Pre-Colonial and Spanish-Colonial Philippine Architecture Vocabulary

Vocabulary flashcards covering key architectural terms, ethnic housing typologies, structural components, and colonial concepts from the pre-colonial and Spanish-colonial periods in the Philippines.

Oido

A design influence relying on intuition and aesthetic insight that enables vernacular builders to improvise and make adjustments along the way.

Panolong

Decorated beam ends on Maranao houses that display social prestige and status.

Animism

A belief system practiced by indigenous peoples in the mountains of Luzon stating that natural objects have souls, which directly influences site choice and construction rituals.

Da'tag

The basic sleeping platform structure of Tau't Bato cave dwellings, usually associated with a fireplace.

Lean-to

A portable, single-pitched shelter resting on the ground and held up by poles, serving as both a roof and a wall.

Sawali

Wall siding made of flattened split bamboo woven together into herringbone patterns.

Papangkol

Wall siding made of two panels of vertical-split bamboo clamped together to prevent rain from entering.

Samil

Wall siding composed of nipa leaflets crimped lengthwise over bamboo slats.

Sikang

Poles which cross the rafters halfway down the slope in traditional roof framing.

Palatpat

Bamboo strips tied onto rafters with rattan vines as the main supports of a roof.

Pawid

Nipa shingles made by stripping leaves from the petiole and bending them over a narrow bamboo slat.

Gililan

Floor sills running around the outermost periphery of the soleras to support the walls.

Palaganan

A central passageway from the main door in a Mangyan house set lower than the side platforms, used for storage or extra sleeping space.

Savidug Ijang

Ancient Ivatan fortifications carved out of hard limestone rock on high promontories for strategic defense.

Panpet

Roof nets made of strong ropes thrown over Ivatan thatched roofs and fastened to the ground by kegs to withstand severe typhoons.

Jinjin

A timber-framed Ivatan house typology using woven reeds and cogon for both walls and roof.

Rakuh

A two-storey Ivatan house typology built with lime mortar and stone walls, where the lower level serves as storage.

Sinadumparan

A one-storey Ivatan main house typology featuring thick stone-and-lime masonry walls with a partially submerged basement storage area.

Cañao

A socio-religious ceremony of the Igorots held for thanksgiving, planting, weddings, or community births.

Binuron

The traditional Isneg upland house built slightly above ground with a curved roof profile resembling an inverted boat.

Binayon

The octagonal traditional house typology characteristic of the Upper Kalinga.

Falig

The elevated interior granary inside a Bontoc house (cha-la-nan), supported on four posts about 1.50 meters high.

Halipan

A cylindrical wooden rat guard fitted onto each post of an Ifugao Bale below the floor girder.

Gunu Bong

The traditional two-level rectangular house on stilts built by the T'boli people.

Torogan

The ancestral, noble home of the Maranao upper class, serving as the residence for a datu or sultan.

Okir

Traditional curvilinear carving art featuring scroll, leaf, vine, and serpent (naga) motifs central to Muslim visual arts.

Tajuk Pasung

An elaborately carved wooden finial placed at one or both ends of the roof ridge in a Tausug Bay Sinug house.

Pantan

An elevated open porch or terrace connected to Yakan and Samal houses, used to receive visitors, perform rituals, and hold household activities.

Lepa

The traditional Badjao houseboat built without outriggers, featuring loose detachable poles and a nipa roof.

Masjid

A prominent Islamic place of worship built with stone foundations near water, used for Friday noon assembly prayers.

Langgal

A small, semi-permanent mosque or chapel used by Tausugs, Samas, and Yakans for daily prayers.

Reducción

The Spanish colonial policy of centralizing scattered indigenous settlements into compact towns built around a central church and plaza.

Arquitectura Mestiza

A hybrid Philippine colonial construction style combining a stone ground floor for fire protection with a flexible timber upper floor for earthquake safety.

Foso

A deep, wide, water-filled moat surrounding a Spanish military fortification.

Revellín

An arrowhead-shaped outwork built in front of a fortification's main defenses to protect entryways.

Retablo

An elaborate decorative altar screen positioned behind the main altar in a colonial church.

Convento

The parish house or rectory located adjacent to a Spanish colonial church.

Earthquake Baroque

An architectural style adaptation characterized by massive walls, thick buttresses, low proportions, and detached bell towers designed to survive seismic activity.