Bistal

Enano
Fernandez
Malnegro
Muring
Piore

Arch 121

20 Construction Myths and Superstitions

1. When building a house, always remember to place certain things under each structural
post. Old coins and religious medals will drive away evil spirits and ensure prosperity.
Musical score sheets, medals, coins ensure harmony as well.
2. The number of people sleeping in a new house the first night should be the same for nine
consecutive days. Otherwise, death will occur in that house.
3. Never build your house at the end of a cul de sac, or "dead end" road.
4.

Want good luck? Use something old in building your new house -- such as used bricks or
lumber from your old house. But don't build on a corner lot. A corner house is supposed
to be unlucky.

5. Palm fronds blessed by Catholic priests should be put up at the door and at the corners
inside the house. It is believed to ward off evil spirits.
6. Avoid having a living room in a lower place than all other parts of the house or a sunken
living room as this will invite sickness and bad luck into the house, from which the
residents will suffer from.
7. Doors should never face west. Having such doors will lead to sickness, conflicts, and
maybe even death to the residents.
8. During construction, residents or the carpenters working on the house should offer a pig
or a chickens blood through pouring it to the foundations or posts of the house. It is
believed to prevent spirits living in the area from being upset with the family and the
construction workers.

9. Twist the posts clockwise before cementing it in its place. This is believed to make the
house safe from damages caused by typhoons.
10. A house that is built in the middle of a crossroad is said to be full of bad luck for its
residence. This also applies to buildings, apartments, and all other structures.
11. The numbers of the steps in a stair matters a lot. It is counted as oro, plata, mata
which mean gold, silver, and death, respectively. Counting starts at the bottom step to the
topmost. Counting should end at oro or plata to bring about prosperity and not
mata which will bring about misfortune.
12. In the Tagalog region, house plans in the shape of a cross are supposed to be a jinx.
13. For those living in concrete houses, an old coin must be imprinted on the cemented
doorstep to ensure a steady flow of money.
14. Septic tanks must not be constructed higher than the ground for it would demand a
sacrifice in human life. Neither should septic tanks and toilets be built near the kitchen
because it would contaminate the food in a psychic sense and will bring sickness to the
family.
15. A two-story building that is remodeled into a single story will shorten the lives of its
occupants.
16. Don't plant hydrangea near your new house or your daughters won't marry.

17. Doors should not be built facing each other for it portends that money will come in easily
but it also rush out quickly. As a stopgap measure, doors can be built parallel to the walls
so that money entering the house will stay in the house and be saved.
18. When a mirror falls off the wall of a house, it means someone will die.
19. A mirror placed on the wall facing the main door of a house will deflect good luck that
enters the house.

20. The ridge of the roof should face neither east nor west.

Sources:
Paech, V. (2013, September 13). 13 superstitions about house & home. Retrieved from
http://www.realestate.com.au/blog/13-superstitions-about-house-and-home/
Orenstein, B. (1994, October 30). Superstitions Abound In Seeking Good Luck, Avoiding Bad.
Retrieved from http://articles.mcall.com/1994-10-30/features/3008551_1_luck-superstitionsnew-house
Domingo, M. A. (2013, October 9). Filipino Superstitious Beliefs about House Building.
Retrieved from http://www.glbrain.com/index.php?r=tool/view&id=4981&toolType=1
BAHAY, TAHANAN, AT PAMILYA (House, Home, and Family) (n.d.) Retrieved from
http://www.seasite.niu.edu/tagalog/folk_beliefs/bahay_tahanan_at_pamilya.htm
Fojas, F.(2012, March 6) . Superstitious Beliefs of Filipinos. Retrieved from
https://felixfojas.wordpress.com/2012/03/06/superstitious-beliefs-of-filipinos-4/