Cultural Beliefs in Housing in

MINDANAO
 MINDANAO
“Wala namang mawawala kung susubukan natin.”

Part of daily life is ancient
beliefs that proper setting
up of homes and buildings
translates to good luck and
avoiding misfortunes.
Even in this modern age Mindanao Culture is both
where rational thinking rich and varied and is
dominates, beliefs rooted in mirrored through its people.
cultural history continue to
prevail.
 SELECTING A LOT
Never mind if the lot is expensive, securing those that show
prospects of fortune and avoiding those that manifest tell-
tale signs of bad luck is a BIG DEAL to most Filipinos.

SQUARE or RECTANGULAR
these shapes are thought to usher a
well-balanced and harmonious home
TRAPEZOIDAL
believed to mean great wealth
PURSE-SHAPED
believed to naturally collect money
and fortune
 YING THE FOUNDATIO
LA N
Embedding coins or religious PADUGO: The practice of pouring
or smearing pig or chicken blood
medallions inside the foundation is on the house‘s foundation.
believed to bring good luck

A taboo to most but this practice is

believed to ward off bad spirits and
protect the house from them
 Cultural Beliefs in Vernacular Archite
Unique cture
TAUSUG
The Tausugs 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 interiour of the
house.
 Cultural Beliefs in Vernacular Archite
Uniqu e cture
YAKAN
The Yakans, indigenous tribe in
the Sulu archipelago, do not
use crooked wooden posts
especially the ones with
knotholes in them because they
are said to symbolize death.
 HOUSE ELEMENTS
ORIENTATION:
The house front should face
the East where the sun rises

It is believed that
encouraging sunshine through
the front door brings warmth
and prosperity to the home
 HOUSE ELEMENTS
ORIENTATION:
It is more advantageous if two
faces of the house take in the
morning sun

The house should not face the

west as this can bring financial
difficulties, quarrels, or
immediate death to its residents
 HOUSE ELEMENTS
STAIRS:
ORO, PLATA, MATA
(GOLD, SILVER, DEATH)
Steps on a staircase should not
count in a multiple of three
(3, 6, 9, etc).
The Yakans of Mindanao, however,
believe in the odd numbering of
steps. They also require an odd
number of bedrooms.
 DOORS: HOUSE ELEMENTS

Doors should not open towards the foot of the bed nor a headboard
It is advised that doors should rest againsts a window opening to ensure a long life. Otherwise,
not face each other sleeping positioned at any large openings invites an early exit.
 HOUSE ELEMENTS
LIVING ROOMS:

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
“mansard” or flat type of roof invented at the turn of the century
are avoided as it reminds people of a coffin.
 HOUSE ELEMENTS

OVERLY ORNATE
CEILINGS
 HOUSE ELEMENTS
MANSARD ROOF
Salamat!
Thank you for listening