Sulu Ethnolinguistic Groups

SAMAL
BADJAO
TAUSUG

SAMAL ARCHITECTURE
 LOCATION
SAMAL
The Indigenous people are
found in the southern part of
Mindanao particularly in
Palawan, Basilan, Davao,
Zamboanga, Sulu archipelago
Widely distributed
ECONOMIC ACTIVITIES
•Fishing
Largely
•Logging
•Hunting
Sea farers •Seaweed farming
Farmers
•Kumpit (boat ) building
traders
•Weaving
•Pottery, painting
•Pearl diving
•Food preservation (drying fish)
•Farming (coconut for copra)
RELIGION CLIMATE
Practice Islam
The climate in the region is generally
Still practice folk beliefs mild. There is no marked rainy or dry
and traditions season. Rainfall is evenly distributed
throughout the year. The region is
not affected by storms.
ART
Ukil –common to Badjao, Tausug and Samal
is ukil or a type of wood carving or
ukil- the curvilinear pattern consisting of
continuous stylized scroll of leaves, vines
found in houses, grave markers, boats,
weapons and other wood based objects

Manuk manuk (bird) and naga ( serpent) are

also carved in wood
ART AND CULTURE
• Their unique language separate
them from the rest of cultural
communities in the area

• They arrived first in the

archipelago before the Tausug

• Women engaged in mat making

and pottery

• Wood carving- ukkil motif -

found in boats, grave markers,
weapons, working tools
Samal grave marker with ukkil
ARCHITECTURE
 House built on shallow water, tidal
flats and shallow reefs
 Dwellings in clusters are located on
well-protected shorelines
 Dwellings are raised 1.00 m to
three meters above in reference to
the level high tide
SETTLEMENTS
Coastal Settlements
 Living in a small, compact communities of
100 to 500 people
 Dwellings of relatives and families group
together and oriented toward a mosque
 Pantan foot bridge that connect the
coastal village to land
.
 House built on shallow water
 Dwellings in clusters are located on well-
protected shorelines
 Dwellings are raised 1.00 m to three
meters above in reference to the level
high tide
SETTLEMENTS
Dwelling clusters on piles above reefs
and tidal flats

Other structures, school, cemetery, fields

are land-based

Advantages in living above water

. • Cooler
• Readily available waste disposal
• Easy movement by water
• no land ownership dispute
• Ideal environment for fishermen and
sea farer
SAMAL HOUSES
 BUILDING
WITH PARTS

Nipa or sawali for walls

Bamboo for stairs and flooring
Tree trunks for the posts and other
structural bracing
METHOD OF CONSTRUCTION
•Structural members are held through lashing.
•Gable roof is of simple construction.
•Ridge pole is supported by the kingpost rather than trusses.
•Horizontal beams are positioned outside the structure.
 METHOD OF CONSTRUCTION

Wall sidings may be of thatch, woven bamboo strips or palm fronds woven
together.
Fernandez, R. (2015). Diksiyonaryong Biswal Ng Arkitekturang
Filipino. A Dictionary on Filipino Architecture. University of
Santo Tomas Publishing House, Quezon City.

Perez III R. ed. (1989). Folk Architecture. GCF Books, Quezon

City

Rixhon G.ed. (1973). Sulu studies. Bustamante press QC.

https://pssc.org.ph/wp-content/pssc-
archives/Institute%20of%20Philippine%20Culture/Research%
20Reports%20and%20Monographs/Sulu%20Studies%202.pdf