FILIPINO CONSTRUCTION BELIEFS
CONTENTS: Mounting a Cross Favorable Days for Construction ManugoDiningRoom Brightness Position of Doors A Word from the Editor-in-Chief References 02 03 05 07 09 11 13
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A WORD FROM THE EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
As an Ilokano myself, I find these construction beliefs amusing for it traces a bit of our history. Believing in the spirits related to the history of a building allows us to understand its character as well. According to Wendelyn Talbo (2018), there are reasons why these beliefs are still being applied in contemporary construction work. First, it is to bring prosperity and draw away the bad spirits as Filipinos are known to be religious. Second is to prevent unexpected incidents such as the death of a family member or the construction workers on site. Finally, it is believed to have a connection with the structural integrity of the building.
Anne Dimaya of 3ID3
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The Ilocanos have a practice of placing a cross made of bamboo or wood at the center of the construction site. When the cross stands steadily, it is believed that unseen spirits and the souls of the descendants of the place are allowing the new homeowners to put up their house. If the cross shifts from its original position, a ritual shall be done or the homeowners have to search for a different area to build the house (Talbo, 2018).
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In the same source, an engineer expressed that this practice is crucial, whether the owners like it or not, because it is a tradition that has been handed down from one generation to the next.
MOUNTINGACROSS
DAYSFAVORABLEFOR CONSTRUCTION 2. 05
Virgo (August 23 – September 22) and Aquarius (January 11 to February 18) best for families to have a better and peaceful life
In the study of Wendelyn Talbo on the Ilokano Beliefs and Practices during House Construction and House Blessing (2018), it featured a 73 year-old woman, a zodiac sign expert who imparts the auspicious days (when construction is best started). She says that:
not recommended due to the belief that it may cause families to have frequent misunderstandings and moreover, would cause the head of the family to separate along the way.
Leo (July 23-August 22) and Capricorn (December 22 January 19):
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According to a balikbayan Filipino homeowner featured in the journal by Wendelyn Talbo, practicing the Manugo on the building’s columns would attract money for the family in unprecedented times. The dropping of coins was done in a clockwise direction.
This is the practice of placing or dropping coins in the main columns of the house starting from the right following the clockwise direction.
MANUGO
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DINING LIGHTINGROOM
Pampangos are known to love cooking and eating which is why their dining rooms are located at the brightest areas of the house.
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In contrast to the Ilocanos, they regard eating as a solemn occasion and therefore prefer subdued lighting (NCCA, n.d.).
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Doors should not be facing parallel to each other so as to not form what the Ilocanos call “salpot” (meaning to be pierced). This is said to prevent hardships, death and troubles. In addition, the positions of the bedrooms must be taken into consideration and must not form an image of a cross as it represents agony and suffering.
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OFPOSITIONDOORS
https://fashionablehostess.com/inspiration for our new home/ Lenthall, S. (Ed.). (n.d.). Untitled. Creative https://www.creativeboom.com/inspiration/shadowBoom. spaces
the Philippines is very rough but can’t be seen when plastered over. Provided the hollow concrete blocks are filled with a good strength concrete, this is not a problem.]. Tropical House & Garden Magazine. https://tropicalhousegarden.com/pitfallsbuilding-house-philippines/
NCCA.buildings/miniature-architecture-crafted-from-paper-looks-like-real-RetrievedSeptember15,2022,from https://ncca.gov.ph/about-ncca3/subcommissions/subcommission on the arts sca/architecture-and-allied-arts-2/filipino-building-beliefs/
#3 Must Try Restaurant in Pampanga: Jun Jun’s Pampanga. (2020, February 3).
[Brightness slider level control. Contrast and brightness adjustment. Design concept for mobile app, web page. Vector illustration]. (n.d.).Adobe Fashionable=504000082https://stock.adobe.com/search?k=adjust+brightness&asset_idStock.Hostess(Ed.).(2021,June18).INSPIRATIONFOROURNEWHOME:Inspiration.FashionableHostess.
REFERENCES:
Astley,aquariusaestheticinhttps://eatsplorations.com/2020/02/03/8EATSplorations.-must-try-restaurants-pampanga/crossbackground.(n.d.).Pinterest.https://pin.it/6okzI6r.(n.d.).Pinterest.https://pin.it/3VVjhXyD.(2020,June1).[Theconcretefinishonhousebeingbuiltin
REFERENCES:
Oleh Noken Wallpaper Collection. (2021, November 19). 35+ Blue Soft Aesthetic Wallpaper for Homescreen & Lockscreen. Noken Wallpaper
TheTANGHALANGTalboShowCaseRoomRollRevolsofthttps://nokenwallpapercollection.blogspot.com/2021/11/blueCollection.--aesthetic-wallpaper.html,L.(n.d.).HôtelSt-AndréDesArtsparChloéNègre.GoodMoods.https://www.goodmoods.com/fr/news/hotel-st-andre-desartsVerticalScroll.(n.d.).DesignBinge.https://designbinge.tumblr.com/post/138083144587/ampSketcher.(n.d.).Doors.https://www.roomsketcher.com/floor-plans/:Stef&Britt.(n.d.).Pinterest.https://pin.it/2earLLA,W.R.(2018,October).IlokanoBeliefsandPracticesDuringHouseConstructionandHouseBlessing.InternationalJournalofScientific&EngineeringResearch,9(10),106109.https://www.ijser.org/researchpaper/ILOKANO-BELIEFS-AND-PRACTICES-DURING-HOUSE-CONSTRUCTION-AND-HOUSE-BLESSING.pdfZarate,E.R.(n.d.).FilipinoBuildingBeliefs.PAMBANSA.(n.d.).Divisare.https://divisare.com/projects/340652-leandro-locsin-simone-bossi-tanghalang-pambansa?utm_campaign=journal&utm_content=image-project-id-340652&utm_medium=email&utm_source=journal-id-141BookyTeam.(2018,October11).ExperienceIlocanoCuisinerightinthecenterofMakatiatKambinganniApong!BookyGuide.https://booky.ph/blog/kambingan-ni-apong-makati/
FILIPINO CONSTRUCTION BELIEFS
Magazine designed by: ElyzabethAnne S. Dimaya |3 ID3
