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The houses in the Philippines had changes, influenced, and evolved from the pre-Hispanic era to the current time. It may be said that the Filipino house is the reflection of the culture of the Filipinos, which is also an influence of different cultures such us the Malays, Chinese, Spanish, and the Americans. The Filipino house has undergone a lot of changes which also marked a change in the Filipino culture.

The original houses in the Philippines were the “bahay kubo” or the nipa hut. It was the house of the native Filipinos in pre-Hispanic era. This type of house is still used in the rural areas and in other provincial areas in the current time. The architecture of the nipa hut was perfectly adaptable to any kind of climate and could easily be repaired or rebuilt after the calamities like floods, earthquakes and typhoons using simple tools and native materials. Such materials used were wood, planks and bamboo. The native nipa hut was raised in the ground on huge timber and must enter through ladders, and under the hut they keep their farm animals.

When the Spaniards came, they brought their stone-built architecture, but they learned that it will easily be destroyed in an earthquake-prone country. As the towns and areas developed, more considerable homes are being built by the upper-class. They built a combination of the nipa hut with the European and Asian styles that resulted to the “bahay na bato.” The houses in the Philippines during the Spanish time were the structural features of the nipa hut were the upper level, and stones were used on the lower level of the house for the support. Other Spanish influences that were seen in the houses at that time were the houses had capiz shells as its window panes. It also had ventanillas, smaller windows that may left open at night. Aside from that, the upper level of the house was the living area, while the lower level was a space called a “zaguan”, which was used as a space for family carriage and processional cart. Nowadays, it functions as an office, a shop, or a “sari-sari store.”

From ‘bahay kubo’ to ‘bahay na bato’, the houses in the Philippines evolved as the Americans arrived and stayed in the country. These houses are now the present styles that are being built. Concrete was introduced for building the house which made sturdier houses, but it still followed the features of the nipa hut and of the “bahay na bato”, but it was not raised from the ground. The current houses have already additional features such as a garden, a garage for parking, a basement and an attic. Also, wood is still used for building the houses. It is used in the interiors of the houses, and also for the ornaments and furniture inside the house. Furthermore, these houses in the Philippines had also adapted other architecture such as Mediterranean, and Minimalist styles.

As of the moment, houses in the Philippines being built have been adapted to these styles and are also adapting other styles for the changing preferences of the buyers of the houses, such as expatriates and OFW’s, who have higher standards for houses. Because of the getting higher standards of the buyers, the builders of the houses should also build better houses for the future buyers. This is what had happened from the native “bahay kubo” to the Spanish “bahay na bato”, to the modern Filipino house made of concrete and wood, which has also adapted styles that the buyers would like to live in. Nevertheless, there are still native people still living in nipa huts, and there are still “bahay na bato” preserved in some provinces like in Vigan, Ilocos Sur and in Taal, Batangas. The houses in the Philippines does reflect the culture of the Filipinos.