Environmental Factors

1. CAVE
2. LEAN-TO HOUSES
3. TREE HOUSE
4. IFUGAO HOUSE

Environmental Factors

Geology and Materials

The Philippines is rich in latent wealth found in her vast lands of valleys, plains, hills and mountain
ranges and the waters along her extensive coastlines. There is a great variety of timber, mineral land
areas. Iron, copper, gold, tin, clay, limestones, manganese are mined in many parts of the country. The
best timber products used for building and furniture making are narra, molave, yakal, dao, ipil, guijo,
tanguile, palosapis and others found in extensive mountain ranges and hills. Palm and rattan are also
abound. These are used form minor light construction.

Religion
The first Indonesians and Malays who came to the Philippines were animo-deists and therefore
worshipped the sun as the source of life, the moon, the stars, the rainbow, the caves, volcanoes and
large trees. They also respected certain animals like the sharks, crows, doves, rooster, lizards and
iguanas. They invoked protection from evil from their ancestral spirits and in the concept of anitos and
diwatas. these beliefs took form in the decorative symbols that they carved in their houses, sailboats,
tools, weapons and costumes. The carcass of the carabao skull was also important symbol placed on top
of the roof of the chief's house to signify that the community had a leader. The rooster was the symbol
of the sun, force, courage, and fertility and was used on top of the roof finials as well as in the praws of
sailboats. The lizard or iguana was used as a symbol of the reincarnation of a deity and they were carved
and placed across the doors of th granaries to ward off the entrance of pests and thieves.

The second and third waves of Malays brought the concept of Bathala, the supreme god, creator of the
universe and lord of all man.

Climate and Seismic Condition

Climate, topography and seismic conditions dictate a highly functional type of architecture. Torrential
rains, typhoon, tidal waves, heat, humidity, earthquake are common occurrences in the Philippines. The
main seasons in the Philippines are the dry-hot season from March to June; rainy-wet season from July
to November. December to February experience mild climate. Torrential rains cause floods, washing out
coastal towns and destroying forest and farmlands.

Social, Political and Economic Conditions

Before the coming of the Spaniards, the primitive non-Christian Filipinos lived in small communities
called barangay ruled by a datu. They were ruled by local laws. They practised medicine using herbs,
juices and oil. They showed skill in the art of embalming. The tinuro, the dipa and the dankal were used
as units of linear measure. the gatang was the unit of measure of capacity.

The art of the Bagobos were confined to personal adornments of headgear, belts, armlets, sheaths and
pouches. The maranaw craftsmanship and dexterity are evident in their brass work, the urns, rays and
"gadurs" (vases). Among the Ifugaos, woodcarving in wooden representation of deities and idols was a
common art. The Apayaos, Kalingas and Gaddangs practised dry-rice agriculture. The Mangyans
subsisted on shifting agriculture, hunting and gathering. They also practised the art of basket weaving.

The earliest type of shelter of our ancestors known were the Tabon Caves.

Caves and rock shelters like the Tabon Cave in Palawan served as shelters for the early Filipinos.

Lean-to Houses

LEAN-TOS winbreaks or
windscreens as the Crst attempt
at building served
as shelters during a hunting or
food-gathering journey made of
light
branches and fronds, but strong
enough to withstand a strom
Negritos of
Zambales Agtas of Palanan,
Isabela
LEAN-TOS winbreaks or windscreens as the Crst attempt at building served as shelters during a hunting
or food-gathering journey made of light branches and fronds, but strong enough to withstand a strom
Negritos of Zambales Agtas of Palanan, Isabela
• Wind-shield or one-sided lean-to with or without flooring
• Single-pitched roof supported by rafters.
  The earliest type of shelter was the lean to fashioned of leaves and propped up by a pole.


The prehistory or even the history of the whole Philippines is actually the individual histories of the
various ethnic groups that comprise the entire population.

Pre-Hispanic Era
Caves and rock shelters like the Tabon
Cave in Palawan served as shelters for
the early Filipinos.  Later on the
invention of various tools allowed for
the fabrication of tent-like shelters and
tree houses.
Early pre-historic houses were
characterized by rectangular structures
elevated on stilt foundations and
covered by voluminous thatched roofs
ornamented with gable-finials and its
structure could be lifted as a whole and
carried to a new site.  Examples include the Ifugao House, bahay kubo and the
Maranao’s torogan.
Mosques, the masjid and the langgal in Tausug and Yakan or ranggar in Maranao,
emerged as Islam was established in Sulu (14th century) and in Mindanao (15th century).

DRAWING IFUGAO HOUSE

CAVE DWELLINGS earliest human habitation Tabon Cave, Palawan had been inhabited
for 30,000 years caves in Angono, Rizal with ancient petroglyphs

TREE HOUSES perched on forked branches of trees, up to 60 feet above theground

prevented attack by animals and human enemies by the Gaddang and Kalinga of Luzon
Manobo and Mandaya of Mindanao Moros of Lake Lanao

LEAN-TOS winbreaks or windscreens as the Crst attempt at building served as shelters

during a hunting or food-gathering journey made of light branches and fronds, but strong
enough to withstand a strom Negritos of Zambales Agtas of Palanan, Isabela

BAHAY KUBO or NIPA HUT “balai” and spanish “cubo” or cube – cube-shaped house,
from its boxy appearance primitive style of dwelling probably started around 200 BC,
with the coming of iron tools well- adapted to tropicalclimate of wood, rattan, cane,
bamboo, palm leaves, cogon and nipa
 Elevated one to Cve feet from the ground - silong
 protection from the moist ground and Iood
 protection from vermin and other animals
 enclosed area as sleeping quarters
 silong used for storage for tools and crops, an animal enclosure, or burial ground.
 usually with steep thatch roof
 varies across regional and ethnic lines