We all know the song bahay kubo and its about the vegetables surrounding the bahay kubo.

But we are
not into that we are going deeply of the bahay kubo it self. Welcome, everyone. Today, we'll explore the
captivating history of the Bahay Kubo, a iconic symbol of Filipino culture and craftsmanship. Originating
as a humble shelter crafted from organic materials, the Bahay Kubo has evolved over centuries to
become an iconic representation of Filipino architecture. Join me as we uncover its origins, construction
techniques, and enduring significance in Filipino society—a testament to creativity, resourcefulness, and
cultural heritage. Let's embark on this fascinating journey into the heart of Filipino identity through the
story of the Bahay Kubo.

The bahay kubo or nipa hut is a stilt house and is the iconic symbol of the
Filipino culture. The Bahay Kubo is the native house of the Philippines, and considered as the
national shelter, a cultural heritage, and one of the most illustrative and recognized icons. Its name is
actually based on Spanish word “Cubo” meaning cube because of its rectangular and cubic shape, and
“Bahay” a Filipino word for house. This Pre-Hispanic Architecture was constructed to perfectly adapt on
the Tropical climate and made of indigenous, and organic materials like bamboo and nipa.

Bahay kubo or nipa hut in English is a Filipino traditional dwelling place made of genuine green materials
like nipa leaves for the roof and split bamboos for the wall and floor. The name of the primitive Nipa hut
is actually based on the Spanish phrase Cubo meaning cube probably because of its rectangular
appearance and Bahay is the Filipino word for house.

The construction of the bahay kubo depends on the era they come from.
They are usually categorised into two: the pre-colonial bahay kubo which
features simple interiors made of native materials like nipa, bamboo and
coconut leaves. Nipa huts were the native houses of the indigenous people of the Philippines
before the Spaniards arrived. They are still used today, especially in rural areas. Different architectural
designs are present among the different ethno linguistic groups in the country, although all of them
conform to being stilt houses, similar to those found in neighboring countries such as
Indonesia, Malaysia, and other countries of Southeast Asia.

And when the Spaniards came to the Philippines, they infused materials like
stones, bricks, tiles, and mortar into what is often called the colonial bahay
kubo. The advent of the Spanish Colonial era introduced the idea of building more permanent
communities with the Church and Government Center as a focal point. This new community setup made
construction using heavier, more permanent materials desirable. Finding European construction styles
impractical given local conditions, both Spanish and Filipino builders quickly adapted the characteristics
of the Bahay Kubo and applied it to Antillean houses locally known as Bahay na Bato (Literally "stone
house" in Tagalog).
To further more explain the architectural component and understand more about the baahay kubo
jhander jamir azucena will explain the materials used to build a bahay kubo

Bahay Kubos also exemplifies the Filipino virtue of bayanihan, which refers to a sense of communal
solidarity or effort to attain a goal. The genesis of which stems from a widespread practice in Philippine
villages in which community people volunteer to help a family relocate by transporting the house to a
designated site. It entails physically transporting the home to its new site. This is accomplished by
constructing a sturdy structure of bamboo poles to lift the stilts from the ground and hoist the entire
home with the men positioned at the ends of each pole. The custom typically includes a little fiesta held
by the family to thank the volunteers.