Malakas at Maganda

Philippine legend says that man and woman came from inside a bamboo that was split open by a lightning. They were called Malakas (Strength) and Maganda (Beauty). Notice how they were both created AT THE SAME TIME. I guess that's why we've had 2 women presidents already. Women are matriarchal and influential in our society. And the men are just as macho.

Bahay Kubo

My favorite. I grew up in a house like this but of hardwood panels, tipay windows and bigger. The nipa roof, as opposed to G.I. sheets, makes for a cooler interior, especially with the cool polished wooden flooring.

Post American period old house

It's old, maybe a renovated 50s or 60s. But its original style is definitely post American period. No one builds a wooden house with hardwood anymore because it's illegal to chop down hardwood for housing and furniture. Unless you have a license and permit, in that case the wood would be very expensive, even for a furniture. New houses are now concrete to withstand the typhoons.

*American occupation in the Philippines = 1900s and after the American-Japanese war (1940s).

Renovated old Spanish period house

Old houses like this were built from hardwood usually not using nails but in the old style (kind of like ancient Japanese carpentry). So as they age, the house becomes askewed. So the first thing that's done to repair them is to build a better foundation on the lower ground floor. Here's an example of a renovated old Spanish house. The lower floor has been converted to concrete then covered with Mactan tiles (a type of unpolished marble bricks). The upper floor was maintained, and the roof now has modern roofing. In my opinion the attempt to retain the wooden design in the upper floor is to be commended, but after all that work, they could at least have reburnished the wood to give it the old polished look.

And another

Old houses here used to belong to the old rich, then abandoned because either the owners have migrated to the cities or abroad, or the owners are dead. Only the caretakers (usually distant relatives) are looking after the houses, and the upper floor where the antique belongings are kept boarded up. This old, abandoned house has obviously been left by the owners, and someone else living under the house, either rented out or maintained by the caretaker. (Didn't stop to ask.)

Salas (living/receiving room), bedrooms, kitchen, bathrooms of old Spanish houses here are all located in the second floor. First floors were used as rice granaries or as stockroom for farm equipment. When you enter the main door of an old house, you immediately see a staircase that leads to the sala upstairs.

Another old house

Another unrestored old mansion

Spanish time mansion, old hardwood, windows are made with capiz shells, and I'm sure, a house with lots of history. In Thailand, houses like these are restored and shown to tourists, for a fee. Here, they're either restored into hotels or business centers, or torn down and the hardwood sold to be made into expensive furniture since cutting down old trees are prohibited.

VISCA's Alumni House

VISCA Campus

Grill house

The grillhouse at Baybay. The grilled chicken is good, sometimes not so good.. but worth a try if you're in town. The view and seabreeze adds to the relaxing atmosphere.