joule elana: Bahay-na-Bato: A Filipino home that blends East and West

Article written by: Michelle Camille Correa

ASEAN-Korea blog correspondent, the Philippines

The Korean hanok?s ingenious architecture is recognized all over the world. It is both a scientific marvel with its natural heating system called ?ondol?, which keeps Koreans warm during winter. Moreover, it is also admired for its environment-friendly use of construction materials such as earth, stone, wood and paper, which lets hanok dwellers live in comfortable temperatures, be it in summer or in winter. The hanok is thus an architectural treasure that Koreans are proud of.

In the Philippines, there is also a house that speaks volumes about the Filipinos? architectural ingenuity, history and culture?the bahay-na-bato.

Literally translated as ?house of stone, the bahay-na-bato is a 19^th century house that shows how the Filipino upperclass families lived. It is usually composed of two floors. The ground floor is constructed out of stone and bricks, which makes it sturdy enough to withstand earthquakes. The upper floor, meanwhile is made out of wood, which keeps the house cool and well-ventilated.

Spanish + Filipino

This house reflects Spain?s deep influence in the Philippines, and how the Philippines has made use of this influence to create something original and suitable for the Philippine setting.

World events helped spark the idea for the bahay-na-bato?s creation. In particular, these events were in 1834, when Manila began to take part in international trade and in 1869 when the Philippines? elite, especially those in the provinces, began to enjoy a fruits of an increased trade and agricultural production through the opening of the Suez Canal.

From the Philippine side, the bahay-na-bato takes the best features of its traditional bahay kubo (nipa hut), with its ?steep hip roof, elevated quarters, post-and-lintel construction, and maximized ventilation features (Perez, 2007).?

The house?s stone material and its various rooms signify Spanish influences. There?s the zaguan, the spacious entrance hall that also serves as a storeroom; the caida or the living room; the dining area; the kitchen; the azotea, which is a roof terrace; and the volada, a gallery that serves to insulate the other rooms from the sun?s heat.

Other interesting features of the bahay-na-bato include a window system that runs along the volada. Here, the window sill holds two to three sliding shutters: wooden jalousies, capiz or oyster shell shutters and sometimes, glass-paned shutters (Perez, 2007).

Massive double doors also connect rooms to each other. These doors make one whole floor of the house seem a lot bigger and more spacious when kept open, as in one grand hall. This feature thus makes the house flexible enough to accommodate various numbers of people at one time, be it in one or more rooms.

Some famous bahay-na-bato

In the Philippines, there is a place where old bahay-na-bato from all over the Philippines? many islands can be found re-built and refurbished into its former glory. Called Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar, this place combines culture, history and beach life.

Two of my favorite bahay-na-bato are Casa Vyzantina and Casa Luna. Casa Vyzantina originally stood in San Nicolas, Binondo

At a certain point in this house?s history, Casa Vyzantina actually served as a school. It was known as the Instituto de Manila, a school for elementary and high school students, from 1914 to 1919.

After, the house had various tenants. But as time passed and the house deteriorated, it became home to squatter families until it was demolished, moved to, and made new in Las Casas Filipinas.

Now rebuilt, we can see its original beauty. The interior of this casa is as elegant as its exterior. Intricately carved wooden furniture, a floor to ceiling painting, a gleaming crystal chandelier, and a grand staircase are just some of this house?s symbols of style and glory.

The Casa Luna, meanwhile, was originally owned by the Norvicio family in 1850. Its old location was in Luna, La Union. Eventually, the house was bought by the Santoromana family.

In this bahay-na-bato, the ground floor served as a garage of sorts for the carriages as well as a warehouse for harvested food like onions, garlic and tobacco. The second floor, like a typical bahay-na-bato, was where the bedrooms, dining room, kitchen with azotea, and toilet and bath were placed.

Parts of Philippine history can also be traced back to this house. In 1942,? it served as the meeting place during the liberation period during the Japanese occupation. It also served as the headquarters of the United States Armed Forces in the Philippines ? North Luzon during the planning of General Yamashita?s capture. It the 1970s, Casa Luna once again played a role in history when a party convention was held here, with former president Ferdinand Marcos as guest.

The bahay-na-bato is thus a shining example of how East meeets West. It combines the best features of our native bahay kubo for coolness and ventilation in a tropical country, and the style of Wesern houses for strength and durability.

References:

?? Personal trip to Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar in Bataan, Philippines

?? Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar brochure

?? http://www.librarylink.org.ph/featarticle.asp?articleid=110

?? http://english.visitkorea.or.kr/enu/CU/CU_EN_8_1_3_1.jsp

Photo Credits:

?? Casa Vyzantina: http://hollowayrev.wordpress.com/2010/12/11/las-casas-filipinas/

?? Casa Luna: http://jackinetic.wordpress.com/tag/las-casas-filipinas-de-acuzar/