BAHAY NA BATO

In the nineteenth century, the nipa hut or bahay kubo evolved and gave way to the Bahay na bato (stone house) and became the typical house of noble Filipinos.  With the opening of Manila to international trade in 1834 and the opening of the Suez Canal in 1869, trade and agricultural production rose to exhilarating heights and increased the fortunes of the native aristocracy, particularly in the provinces. Wealth became the passport to higher education not only in Manila but also in Europe. The elite or principalia included landowners and traders, as well as professionals such as physicians, accountants and the highly educated, cosmopolitan illustrado (literally, enlightened). The Bahay na bato, the colonial Filipino house, followed the nipa hut's arrangements such as happy marriage of the basic native form-hip roof, open ventilation (large windows), elevated apartments and specialized interior spaces. In addition, another feature of bahay na bato has classical ornaments. The most obvious difference between nipa huts and bahay na bato would be the materials that were used to build them. The bahay na bato was constructed out of brick and stone rather than the traditional bamboo materials because during Spanish period, Spaniards brought the masonry construction in the Philippine. Bahay na bato is a mixture of native Filipino, Spanish and

Chinese influences, it is a structure that meets the challenges of the Philippine landscape. It is uses sawali or woven bamboo slats. This type of ceiling was cooler, readily available and surer protection against earthquake. During the 19th century, wealthy Filipinos built some fine houses and house builder of any age have mined the materials from the sea, the forest, the earth and from the farm. From the sea comes a variety of capiz shells for windows. The same material is used for most of the Spanish-type churches in the Visayas. The farm yields as much building materials as the sea. For mortar, molasses or pulot from sugarcane and egg white from the chicken coop are mixed with lime for cementing purposes, yet it is durable because other structures is still existing even though in that kind of construction materials. From the forests the abundant supply of the Philippine hardwood such as narra, molave, tanguile, kamagong, mahogany, etc. that are used for beams, posts, walls, and floors. And the good earth with its deposits of local stones,

bricks and tiles from clay, and volcanic turf adobe stones, becomes an inexhaustible source of building materials.

The bahay na bato is well function related to Filipino lifestyle, customs and values. Since Filipino has an extended family at least two to three generations living under one roof. There is no constraint between adult space and children space in the Filipino town house. Basically Filipino wants to share warmth and kinship of each family member there is no boundary line when it comes

to the parents and children.

The old house is typically having two-storey. The living quarters are elevated and are reached through an interior stairway located in the zaguan on the ground floor (Figure 1). The zaguan is (literally "passageway" in Arabic) to accommodate horse carriages and carrozas (processional carriages) in old days, but nowadays often function as a sari-sari store or office place. The stairs or escelera are not only a means of access but also the setting for a stately arrival. A surrounding balustrade detached from the wall provides room all around for welcoming committee and prolonged farewells.

Figure 1: Example floor plan of bahay na bato

The stairs or escalera, on the other hand, lead up to the caida or upper entrance hall. Opening to the caida (Figure 2) is the sala or living room. Cuarto or bedrooms flank the sala and nearby is the dining room. At the rear of the house are the kitchen and next to it, the open-air azotea.

The broad, massive window sill is grooved and holds two to three sets of sliding shutters: a set of wooden louvers or jalousies, a set of capiz or oyster shell shutters, and occasionally, a set of glass-paned shutters. Between the window sill and the floor runs the ventanilla, with sliding wooden shutters and wooden balustrades or iron grills. The idea of having extra window for more ventilation is a very Filipino. The bahay na bato is an example of space surrounded by space. Running above the partitions are panels of wooden fretwork, which allow the air within the house to circulate. Other features of the bahay na bato that make it a uniquely Filipino building include the banguera or dishrack (Figure 3) is where they kept the pots to drain.

The bahay na bato represents the apex in the development of indigenous Filipino architecture, because its expands the prototypal structure of the ethnic house from a one-room dwelling to a multi-roomed house of grand scale, while preserving the basic features.

Figure 2: Caida

Figure 3: Banguera

RELATED LITERATURE

Here are some excellent preserved examples of these houses of the illustrious Filipinos can be admired in Vigan, Ilocos Sur. In Taal, Batangas, the main street is also lined with examples of the traditional Filipino homes.

Vigan was the major commercial center in the region, trading directly to China and this was resulted to Chinese migration into the area with subsequent intermarriage between the native inhabitant and Chinese immigrants. Vigan was the important supplier of goods during Spanish colonial period, it led to new merchant class mixed Chinese, native and Spanish or Filipino mestizo because of success, they built residential houses (bahay na bato) in eastern district of the town, previously the old Chinese quarters or Kasanglayan. The house is called Quema house after the name of Don Enrique Quema a Chinese trader in the early 19th century.

The roof has a steep pitch suggestive of traditional Chinese architecture. The ground floor was used as storage and as a garage for horse-drawn carriages, while the living quarters were housed in the upper floor. The exterior walls of the upper storey are enclosed by wood-framed, sliding window panels of capiz shells. All throughout the living quarters are wide plank hardwood floors.

The Ilagan-Barrion House in Taal, Batangas. Built in 1870. The house belonged to Domingo Ilagan and Maria Martinez who had six children: Aniceto, Rosario, Candida, Conchita, Julita and Juan. Candida, who married Antonino Barrion, a lawyer, with their three daughters Nellie, Corazon and Charito moved to this house in Taal after their conjugal home in Batangas City was burned down by the Japanese during World War II. The Ilagan house was actually an ancestral home, but Candida paid off her siblings to gain sole ownership. Candida lived in this beautiful house and it was their home until Candida passed away in 1975. The house had been totally neglected for several years after her death. In 2004, Manny and Bobby Inumerable, children of Nellie, renovated the present house. The Barrion House is a good example of a geometric style of the Filipino Hispanic house because there are hardly any decorations on the facade. The house relies mainly on the structural elements for its beauty Capiz windows with diamond and square patterns cover entirely the upper facade. The ground floor is bare and makes a good contrast. The interior has gold leaf neo-gothic arches and the decorations on the ceiling were made by Japanese artisans.

The district's parish, the Santo Niño de Arevalo Parish, is home to the third oldest Santo Niño figure in the Philippines. The church was built in such a way that when seen from above it is shaped like a cross. Adjacent to the church is the Arevalo Convent, a heritage building in a Spanish colonial design and that is one of the example bahay na bato concept in the Villa Arevalo, Iloilo City.

CHURCHES

Church architecture on the other hand, prevailed all over the country. Early churches evolved in the same manner as the nipa house. They were built of local materials like wood, rattan and nipa. Since these materials could not withstand the devastating effects of fire, typhoon and other calamities the Spanish friars introduced a more sturdy church using timber hardwood of narra, guijo and molave; sand and gravel; adobe; and, lime and bricks.

NAME OF BUILDING PIONEER THINKERS AND ARCHITECTURAL CHARACTERS

BUILDING FACADE

ALBUQUERQUE, BOHOL CHURCH

AUGUSTINIAN RECOLLECTS

Symmetrical balance is projected in this composition effected by the concentration of the elements in the middle segment. The plain, square belltower, emphasized by the undulating lines found at its base, and the columns are the main elements. There is a touch of baroque architecture in the design of the faceade.

ANGAT, BULACAN CHURCH (HOLY ROSARY)

AUGUSTINIANSFr. Juan Morelos- It is assumed that he was the builder of the first church and convent.Fr. Grgorio Giner- it is presumed that he built a new one made of stronger materials.Fr. Joaquin Calvo- He completed the façade in 1802 and was also responsible for the construction of slender tower.Fr. Ignacio Manzanares- He restored the convent which was also damaged by the earthquake.

Damaged by the earthquake June 3, 1863, this Baroque church is characterized by the use of foliated crestings on the raking cornice of the pediment. Windows, statued niches and spaces between the horizontal stringcourses which divide the façade into three levels are

ornamented with floral carvings.ANGELES, PAMPANGA AUGUSTINIANS

Fr. Guillermo Masnou- In 1855, he replaced the original church with nipa and wood materials.Fr. Ramon Sarrionandia- He began the construction of the present church in 1860 using stone and bricks.Fr. Juan Merino- The church almost completed in 1880, Fr. Merino, in the following year, continued with the construction work.Fr. Pedro Ibeas- He completed the construction in 1891.Fr. Rufino Santos- He made some restoration work in 1893. By 1897, the church was completely finished.

Formal balance is achieved by the Renaissance façade which is characterized by two flanking towers. The main entrance is designed with a projecting porch using an elliptical church. The spandrel and pier dado are ornamented with relief carvings.

APALIT, PAMPANGA CHURCH

AUGUSTINIANS

Fr. Juan Cabello- He began the construction of a church in 1641.Fr. Simon de Alarcia- During his priorship from 1854 to 1860, he tried to build a three naïve church using stone and brick materials. Records do not indicate whether he was able to finish the church.Fr. Antonio Redondo- In 1876, he laid the foundations of a new church and was able to finish its construction in 1883.

Symmetrically balanced as evidenced by the presence of two flanking towers, the façade is characteristically Neo- Renaissance with its plain, low segmental pediment. The semicircular main door with a circular window above is framed by receding semicircular arches in relief.

MILITARY BUILDINGS

NAME OF BUILDING PIONEER THINKERS/ ARCHITECTURAL CHARACTERS

BUILDING FAÇADE

MALACAÑANG PALACE The Spanish Captains-General (before the independence of New Spain, from which the Philippines was directly governed) and the later Governors-General originally resided at the Palacio del Gobernador (Governor's Palace) fronting the city square in the walled city ofIntramuros in Manila. Malacañang Palace was originally made of adobe, wood, with interiors panelled with finest narra and molave.

A wooden two-story building was added to the back of the original structure, as well as smaller buildings for aides, guards and porters, as well as stables, carriage sheds and a boat landing for river-borne visitors.An 1869 earthquake hit Malacañang, thus, repairs are made urgent.Posts and supports were repaired or replaced.Balconies are reinforced.Cornices are provided for the roof.Roofing was replaced with G.I.

Malacañang Palace in 1898

roofing (formerly tile roofs) to lighten loads to the walls.The interior was refurbished. wooden buildings that had sliding capiz windows.Patiosazoteas.

CUARTEL DE SANTO DOMINGO

Dominicans

An old two-storey Spanish barracks building in Santa Rosa, Laguna in the Philippines.

The whole cuartel is built across an 8.2 hectare stretch of land. Its walls are made up of adobe stones. Some of the interior walls inside were part of the ruins of the old fort. Watchtowers are not presently used since the building is covered with huge trees.

CASA MANILA The architect of Casa Manila was J. Ramon L. Faustmann. It was constructed by Imelda Marcos during the 1980s and modeled on Spanish colonial architecture.

A museum in Intramuros depicting colonial lifestyle during Spanish colonisation of the Philippines.

The museum is the imposing stone-and-wood structure circa 1850, one of the grand houses in Barrio San Luis (one of the four original villages of Intramuros) is located across historic San Agustin church and bounded by Calle Real, General Luna, Cabildo and Urdaneta streets.

SCHOOL BUILDINGS

NAME OF THE BUILDING PIONEER THINKERS/ ARCHITECTURAL CHARACTERS

BUILDING FAÇADE

Santa Isabel College Daughters of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul

A Catholic school and university in Ermita in the city of Manila,Philippines, formerly for girls only, offering courses at the primary, secondary, and post-secondary levels. The school is currently operated by the Daughters of

Charity. University of San Carlos  Spanish Jesuits

Fr. Antonio SedenoFr.Pedro ChirinOFr. Antonio Pereira

A private Catholic university in Cebu City which is administered and managed by the Society of the Divine Word since 1935.

he buildings reopened as repairs were made over the course of 1945 and 1946. The Colegio de San Carlos was granted its university charter in 1948. The University was named after St. Charles Borromeo.