Cultural Beliefs in Housing (Regional Characteristics)

Question 1

The experienced Filipino architect is familiar with the common __ and usually follows them or applies these age-old guidelines in the planning of one’s dream house.

Answer 1

folk beliefs

Question 2

Many of these beliefs are based on __ that do not have to be overly emphasized.

Answer 2

sound planning practices

Question 3

It is more advantageous if two faces of the house __. This can be achieved if a corner of the house take in the morning sun. This can be achieved if a corner of the house faces east. In fact, most educated Filipinos are of the belief that the more windows your residence has (or the larger they are), the better the chances of your house absorbing natural and spiritual graces.

Answer 3

take in the morning sun

Question 4

In __, the front door of the house must face against the flow of a nearby river according to ancient folk beliefs.

Answer 4

Bontoc

Question 5

In __, the roof of the house must slope following the direction of the incline of the nearby mountains.

Answer 5

Romblon

Question 6

In the __, 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.

Answer 6

Cordilleras

Question 7

Among the __, it is customary to give ample space underneath their houses by elevating their floors to accommodate the future tomb of the owner to ensure perpetual guidance over the house the dead leaves behind.

Answer 7

Ibalois

Question 8

If one is building a house __, 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 close to that of his parents such that rainwater from the eaves of the main house pours onto the roof of the sibling.

Answer 8

within a family compound or between two relatives

Question 9

In __, posts are erected following this procedure: posts are laid with their bottom ends at the footing on the ground and the top ends pointing towards the east. The post nearest the east is the first to be raised. The same procedure is followed for the other posts, one after the other in a clockwise direction as one reads the plan.

Answer 9

Southern Tagalog

Question 10

This same clockwise manner of raising the posts is practiced on the island of __ and the belief is that it will make the house windproof.

Answer 10

Romblon

Question 11

The __ equate the building of a house to the development of a fetus. They believe that the first to appear in a woman’s womb is the navel. Hence, the first post to be erected should be the main post within the interior of the house.

Answer 11

Tausugs

Question 12

In the __, meanwhile, the first post to be raised is the one positioned nearest to the northeast. But this is done after the footings have been sprinkled with wine.

Answer 12

Cagayan Valley

Question 13

The __ caution against having a solitary post in the middle of a room. It is said to bring misfortune to the family. This belief is also common in Tagalog areas and it is said that posts situated this way augur a “heavily laden” life (mabigat ang kabuhayan).

Answer 13

old folks of Bataan

Question 14

The __ do not use crooked wooden posts especially the ones with knotholes in them because they are said to symbolize death.

Answer 14

Yakans

Question 15

In the older communities of __, it is commonly believed that termites (anay) will not enter the house if the bottoms of all wooden posts are first charred. Informed master carpenters, however, suggest that these bottoms not just be charred but tarred as well.

Answer 15

Bayambang, Pangasinan

Question 16

Others swear by the potency of __ sprinkled generously in all footing excavations as preventive measures against anay infestation.

Answer 16

rock salt

Question 17

Old people also cautions against __ for reuse so as not to lose one’s wealth.

Answer 17

cutting old posts

Question 18

An orientation towards the __ is also required for stairs.

Answer 18

east

Question 19

__ position their stairs so that they rise with the morning sun. To them, if it were the other way around, meant turning one’s back on fate.

Answer 19

Ilocanos

Question 20

But builders in __, just like many typical Filipinos, believe that a stairway facing east is considered bad luck because, they say, anything facing the early sun dries up ahead of all others, and in the same token, wealth taken into the house will dry up much faster.

Answer 20

Pandi, Bulacan

Question 21

If there is no way one can make the stairs face east, at least make them face __.

Answer 21

any nearby mountain

Question 22

If one’s lot abuts a river, position the stairs in a way that they are __. This is so in order that good luck from the house would never be washed away with the river’s flow.

Answer 22

facing upstream

Question 23

In the same way, if the proposed house is beside the sea, or if one is building a beach house, plan the stairs in such a way that they __. If the stairs are perpendicular to the shoreline, luck may flow in but also flow out with the tides.

Answer 23

run parallel with the shore

Question 24

Also, it is not advised to place a large window in the wall __ so that good fortune will not easily go out that window. Most Western countries consider it bad luck to __. Actually, this can be taken more as a safety precaution than a superstition. Locally, one should not make a passageway any area under the stairs.

Answer 24

directly facing the stairs
walk under a ladder

Question 25

__ never use the space beneath the stairs as a sleeping quarters.

Answer 25

Tagalogs

Question 26

The underside of wooden stairs of __ houses are usually completed covered not because of peeping Toms but because the Old folks say so.

Answer 26

Ilonggo

Question 27

For __, especially the small ones, the cashier or the place where money is kept should not be located under the staircase.

Answer 27

business establishments

Question 28

In homes, neither should __ be kept there because it translates to treading on the grace of God whenever one goes up or down the stairs.

Answer 28

rice

Question 29

When planning a structure with two or more storeys, the stairway should not be positioned at the __ of the structure so as not to divide the building into two equal parts.

Answer 29

center

Question 30

It is believed that the __ of a son or daughter of the house owner inserted in the staircase will strongly bind the stringer with its supporting girder.

Answer 30

dried umbilical cord

Question 31

Oro

Answer 31

Gold

Question 32

Plata

Answer 32

Silver

Question 33

Mata

Answer 33

Death

Question 34

The __ of Mindanao, however, believe in odd numbering of steps. They also require an odd number of bedrooms.

Answer 34

Yakans

Question 35

__, on the other hand, count their steps by fours.

Answer 35

Chinese Filipinos

Question 36

It is advised that doors should not face each other. The people in the north associates this with the __ 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.

Answer 36

easy passage of a coffin

Question 37

In __, however, wide doors facing each other are considered lucky, especially if they lead to the terrace or garden. One’s door also should not directly face one’s neighbor’s to avoid future conflicts with the said households and to avoid wrestling with each other for the possession of the luck that passes in front of both your houses.

Answer 37

Sta. Maria and San Miguel, Bulacan

Question 38

__, like basements are looked at as pockets of caves where evil spirits can hide. It is balanced off only when an exit lower than the said room is provided.

Answer 38

Sunken rooms

Question 39

Some __ do not want basements altogether because of the belief that only coffins should be found under the ground.

Answer 39

Ilocanos

Question 40

Old folks of __ advise that the floors of the living and dining rooms must be of the same level. They say the imaginary “ball of fortune” must be able to freely roll across both floors.

Answer 40

Sta. Maria, Bulacan

Question 41

Overly ornate living and dining room ceilings, especially those with cornices, moldings, and other superficial decorations are avoided as it tends to make the ceiling look like a coffin. Even the “__” or flat type of roof invented at the turn of the century are avoided as it reminds people of a coffin.

Answer 41

mansard

Question 42

It is advised that one must plan the doors of one’s bedrooms in such a way that when it is opened, one would face __. There should always be ample space between the door and the bed itself. Position the bed such that the headboard does not rest against a window opening.

Answer 42

neither the foot nor head of the bed

Question 43

Neither should you put any bed under a __, regardless of whether the beam is of wood or concrete, and position the bed so that the occupant will not be lying perpendicular to the beam. Overly strict homeowners do not have exposed beams at all even if these are veneered with different materials.

Answer 43

cross beam

Question 44

For houses with second floors, it should be observed that no drainage pipe runs inside or under the floor where the bed is located. Drainage pipes contain __ associated with bad energies which may affect the good spirits of the people sleeping over these pipes.

Answer 44

unclean fluids

Question 45

Do not place bedrooms in the __ portion of the house. It is always preferred (luck-wise) that the bedroom floor is higher than the living room. Non-sleeping rooms like library, den, foyer, storage, etc. can be at a lower level than that of the living room.

Answer 45

basement

Question 46

As anyone who knows Filipino cuisine, __ love to cook (and eat), so most of their dining rooms are situated in the sunniest and brightest locations of the house.

Answer 46

Pampangos

Question 47

__, on the other hand, prefer subdued lighting because they consider eating a solemn occasion.

Answer 47

Ilocanos

Question 48

As in other areas of their existence, Filipinos nurture certain superstitions when It comes to building their abodes. These __ are as amusing as they are intriguing. The origins of these now widely held superstitions can be traced back to the traditions of particular ethnic groups.

Answer 48

house-building beliefs

Question 49

Applicable to both house owner and tenant, if the former is not residing in it this superstition is attributed to __ in Central Luzon. - __ are popular in Filipino houses especially for Roman Catholic families. - In planning and designing the house, people should refrain from having their house in the shape of a __ as it will bring the residents bad luck.

Answer 49

Pampangos Palm fronds cross

Question 50

Doors should never face __.

Answer 50

west

Question 51

__ should never face a house’s main door because it is believed that the __ will send out the blessings that are supposed to go inside the house.

Answer 51

Mirrors

Question 52

During construction, residents or the carpenters working on the house should offer a __ through pouring it to the foundations or posts of the house.

Answer 52

pig or a chicken’s blood

Question 53

Another thing which should be done during construction is twisting the posts __ before cementing it in its place.

Answer 53

clockwise

Question 54

It is believed that a child will be lucky if his or her first ever extracted tooth is placed __.

Answer 54

under a house’s roof

Question 55

People should never sweep the floor in the evening going to the direction of the __.

Answer 55

main door and outside the house

Question 56

A house that is built in the middle of a crossroad and faces the dead end or what is called “__” in Filipino is said to be full of bad luck for its residence. This also applies to buildings, apartments, and all other structures.

Answer 56

tumbok

Question 57

An imperative ritual in building a house, perhaps the __ counterpart of the cornerstone laying ceremony, is to imbed the foundation posts with loose coins for good luck.

Answer 57

Ilocano

Question 58

A house must face __, if it could be helped. Sunshine entering the front door ushers in prosperity

Answer 58

east

Question 59

Doors inside houses must not directly __ other doors that leads outside. Easy exits mean money earned may be quickly dissipated and never saved.

Answer 59

parallel

Question 60

As for stairs, they should always turn __, that being the righteous path. This particular belief applies best to the marital bond. An opposite direction signifies infidelity.

Answer 60

right

Question 61

Ilocanos of the northernmost part of the Philippines tend to cut down __ trees growing in front of their houses to prevent their daughters from being illicitly impregnated.

Answer 61

aratiles

Question 62

To make a house typhoon resistant, the posts should be turned __ before being permanently cemented and secured. Allowing the shadow of a post to fall on you while erecting it is a bad omen.

Answer 62

clockwise

Question 63

Erecting a house in front of a __ will bring bad luck to its occupants, whether it is the original owners or tenants.

Answer 63

dead-end street

Question 64

Doors should always be on the __ side of the house and the stairs should always turn to the __ to keep a married couple loyal to each other for life.

Answer 64

right

Question 65

__ must not be constructed higher than the ground for it would demand sacrifice in human life.

Answer 65

Septic tanks

Question 66

The owner must transfer to the new house __ during the new moon to attract good luck and prosperity, and the first things that must be brought inside the house are salt, rice and coins.

Answer 66

not later than six in the morning

Question 67

No part of the house should cover or hang over the stump of a __. Neither should a new house overlap any portion of an old house.

Answer 67

newly cut tree

Question 68

A two-story building that is remodeled into a single story will __ the lives of its occupants.

Answer 68

shorten

Question 69

A __ that enters the house brings good luck as long as it doesn’t bite any of the occupants. This is probably based on the practice of Filipinos during the Spanish colonial times to keep pythons in the partition between the roof and the ceiling to reduce the rodent population the house.

Answer 69

snake

Question 70

While number __ bring good luck, number __ is never used as an address number or the number of a story in a building.

Answer 70

7 and 11 13

Question 71

An injury to a construction worker while a house or building is being erected is an omen of bad luck that can be neutralized by __ and sacrificing its blood to the spirits.

Answer 71

killing a pig or a white chicken

Question 72

A __ is considered to be haunted and must not be cut down when building a house or else the spirits will attack the construction workers as well as the owner of a house.

Answer 72

Balete tree