aldrene Quirat, UAP

Course Facilitator
acquirat@dhvsu.edu.ph
The Philippine cultural beliefs were widely used
across the country when it comes to building
houses. Architect is one of the professionals that
was trained to acknowledge and follow this beliefs.
Many of these beliefs were based on sound
planning practices that do not have to be overly
emphasized.
Benguet Houses
The ibalois, a benguet ethnic group in the
cordilleras. Based on their beliefs, if one is building a
house within a family compound or between two
relatives, make sure that the roof is not higher than
theirs, otherwise, their lives will never progress or
will always be worse. A sibling’s house must not be
built so closed to the point that his parents or older
siblings house’s when raining is pouring into the roof
of the younger sibling.

It is different, the ridge of the roof is always

positioned at right angles to the ridge of the
mountain on which the house stands.
Tagalog Houses
It is believed that in the Tagalog regions, having a
solitary post in the middle of a room or area can
bring misfortune to the whole family.

One of the most famous beliefs of the tagalog

people, when we are on the process of constructing
a house specifically, when we are starting to
construct the foundations, it is said that we must
pour chicken’s blood or goat’s blood to the
foundations and columns to give respect and as a
form of offering of the spirit of the nature. Filipinos
were believed that they were a animist or people
who worship animals and the nature.
Tagalog Houses
Stair is one of the key considerations when we are
planning to construct in the Tagalog region. These
people never use the space beneath the stair as a
sleeping quarters. They don’t use it also to store
goods such as foods and other grains believing that
it is treading on the grace of God whenever one
goes up or down the stairs.

Cashiers or other structure must not placed beneath

the stairs where money is kept. Believing that God
will not see if the business is prospering or not.
Tagalog Houses

Oro-Plata-mata is widely used as a guide in building

a stair inside the house. Starting with the first
landing, count the steps using the words Oro (Gold),
Plata (Silver), Mata (Death or Misfortune). The
perfect last step should be Oro. Ending up with mata
is too bad but, understandably, do not ever end up
with mata.
Northern Houses

It is advised that doors should not face each other.

The people in the north associates this with the easy
passage of a coffin through two doors that directly
face each other. Most regions in the country also
avoid positioning the main gate of the lot opposite
the main entrance of the house itself.

Other regions in the country believes that to doors

that facing each other can cause to see a spirit
roaming around the room, this associates with the
possession of bad luck.
Feng Shui based Houses
The Chinese culture is widely affected the planning
of the Filipino people by their some beliefs. One of
the beliefs that our Chinese friends left to the
Filipino people is, do not install a mirror facing a
door, believing that the mirrors are the portals of
the spirit realm. Another belief is if the front of the
house is a enemy of yours or facing a cemetery or
burial place, place a BAGUA to deflect the bad
energy.

The use of blue color in the bedroom is highly

discouraged. Because color blue is symbolizing
water, and water has waves. Waves is not stabilized
that’s why you can be tired once you wake up
 DEPARTMENT OF ARCHITECTURE

AUTHORED BY:
ALDRENE C. QUIRAT, RLA

FOR DON HONORIO VENTURA STATE

UNIVERSITY
COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING &
ARCHITECTURE

Note: Some photos and illustration from web.

 END OF PRESENTATION

HOUSING 423
Module 3: Philippines Cultural beliefs in
Housing

Prepared by:
Aldrene C. Quirat, RLA
Course Facilitator
acquirat@dhvsu.edu.ph

Review and utilized by: