Module 2: Introduction to the

Philippines
Ar. Marites G. Balmas, MSCM, REB, REA
 Week 2
Module 2: Introduction to the Philippines
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
At the end of the module, the students shall be able to:
LO 01 Be able to understand the parallel and divergent histories of
architecture and the cultural norms of a variety of Indigenous,
vernacular, local, and regional settings in terms of their political,
economic, social-ecological, and technological factors.
 Introduction to Philippine Vernacular
Architecture
Philippine vernacular architecture refers to the indigenous
and traditional building styles developed in response to local
environmental, social, and cultural factors. These structures reflect
the ingenuity of Filipinos in adapting to their surroundings using
locally available materials and construction techniques.
Understanding the geographical, geological, climatic, social,
historical, and religious influences provides insight into the evolution
and resilience of vernacular architecture.
 DISCUSSIONS
INTRODUCTION TO PHILIPPINES
Geographical
Archipelago (Group of Islands), is divided into three island groups, namely,
LUZON, VISAYAS, MINDANAO
Total Number of Islands: 7,641 islands
Land Area: 300,000 sq. km.

Located in Southeastern Asia between the West Philippine Sea and the Pacific
Ocean Only about 1/3 of the islands are inhabited

Two Largest Islands:

Luzon: 105,000 sq. km. Mindanao: 95,000 sq. km.

Strategic position – in the path of Far East Trade
Major earthquakes and volcanic belt
In the path of typhoons from the Pacific
 Geological
bamboo, coconut trees, palm, cogon grass, rattan, and nipa -
Indigenous materials that were used in the pre-Spanish architecture
are still very abundant.
molave, yacal, and guijo -the sturdiest which could withstand the
weather and dampness used for posts and structural parts,
tanguile, and apitong - for exposed balconies for framings is
preferred.
Baguio City, and Benguet, and Mountain in Provinces -abundance of
pine trees that are used for paneling. In the lowlands, the reddish
Narra wood is popular as paneling and for furniture.
Ilocos and Pangasinan towns - found the clay, which is used to
manufacture sun-dried, and oven-baked red bricks.
Limestone - is found in Baguio, Bulacan, Laguna, La Union, and Bicol.
Marble -is found in Antipolo, Bulacan and Romblon.
Marble quarried from Romblon is comparable to Italian varieties.
Coral stones are much used in the Visayas.
The riverbeds; abound in the Philippines as a rich source of white
and gray river sand as well as river stones·.
The Philippines although small in the area also yields a rich source of
metals such as gold, silver, tin, iron nickel, and copper and also coal,
asbestos, chromite, manganese, and lead.
 Climatic
Tropical Climate

Two Seasons: RAINY SEASON AND DRY SEASON

Some provinces have dry seasons as they experience moderate to heavy rainfall every year

(Average Rainfall of 60mm)

Some provinces, especially those on a higher altitude can have a subtropical climate

Two kinds of monsoons: NORTHEAST MONSOON AND SOUTHWEST MONSOON

Northeast Monsoon, also known as the “Hanging Amihan”

o Affects eastern Philippines from October to late March

 Climatic
Initially cold and dry air

o From Siberia gathering moisture over the Pacific Ocean

o Characterized by prevalent cloudiness with rain and showers

Southwest Monsoon, also known as the “Hanging Habagat”

o Effects can be felt from July to September

o Rainy season in the western part of the Philippines

o Characterized by heavy rains for a week

(Source: Pagasa, Inquirer Archives)

 Social/Cultural
Filipinos are predominantly of Malay descent to frequently with
Chinese, American, or Spanish ancestry.
Many Filipinos have Spanish names because of a 19th-century
Spanish decree that required them to use Spanish surnames; or last
names. Elementary education in the Philippines starts at age seven,
is required by law, and lasts for six years. (K-12) Secondary education
begins at age 13 and lasts for four years (K-12) Undergraduate
college instruction typically is four years
The Social World is moralistic
Hierarchicizing environment that builds on familial arrangements:
Defined by sex, seniority, and status
 Social/Cultural
The Filipino people are not pure Malay. They are a mixture of races.
This came about when foreigners came to these shores either to
trade or to conquer the natives. Thus, some natives intermarried
with the Chinese, and a few with the Japanese. Some with the
Indians from India, many with the Spaniards and later, with the
Americans. The mixture of native or Malay and foreigner whether
Chinese, Spanish, or American, is called mestizo. In spite of this
mixture of races in the present Filipino people, the majority belong
to the Malay race.
 Social/Cultural
The Filipino people have; many common traits. Perhaps the most
important trait of the Filipino is his hospitality.
He welcomes visitors, whether Filipino or non-Filipino, with open
arms and a warm heart. He gives his visitors the best of his house
and he would goes to the extent of incurring debts to make his
visitors contented, happy, and comfortable.
 Social/Cultural
The Filipino has close family ties. The family is the unit of society and
consists of the parents, the grandparents, and the children. The
head of the family is the Father, but it is the mother who governs.
The mother is everything to everybody in the family. She is the first
teacher of the children, the treasurer of the home, the accountant,
the censor, the laundry woman, and the cook. Thus, in many Filipino
families, the father even calls the wife "Mama" or “Mommy", he
dutifully hands over his salary or earnings to the wife, who in case of
the father's illness, works to support the whole family. The problem
of the family is not the problem of the parents alone; they are the
problem of all the adult members of the family. Almost all adult
children help in the education of younger brothers and sisters.
 Social/Cultural
Respect for the elders is one of the best Filipino traits. Filipino
parents exercise a moral influence over their children. The latter
obey their parents willingly and help them in their work. The younger
men; and women do not, as a rule, disturb their elders when the
latter are talking or conversing with other people. Even among
strangers, respect is shown by Filipinos by bowing to them or by
using some words of respect. The Tagalog "po" is commonly used by
almost everybody to show respect even to a younger man or
woman, if the latter is a stranger.
 Social/Cultural
The Filipino is sentimental. He feels sad when a family member or a
friend leaves his home. When one leaves, he gives a send away gift
or pabaon, and when he arrives he usually brings a gift or
pasalubong. Leaving home for another country is always sad and is
accompanied by much crying and silent weeping. Almost the whole
member of the family is present at the Airport or Bus Station for the
send-off.
 Social/Cultural
Several values of the Filipinos are those of life, such as customs, usages,
traditions, etc. which the people regard as necessary and important in their
dealings with one another.
One of these values is “pakikisama” or sense of togetherness or
comradeship. It consists of doing somebody a good deed, such as helping a
man build a house without asking for compensation; or helping a man look
for a job. “Utang na Loob” or debt of gratitude is another famous Filipino
value. A person who receives favor from another, whether this is a friend or
stranger, is expected to pay his debt of gratitude for doing the same, or
more, to the man who has done him some good deed or who has done
him a favor. “Hiya” or “Kahihiyan” is another Filipino value. It means a sense
of shame, to a high degree.
Because of this value, often, a Filipino would do something foolish in
order to save face. Thus, even a neighbors, or friends in order to
have a feast of baptism of is child. He spends the borrowed money
on food and other things that would make his visitors happy and
contented. He does this in order to save face or “hiya”. He does not
want his neighbors to think that he could not afford to spend for his
child’s baptism.
 Social/Cultural
In the different places of the Philippines, people do not have the
same customs and traditions. There are still those who live in the
caves and mountains. Some of these ·are the T'bolis, and the
Manyans. Other Filipinos which we call the natives are those from
the Mountain Provinces, and others are the Ilocanos from the North
of Luzon, Pangasinan and Kapampangans of Pampanga from the
Central Luzon and Tagalogs of Metro Manila and Southern Manila,
and the Bicolanos of Southern Luzon. There are the Visayans and the
Muslims of Visayas, and Mindanao respectively.
 Social/Cultural
What is remarkable is that for a small island, there are almost a
hundred dialects. A foreigner will be surprised to find out that to
travel eight hours from Manila to llocos, he will encounter different
dialects every 30 minutes to 1 hour as he travels by car. One may be
lost in the splendor of its mountains and seas, but on practically
every street corner, there will be an English-speaking native swain
who is able to point out directions. With an almost hundred percent
literate population: the highest in Asia, it is the third largest English-
speaking group in the world.
Philippines

One of the largest English-speaking country in the world

Citadel of Christianity and democracy in East Asia

Mixture of races: Malay, Chinese, Spanish, American

Filipino people have many common traits, has close family ties and is sentimental
 Historical
Kronolohiya ng Kasaysayan ng Pilipinas
 Historical
According to an old scientific theory, the Philippines was once a part
of the Asian continent during pre-historic times.
The land bridges connecting the Philippines and Asia were
submerged. Thus, it came to pass that the Philippines was separated
from the big mass of land that is Asia.
The Filipinos are virtually a race of races. They are the product of the
mixture of various races of the world.
 Historical
Three and a half centuries of foreign rule-first by Spain and then by
the United States-superimposed a Western-style culture on the
Muslim way of life in this outcrop of islands.
Spain gave the Philippines its main religion, Roman Catholicism.
American Influence is shown in the country's bustling, skyscraper
cities, such as Manila and Makati, and in the use of English as the
main language.
 Historical
PRE-COLONIAL:
Immigration via land-bridges as early as 250,000 years ago, and later,
sea-vessels
There are two theories on the origins of the first Filipinos, the
inhabitants of what would later be called the Philippine Islands and
eventually the Republic of the Philippines.
Immigrants of Malay origin, food gatherers, and hunters
PRE-COLONIAL:
1380, Muslim Arabs arrived at the Sulu Archipelago and established
settlements which became min-states ruled by Datu -barangays
-laws on marriage, inheritance, ownership, crime, and behavior
-elaborate animistic religion
Arabs – converted some parts to Islam in 1300 AD
SPANISH RULE:
1521, Ferdinand Magellan landed in Samar Island
-1564, Miguel Lopez de Legaspi brought Christianity
-Systematically and efficiently Christianized most part of the country
-Introduced European institution and thought
-Economically linked Manila with Mexico and the rest of the world –
via the Spanish Galleon Trade
Brief occupation by the British forces (1762-1764); attempted
seizure by Dutch and Chinese
Spanish colony until 1900s
National movement by Jose Rizal, unsuccessful revolt by Aguinaldo
American Rule:
Islands were sold or ceded to America, as a result of Spanish war
with USA
Democracy was introduced – allowed a self-government called the
Commonwealth Era
Japanese Invasion:
December 1941
Established a puppet government
Liberation when Gen. McArthur returned in July 1945
The United States recognizes the Independence of the Republic of
the Philippines in 1946
Philippine Independence
-became an independent republic in 1946
Country placed under Martial Law
1986, people power revolution
Religions
Filipinos are deeply religious and is loyal and dedicated to his church and faith

Roman Catholicism

Islam

Protestantism, Aglipayan, Iglesia ni Kristo

 Religious
The average Filipino is deeply religious and dedicated to his church
and faith. The Cathedral, mosque or chapel is the landmark of most
communities; and although the Constitution provides for separation
of church and state, the advice and guidance of religious leaders
remains influential in every area of social life, including politics.
 Religious
The Philippine Republic is the only catholic country, east of the
Mediterranean Sea, a legacy of Spanish Missionaries who began
teaching in the early 17th century, Catholicism has been fostered and
expanded in the present century by U.S German, and Belgian
missionaries. The Catholic educational association includes two
Universities (Santo Tomas in Manila and San Carlos in Cebu City),
one hundred seminaries and colleges, and more than 400 high and
200 elementary schools. The church runs 13 hospitals, 9 asylums
and shelters, 3 1epers colonies, and many dispensaries. In recent
years it has helped in the training of anti-communist leaders within
these groups.
 Religious
The Philippine Independent Church, popularly known as the
Aglipayan Church, was formed in 1902 under the leadership of
Gregorio Aglipay, a Roman Catholic priest, and Isabela de los Reyes, a
journalist, and politician. The doctrine was originally stated to be that
of the Roman Catholic Church, but essential departures have
appeared. For example, the vernacular replaced Latin completely as
the liturgical language; and national heroes were added to the
calendar of Saints. The Aglipayan followers is strongest in Northern
Luzon. American Protestantism entered the Philippines after Spanish
ceded the islands to the U.S., in 1898. The Presbyterians, Baptists,
Methodists, Evangelical United Brethren, Disciples of Christ,
Episcopalians, and Congregationalists were all represented by 1902.
 Religious
It is reported that 80% of the Protestant population belongs to
denominations that are members of the Philippine Federation of
Churches, which is similar to the National Council of Churches in the
U.S. The association of Christian Schools and Churches includes
Sillman University in Iloilo. There are several Protestant hospitals of
which Mary Johnson Hospital in Manila Protestant is best known, and
many clinics. In the field of social welfare. Protestant groups provide
educational leadership, medical missionaries, and agricultural
missionaries.
 Religious
Islam was introduced to the Philippines shortly before the Spaniards
arrived. Muslim Filipinos, called Moros, are concentrated in Sulu
Archipelago, southern and western Mindanao, and southern
Mindanao. Numbering more than 1,300.00 in 1960, the Moros are
easily the largest Non-Christian group. They are culturally advanced
and cohesive, and any planning that concerns the southern
Philippines cannot ignore them.
 Homework 02: Essay

Write an essay about what you learned from Module 2 and its
application in the practice of architecture in the Philippines. Please
focus on your ideas and opinions relative to the given topic and do
not discuss anything that is not necessary. Discuss your answer in
not less than 600 words. Write in a short bond paper size, using
Times New Roman font, no. 11, 1.5 spacing. Use a normal margin.
Use the header, then, write your name, year & section, subject, and
professor. Write these in all CAPITAL letters.
Rubrics/Grading Criteria:
 Activity 2: Manual Drawing

Draw an example of a Philippine Vernacular Architecture. Must be

rendered in 9” x 12” paper size.
A4-sized paper. Make a short description about the structure in the
same page, in not less than 50 words.
Do not forget to write your COMPLETE NAME, COURSE, SUBJECT,
YEAR, SECTION, AND NAME OF PROFESSOR.
Thank you

Ar. Marites G. Balmas

mgbalmas@[Link]