Parts and Furniture of a Traditional Filipino House

Vocabulary terms detailing the rooms, furniture, and architectural features of a traditional 19th-century Filipino bahay na bato.

Caida

The receiving room located on the second floor of a bahay na bato.

Sala Mayor

The main living room of a 19th-century Filipino ancestral house.

Comedor

The formal dining room typically located on the second floor.

Oratorio

A dedicated prayer room found in traditional ancestral houses.

Cuartos

The bedrooms of the Filipino house.

Cocina

The kitchen room of the house.

Azotea

An open balcony that served as a service kitchen and usually housed the water cistern.

Entresuelo

The mezzanine level often divided into function rooms like a despacho (home office) or guest rooms.

Zaguan

The ground floor area that served as parking for family carriages and carrozas, as well as storage for farming supplies.

Cuadra

The stable for horses located on the ground floor of the house.

Aljibe

A water cistern in the azotea used to collect rainwater or store potable water bought from an aguador (water vendor).

Almario

A vertical pillow rack used to air-dry pillows, bed linens, and banig during the day.

Aparador de Tres Luna

A towering three-door master bedroom cabinet named for the three mirrors attached to its doors.

Aparador ropero

A storage bin for soiled clothes made of a wooden frame with woven rattan screen (solihiya).

Azulejo

Expensive, patterned hand-painted tiles imported from Spain, often used on stair landings.

Descanso

The landing of the staircase where azulejo tiles were often used for decoration.

Machuca

The trademark name for a locally made version of encaustic tiles.

Banggera

A slatted wooden dishrack attached to a window for air-drying tableware and utensils.

Bastonero

A hat and cane rack placed at the caida or the staircase landing.

Batibot Chair

A metal version of the cane bentwood chair; its name means 'enduring'.

Calado

Pierced wooden panels above doors or walls that allow light and air to circulate throughout the house.

Columnilla

A decorative colonette that divides a window into two sides.

Concha

Latticework panels framing translucent capiz shells used to shut windows.

Coquina

Coral rock quarried from reefs used as ground floor building material when adobe limestone was unavailable.

Escritoriong tinipaklong

A sewing table traditionally placed in a lady's bedroom.

Espejo

The Spanish word for mirror; in building terms, it refers to transoms above windows that allow daylight in.

Gallinera

A bench with a built-in chicken coop underneath, designed for visitors waiting with fighting cocks.

Kulompyo

A rocking chair, also known as a tumba-tumba or mercedoras.

Lavadores

A freestanding washstand with a swinging mirror and basin, also called a lavadera.

Media aquas

Metal window awnings or canopies decorated with tin cutouts, also called tapangcos.

Mirador

A small lookout room at the highest floor of the house, often topped with a weather vane.

Painadora

A dresser with a mirror; the marble top itself is referred to as the tremor.

Paminggalan

A slatted-door food cabinet that keeps leftovers aired and insects away by placing the legs in water or petroleum.

Piedra China

Blocks of white stone used to pave the zaguan, originally used as counterweights for Spanish galleons.

Persiana

Jalousies on window panels that shield the interior from the sun while allowing air flow.

Biombos

A free-standing persiana used as a divider to conceal servants.

Punkah

A cloth fan hung over the dining table, swung by a servant pulling a cord.

Postigo

A small pedestrian service door cut into the side of the larger main doors.

Silla Peresoza

A lounging chair with unusually long armrests that allow the sitter to stretch out their legs.

Sillon Fraile

A wide lounging chair originally designed for use in convents to accommodate friars.

Silong

The hollow space beneath the house used for storing livestock, treasures, or even as a temporary prison for tenants.

Teja de curva

Clay roof tiles used to keep the interior of the bahay na bato cool.

Urna

A carved altar used to enshrine statues of saints made of wood or ivory.

Vajilera

A tall, glass-fronted display cabinet for porcelain plates and glassware.

Viriña

A bell-shaped glass jar used to encase religious statuettes or biblical dioramas.

Vitrina

A small glass-enclosed shelf used to protect curios and collectibles from dust.

Ventanilla

A small window located under the windowsill (barandilla) that allows air to enter through grillwork.

Volada

A cantilevered walkway running along the window side of the house, typically used by servants.