The Nipa Hut

The nipa hut, considered as the national house of the Philippines, has in existence even before the colonization of the Spaniards. It served as the main shelter of native Filipinos during the pre-Hispanic period and it still is the shelter of many Filipinos in the provinces to this day. The numerous nipa houses in the Philippines are unique in every region. Most nipa huts are built by hand from bamboo poles and other indigenous materials found near the community of the natives. It is usually raised a few feet above the ground and constructed out of bamboo tied together, with a thatched roof of dried grass. This sort of architecture proves good ventilation and is very inexpensive. It is easy to construct because it is made out of light materials. It also works well against average winds and rainfall.

The nipa huts in the Philippines vary depending on their locations. The huts are made by the natives to adapt to their environment. Some nipa huts in Banaue, are built with stilts high as high as three to four meters of the ground above the ground and are accessible only by a ladder which they bring up when they are about to sleep or when they leave the house to younglings. This is made to deter creatures which sleuth around the night to crawl between the slits of the floor and enter the house. The space underneath the house, called the silong, can serve as a workspace, a storage space, a granary, a pen for livestock. Sometimes, there is an open front porch, pantaw or batalan, where jars of water would be kept to wash dishes. This gallery also serves as a lounging area for the inhabitants. Some nipa huts, those inhabited by fishermen along the coastline are held up by tall bamboo trees which allow the huts to stay above sea level even during high tides. This would then allow the fishermen to launch their boats with ease as they are already in the water. The “regular” nipa hut is the most widely known kind. These huts are iconic symbols of that stereotypes what a house looks like in the provinces.

The structure of the nipa hut is made in such a way so that it can resist the frequent earthquakes in the country. The native lowland houses have a light structure on top, and heavier materials on the bottom thus making the nipa hut a stable structure. The bamboo poles are tied together by rattan to make up the frames and the walls. The flooring is made up of bamboo slats, usually place convex size up making the floor comfortable, almost to the point of therapeutic, to walk on. Floor is spaced apart for effective ventilation and the roof is made of nipa shingles or cogon thatch. The house is handmade, with the use of a bolo, by the head of the family, the whole family, or the family and their friends. This is where the spirit of bayanihan comes in. Sometimes the friends and neighbors of the family aid them in building their houses and help the family if ever there was a need for “house-moving”. This familiar scene can be seen in many local movies where a large number of able bodied men, likely friends of the family, carry the nipa hut to a new location while a beautiful and young Filipina sings beside the window, inside the house.