housing typologies and beliefs in leyte particularly in tanuan

1. Tanuan, Leyte
Presented by:
Borja, Steven Charles C.
Natulla, April Ann O.
Obero, Ivan Hector R.
Quiton, Russel Kennely R.
Remoreras, Cindy B.

2.  Tanauan is one of the oldest towns in
the Province of Leyte.
 It is a second class municipality
composed of fifty-four (54) barangays.
 The town has been baptized the title of
“Cradle of the Intellectuals” or
"Bungto Han Kamag-araman" since the
Spanish colonial period.
 It is bounded on the north by the
Municipality of Palo, on the south by
the Municipality of Tolosa, on the west
by the Municipalities of Dagami and
Tabon-Tabon, and on the east by San
Pedro Bay.

3. ONE STOREY RESIDENTIAL BUNGALOW

4. TWO STOREY RESIDENTIAL ROW HOUSES

5. 1.) PUTTING OF COINS ON A COLUMN
 The reason for this belief is for them to
have good fortune and prosperity
o If they are using wood column before they
install it, they need carved a hole at the
bottom with an appropriate size for the coin
to be inserted.

6. Coins underneath a concrete column Coins on a plain surface above floor line in a
concrete column
o If they are using concrete columns, before the
pouring they place coins underneath while others rather
than placing it underneath, they place it at the plain
surface of the column above the floor line.

7. 2.) KALIPAYAN DRIED LEAVES ON TRUSS
After Construction they put the kalipayan
dried leaves below the apex of the truss by
hanging or fastening it.
o In this belief they place the kalipayan
leaves on the king post of the truss
because they believe that it drives away
evil spirits.
o they believe that it will provide them
happiness.
o Some resident said that they do it so
that the spirit will recognize them as
the owner of that place.

8. 3.) DOORS AND WINDOWS SHOULD NOT FACE EACH OTHER, INSTEAD THE
PLACEMENT SHOULD BE ALTERNATED
o To lessen the argue between the husband and wife, and also the
fighting between siblings.
o So that the graces we received would not quickly leave the house.
4.) MAIN DOOR SHOULD FACE THE MORNING SUNRISE OR EAST
o For better chance of absorbing the spiritual graces of morning.
5.) BROKEN BOTTOM PIECE/S OF ROUND
TIMBER/TOOD (IN VERNACULAR TERM)
SHOULD BE GET RID OFF BEFORE THE
RECONSTRUCTION.
o it should be removed to prevent bad luck
in the family

9. 6.) PUTTING OF COIN ON THE MAIN ENTRANCE FLOOR
o they consider it lucky
7.) ROOFS OF NEIGHBOURING HOUSES SHOULD NOT OVERLAP TO EACH
OTHER. PIRUK ( IN VERNACULAR TERM).
o Their negative energy will be
transferred to the overlapped house.
o The family whose roof is overlapped
will be unsuccessful.

10. 8.) BEDROOM AND COMFORT ROOM SHOULD NOT BE ADJACENT INSTEAD SHOULD
BE INSIDE THE BEDROOM
o so that the bedroom won’t kick the comfort room
9.) KITCHEN AREA/ROOM LEVEL MUST BE LOWER THAN THE GROUND FLOOR
o so that their house will receive more blessings
10.) STAIR SHOULD NOT BE DIRECT FROM THE MAIN ENTRY/DOOR
o they believe that it generates bad luck
11.) BEFORE THEY START THE CONSTRUCTION OR BEFORE MOVING TO A NEW
HOUSE THEY OFFER THE FOLLOWING: COTTON, RICE, SALT, WATER

11. o According to Filipino beliefs, these things will help bring positive
energy to the house which will help the occupants become successful.
1. Cotton - to lighten the minds of the dwellers
2. Rice - for the dwellers to receive the grace from God
3. Salt - so that each family member will always be connected
4. Water - for clearer state of mind

12. 12.) AT NIGHT BEFORE THE CONSTRUCTION, THEY SET UP THREAD AROUND
THE LOT PERIMETER AT A HEIGHT OF 1FOOT.
o if the thread broke it means that the spirits
nearby doesn’t allow the construction of the
house.
13.) MASTERS BEDROOM MUST FACE THE
SUNRISE
o They believe that it is lucky.
14.) SOME PEOPLE BELIEVED THAT IT IS LUCKY TO START CONSTRUCTION
DURING THE DAYS WITH NUMBER 8. EXAMPLE IS JUNE 18.

13. 15.) IF ONE RECONSTRUCTS HIS HOUSE, HE SHOULD NOT CUT THE POSTS
BECAUSE THAT MIGHT CAUSE HIM TO LOSE HIS WEALTH.
16.) THE FOUNDATION OF A POST SHOULD BE BATHED WITH THE BLOOD OF A
PIG OR WHITE CHICKEN TO APPEASE THE SPIRITS PRESIDING ON THE LAND
ON WHICH THE HOUSE WAS ERECTED
o so that the building to be constructed becomes well-fortified.
o they also believed that it is an offering for the spirits who dwells
nearby.
17.) FOR THOSE LIVING IN CONCRETE HOUSES, AN OLD COIN MUST BE
IMPRINTED ON THE CEMENTED DOORSTEP TO ENSURE A STEADY FLOW OF
MONEY.
18.) THEY ALSO BELIEVE THAT A HOUSE SHOULD FACE EAST WHERE THE SUN
RISES TO GUARANTEE PROSPERITY. IN CONTRAST, A HOUSE THAT FACES
WEST WHERE THE SUN SETS IS A JINX AND WILL BRING BAD LUCK.

14. 19.) ERECTING A HOUSE IN FRONT OF A DEAD-END STREET WILL BRING
BAD LUCK TO ITS OCCUPANTS, WHETHER IT IS THE ORIGINAL OWNERS OR
TENANTS.
20.) DURING CONSTRUCTION, THEY START PUTTING COLUMN IN THE
EASTSIDE WHERE THE SUN RISES.
21.) STAIRS FACING THE SUN WILL HAVE BAD LUCK.
22.) IF DURING THE TIME A HOUSE IS BEING BUILT THE CARPENTER
MEETS WITH AN ACCIDENT, THE OWNER OF THE HOUSE WILL HAVE
MISFORTUNE IN LIFE.
23.) BAD LUCK WILL COME TO THE DWELLERS OF A HOUSE WHOSE LAST
STEP OF THE STAIRS FACES THE MAIN EXIT OF THE HOUSE.