VERNACULAR TERMS IFUGAO HOUSE
Parts of the kitchen: Dapogan – table with river stone & kalan (shoe-shaped stoves)
Tukud – four posts
Bangahan, Banggera – where pots are kept
Kuling – girder
Batalan – exposed porch where child size jars are placed for drinking and
Halipan – wooden disk
washing
Hagpo – floor sills
Kamalig – separate from main structure; where un-hulled rice is kept
Dotal – floor boards Wanan/Huklub – tie beams
BAHAY NA BATO
Gaob – wall boards
GROUND FLOOR:
Bughol – roof rafters
Zaguan- carriage and carozas (floats for procession) are located Bodega- borders the zaguan where old furnitures, broken carriages and storage for
ISNEG HOUSE
palay are kept
Tadawag – rafters
Patio- enclosed countryards
Sinit – inner posts supporting main flooring
Quadra- where horses are kept
Adixi – outer posts supporting roof
Entrasuelo - a mezzanine raised a meter where money is kept as well as jewelleries
Toldog – floor joists
Descanso/meseta – landing for the first 3 steps made of marble tiles
Talaxatag – laths Xassaran – flooring of mat bamboo grass or rattan
SECOND FLOOR: Caida – first room seen from the stairway; a spacious hall with calado (form of ventilation for the caida)
NIPA HOUSE
Sala – living room; (has plateras or cabinets) divided into smaller areas of non-
Silong – Space fenced for animals; fenced with lattice made of bamboo; function as a
permanent free-standing screens (biombo)
poultry shed
Comedor – dining room; has plateras or cabinets for display of silverwares
Bulwagan – living area; partitions are made in sawali
Cocina – kitchen with food cabinet (paminggalan), dispensa (where rice and other
Silid – private room; tampipi made of woven materials are found there; where
food are stored)
personal belongings are kept
Comun or Letrina – toilet where water closet is located
Paglutuan or Gilir – kitchen
Lanu or Paliguan – bathroom
History 4 Architecture in the Philippines M. Ticao
Vernacular Terms Page 1 of 3
Azotea – tiled terrace Volada – flying/cantilevered gallery Media aguas/tapancos – window awnings SOME INTERIOR DETAILS
Punkah – overhead cloth fan Cuarto: Cama – single or double four-poster bed Aparador – clothes closet
Persianas - window slats to filter the light capiz- paneled windows
Baul – chest
Ventanilla - louvered second windows
Ropero – dirty clothes hamper
Banggerahan - Pots are kept to drain
Comoda – chest-of-drawers
Barandilla - traceries on the wall
Tremor – full-length mirror with two adjustable side mirrors
Calado – pierced panel above each room door to circulate the light and air
Almario – rock for pillows and mats
Espejo – immobile windows
Cama Redonda – mat
FURNITURE AN D FURNISHINGS Antesala:
Urimon – service chair with chamber pot underneath Cocina:
Bastonera- where hats, canes, umbrellas deposited
Paminggalan – food cabinet
Kapiya – long bench with straight back
Nivera – non-electrified refrigerator
Escritorio – writing desk with roll top Sala: Consolas – side tables
Zaguan: Papag – bamboo bed Gallinera – bench with chicken coop underneath
Mesitas – two or three suites of straight backed chairs grouped around small tables Silla failuna, silla perezosa, butaca – lounging chairs Kolumpyo – rocking chairs Estantes – cabinets containing bric-a-brac Comedor: Mesa – long rectangular table for eight to 36 people Vajillera – glass cabinets for china and glassware Mesa Platera – silverware cabinet Trinchante – serving table History 4 Architecture in the Philippines M. Ticao
Vernacular Terms Page 2 of 3
BUILDING CONSTRUCTION
Baytang – tread
Baldosa – cement tile
HOUSE PARTS
Takip (silipan) – riser
Ladrilyo – cement brick
Halige, poste – post
Gabay – handrail
Batidora – door fillet
Guililan – girder
Muldura – moulding
Kanal – groove
Suleras – Joist
Sibe – eave
Haspe – good grain
Sahig, suelo – flooring
Bolada – projection
Plantilya – pattern or schedule
Sepo – girt
Kanal – gutter
Bisagra – hinge
Biga – beam
OTHER BUILDING CONSTRUCTION TERMS
De bandeha – panelled door
Barakilan – bottom chord
Alulod – conductor
Escombro – earthfill
Kilo – truss
Planchuela – W.I. strap
Lastilyas – masonry fill
Tahilan – top chord
Pierno – bolt
Liyabe – adobe anchor
Reostra – purlin
Balangkas – framework
Hinang – solder
Senepa – fascia board
Plancha – scaffolding
Estanyo – nicolite bar
Kostilyahe – ceiling joist
Estaka – stake
Suban, subuhai – temper (metal work)
Tabike – siding (external)
Kusturada – plastered course
Pie de gallo – diagonal brace
Pilarete – stud (vertical)
Palitada – stucco or plaster
Punsol – nail setter
Pabalagbag – stud (horizontal)
Rebocada – scratch coat
Poleya – wiring knob
Pasamano – window sill
Piketa – pickwork (on masonry)
Espolon – cabinet hinge
Sumbrero – window head
Monyeka – varnish finish
Hamba – window or door jamb
Biento – spacing or gap
Sinturon – collar plate
Larga masa – concrete slab (rough)
Hardinera – stringer (open)
Asintada – alignment
Madre (de escalera) – stringer (closed)
Hulog – plumb line
History 4 Architecture in the Philippines M. Ticao
References: Zialcita, F.N. and M. I. Tinio. Philippine Ancestral Houses (1810-1930). QC: GCF Books, 1980. Klassen, W. Architecture in the Philippines: Filipino Building in a Cross-cultural Context. Cebu: USC, 1986. Fernandez, E.G. Tropical Design Handout on Vernacular Terms. UP College of Architecture.
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