COLLEGE OF ARCHITECTURE

University of Santo Tomas

HISTORY OF ARCHITECTURE 4
2nd Semester AY 2008-2009

Lecture 2
NORTHERN ETHNIC HOUSES
Mountain Houses of the Cordilleras

Comprised of the six provinces of Abra,

Apayao, Benguet, Ifugao, Kalinga, and
Mountain Province plus Baguio.
Six ethno-linguistic groups:
1. Bontoc,
2. Ibaloi,
3. Ifugao,
4. Isneg (or Apayao),
5. Kalinga, and the
6. Kankana-ey
CLASSIFICATION
(according
to
William Henry Scott)
1. Northern Strain
a. Isneg (Apayao)
b. Kalinga
2. Southern Strain
a. Bontok
b. Ifugao
c. Ibaloi
d. Kankanay
Known for the rice terraces Ifugao, Bontoc and Kalinga
- Rice Terraces of the Cordillera - wonder of engineering with massive towering walls and
skillfully devised irrigation
- As terrace builders, they were also able to construct sturdy dwellings remarkable for both
simplicity and ingenuity

NORTHERN STRAIN
a. ISNEG
Alternative/Associated Names: Isnag, Dibagat-Kabugao- Isneg, Apayao
LOCATION: Northern Apayao
DIALECT: Isnag

Inhabits the banks of the Apayao River and its tributaries in Northern Luzon.
Like most erstwhile head-hunters, they are slash-and-burn farmers who have recently, under the
influence of their neighbors, begun to practice wet-rice agriculture.
As dry rice farmers, the male head of a household annually clears a fresh section of tropical forest
where his wife will plant and harvest their rice.
Isneg women also cook the meals, gather wild vegetables, and weave bamboo mats and baskets,
while the men cut timber, build houses, and take extended hunting and fishing trips.
Often when a wild pig or deer is killed, its meat is skewered on bamboo and distributed to
neighbors and relatives.

Nearly all Isneg households also harvest a small grove of coffee trees since the main cash crop
grown is coffee.

Before the building an Isneg house - 4 posts are dug into the ground to form a rectangle.
Ginger and "taxalingda" herbs are then placed in the center.
Holes are then dug for the 6 "adixi", or roof-bearing posts.
No work is done until the third day.

One room used also as sleeping room,

kitchen, dining room, storeroom and
shrine for rituals.
Next to this house stands its twin - a
granary with the same design as the
house.
Husband , wife and youngest child or
children in infancy live in this house.
Upon reaching the age of reason, sons
and daughters sleep in separate
communal dormitories.
The roof is bowed like an upside down
boat. This may be related to their boatbuilding tradition

b. KALINGA
Alternative/Associated Names: Linimos, Limos; Limos-Liwan Kalinga
LOCATION: Kalinga Province
DIALECT: Kalinga, Limos

Inhabits the area in the middle Chico River,

Noted for their strong sense of tribal awareness and the peace pacts they have made among
themselves.
Practice both wet and dry rice farming
Developed an institution of peace pacts which has minimized traditional warfare and head
hunting and serves as a mechanism for the initiation, maintenance, renewal and re-enforcement of
kinship and social ties.
The Kalinga are divided into
Southern group
Northern group - most heavily ornamented people of the northern Philippines.
The Kalinga society is very kinship oriented and relatives are held responsible for avenging any
injury to a member.

PLAN
PLAN

UPPER KALINGA
Vary according to the location
House plans are either rectangular or
octagonal in form
1.20 m elevated flooring made of reed
mats on flooring joists at the living area
At the center of the house is a defined
square area lower than the side portion
sunken
Attic granary located
Fireplace found at the rear side

LOWER KALINGA
1.50 m elevated from the ground
Central area called dattagon with slightly
elevated floor on all sides called sipi
Fireplace at the left rear side with rice
storage and on the opposite side of sipi is
the water jar
Removable bamboo mat woven with
bamboo strips laid on wooden laths
flooring

PROTECTIVE ELEMENTS

UPPER KALINGA
Hipped roof of the binayon house was low
and thatched with reeds
Four tall posts carry two-cross beams
which support the queen posts.
Rafters are slightly curved at the top
which gives a vaulted interior

LOWER KALINGA
Gable roof had a moderate pitch and
covered with thatch or bamboo
King posts are used to support the inner
ridge
Rafters are slightly curved at the top
which gives a vaulted interior
Roof types:
a. Kinimpal half bamboos in convexconcave design were laid over each
other
b. Tinalob two layers of bamboo

CIRCULATORY ELEMENTS

UPPER KALINGA
Binayon use a ladder to enter the house
Doors are provided opposite each other at
the front and rear

LOWER KALINGA
Ladder which ran from the ground to
the house floor
Doors are not made to face each other
Windows are located opposite sides
diagonal to each other.

SOUTHERN STRAIN
a. BONTOC
Alternative/Associated Names: Bontok, Bontoc
LOCATION: Central Mountain Province
DIALECT: Bontok

Live in the banks of the Chico River.

Used to be a group that was known because of its head-hunting practices.
Present day Bontocs are peaceful agricultural people who have, by choice, retained most of
their traditional culture despite frequent contacts with other groups.
The pre-Christian Bontoc belief system centers around a hierarchy of spirits, the highest
being a supreme deity called "Lumawig" who personifies the forces of nature and is the
legendary creator, friend, and teacher of the Bontoc".
A hereditary class of priests hold various monthly ceremonies for their crops, the weather,
and for healing.
In addition the Bontoc believe in the "anito" -- spirits of the dead who must be consulted
before anything important is done.
Ancestral anitos are invited to family feasts when a death occurs to ensure the well-being of
the deceased's soul.
The Bontoc social structure used to be centered around village wards "ato, containing about
14 to 50 homes.
Traditionally, young men and women lived in dormitories and ate meals with their families.

PLAN
The "Fayo" house.
Built directly on the ground.
Square in plan and designed to facilitate
various activities
Fireplace located at the rear left corner
The granary (falig) with 2.00 sq.m. area
is elevated on four posts of about 1.50 m
high
Ground Floor (cha-la-nan)
Left side of the main entrance rice
threshing of about 1.50 sq.m. and sunk
about 0.30 m into the ground
Right side of entrance 1.20 m w.x 3.60
m. l x 0.30 m h bench where baskets,
utensils and tools are placed
Kitchen is adjacent to the threshing room
An-g-an of wooden flooring and ceiling is
located at rear side is used as sleeping and
storage
STRUCTURAL ELEMENTS
Four corners posts and side walls of the ground floor leans slightly outwards at the top up to the
horizontal beam
Front and side walls are made of wood connected to the post while the rear walls are made of
stone and mud
PROTECTIVE ELEMENTS
Pyramidal in shape front and rear, trapezoidal along the sides
Steep roof slope runs from the ridge up to 2/3 of the total height
Rest of slope slants forward with 1.20 m overhang
Edge of roof has a clearance of 1.20 m above the ground
Roof cover is made of grass shingles lashed to the rafters
CIRCULATORY ELEMENTS
Stairs provided for the granary
No windows
Smoke from the house was made to pass at smoke holes provided at either end of the ridge pole
Front door has a 0.42 m. width and opens into a passageway that reach to the ang-an

DECORATIVE ELEMENTS
Sleeping compartment are provided with 0.90 x 1,20 m. wooden boards or benches, slightly
inclined on one end to allow sleepers head to be elevated.

The Sagada house resembles the Bontoc house but is fully covered. It is a wooden box with a steep
thatch roof as a lid. With the granary within, the Sagada house is a "house within a house".

b. IFUGAO
Alternative/Associated Names: Ifugao, Amganad, Ayangan, Kiangan, Gilipanes, Quiangan,
Tuwali Ifugao, Mayoyao (Mayoyao, Mayaoyaw)
LOCATION: Ifugao Province
DIALECT: Four distinct Ifugao dialects

The term "Ifugao" is derived from "ipugo" - earth people or mortals or humans, as
distinguished from spirits and deities.
7

PLAN

Also means "pugo" - from the hill

Southern part of the Cordillera region best known for its rice terraces.
Aside from their rice terraces, the Ifugaos are known for their literary traditions of the
'hudhud' and the 'alim' .
The Ifugaos highest prestige feasts are the "hagabi", for the most wealthy; and the
"uyauy", a feast for those immediately below the wealthiest.

Bale house is an enclosed structure, square in plan

2.00 m. high on four tree trunks as columns
4.00 x 6.00 m. single room house
Interior space was used for cooking, dining sleeping, storing and worship
Next to his house (twin) is the granary
Fireplace is located at the far right hand corner of the house and on the lower with a
layer of earth spread over
Shelves above the fireplace are provided for the storage of palay and firewood
Only husband, wife and youngest child live in the house. Upon reaching the age of
reason, children sleep in communal dormitories.

STRUCTURAL ELEMENTS
Four house posts of 0.25 x 0.25 (cross-section area) are from amugawan tree
Posts are buried into a hole dug about half meter and further secured by means
placing stones on each holes.
Floor girders are carved with mortises on both ends to fit into the pointer upper
end of the posts which acts as tenons.
Solid floor joists with wooden flooring attached by wooden pegs
Walls (waist or chest high) are usually slanted outward the top
Wallboards are mortised into the floor joists while the upper part are rabbeted to
the beam
Since no nails are used, the house can easily be dismantled, carried to a new site
and reassembled.

PROTECTIVE ELEMENTS
Roof framing are made of rafters
Apex of roof, are made of grass covering attached loosely to allow the escape of smoke
emanating from the kitchen area
Pyramidal in shape covered with reed and grass
Ran steeply from the top downwards extending beyond the floor level, sometime
concealing the walls entirely
Rat guard in the four corners
CIRCULATORY ELEMENTS
Two doors having the same width as the wallboards
Ladder is provided at the main door. Ladder was drawn at night for security and
protection
DECORATIVE ELEMENTS
Carabaos skull and pig jaws were used as indication of status and keeping peace with the
gods
Ambubulan figure form placed on top of the roof used as protection against evil spirits
and lightning and sign of asking favor from the god Kabunyan.

c. IBALOI
Alternative/Associated Names: Ibaloi/Nabaloi
LOCATION: Southern Benguet
DIALECT: Ibaloi

Live mostly in the southern part of Benguet

10

Agricultural people cultivating rice in terraced fields, and have some affinity in language
with Pangasinan, its southern neighbor
Baguio City, the Cordilleras lone city and known as the Summer Capital of the
Philippines is also situated in Ibaloi country.
Major feast is the Pesshet, a public prestige feast of the wealthy that could last for weeks
and involving the butchering and sacrifice of dozens of animals.
One of their more popular dances is the Bendiyan dance that could be participated in by
as many as a hundred men and women dancers.
The Ibaloi house has a larger room, a flaring roof, and a small porch.

11

c. KANKANA-EY
Alternative/Associated Names: Northern Kankana-ey; Sagada/Besao, Igorot, Western
Bontoc, Applai
LOCATION: Western Mountain Province, Southeastern Ilocos Sur Province,
Northern Benguet
DIALECT: Northern Kankana-ey

Domain includes Western Mountain Province, Northern Benguet and

Southeastern Ilocos Sur.
Kankana-eys major dances include takik, a wedding dance and ballangbang.
Built sloping terraces to maximize farm space in the rugged terrain of the
Cordilleras.
House is a variation of the Ifugao prototype. The roof is higher and wider,
providing a spacious loft above the living space. On the ground level, wooden
planks are laid to create more livable space.
Two famous institutions:
dap-ay - the mens dormitory and civic center,
Ebgan - the girls dormitory where courtship between young men and
women took place.

References:
Alarcon, Norma-Ipac. 1991, rev. 2003. Philippine Architecture During the Pre-Spanish and
Spanish Period. University of Santo Tomas Publishing House
____________. 1994. CCP Encyclopedia of Arts Vol. III. Manila,Philippines
Fletcher, Sir Banister. 1996. History of Architecture 20th edition. Architectural Press.
Klassen, Winand. 1986. Architecture in the Philippines Filipino Building in a CrossCultural Context. Cebu City, Philippines: University of San Carlos.
Tiongson, Nicanor, ed. 1991.Tuklas Sining, Essays on the Philippine Arts. Manila
Valera- Turalba, Christina. 2005.Philippine Heritage Architecture before 1521 to the 1970s.
Manila
Mananghaya, Joy research

Prepared by:

Archt. Clarissa L. Avendao

Revised - November 2008, 2009

12