Treasuring our Silver, soaring to our
Gold
APAYAO
“ Co r di l l e r a ’s l a s t na ture f ro nt i e r ”
History of Apayao
APAYAO a region in the Cordilleras, was
initially inhabited by the Isneg tribe but remained
largely outside Spanish control until the late 19th
century. The Dominican friars established missions
in Pudtol and Kabugao, but failed to establish total
control. In 1891, the Spanish established
comandancias of Apayao and Cabugaoan, but the
Spanish government maintained a loose hold. In
1908, the Americans established the Mountain
Province, which included Apayao. During WWII,
Japanese Imperial forces occupied the province, but
local Filipino troops and Cordilleran guerrillas drove
them out in 1945. In 1966, the Mountain Province
was split into four provinces, and in 1995, it was split
into two distinct provinces.
Fun fact!
KALINGA-APAYAO
CREATION AND SPLITTING
By virtue of RA 7878, signed on February 14, 1995, the sub-provinces
in Kalinga-Apayao were converted into two new
provinces, Kalinga and Apayao, with their capitals remain the same
as before. Both comprises the same municipalities that were used to
be part of these sub-provinces.
Majority of voters in Kalinga-Apayao ratified the said law in a
plebiscite on May 8.
APAYAO HOUSE
Defi nition of the structure
The Isneg architecture in Cordillera is unique due to its
boat-like design, a unique characteristic among mountain
people in the northern Luzon region. The Isneg house
resembles a traditional Isneg boat, with a roof resembling
an inverted hull and floor joists resembling a boat. The
Isneg are natural boat people and boat builders.
What is
APAYAO HOUSE?
The Isneg binuron is a large, one-room, rectangular dwelling in the
Cordilleras, supported by 15 wooden piles. It measures 8 meters
long, 4 meters wide, and 5.5 meters from the ground to the roof
ridge. The Isneg use wood for the sinit (posts), anadixiyan (girders),
toldog (joists), and dingding (walls), and thatch or bamboo for the
roof. The binuron is an example of the northern style of Cordillera
architecture, with its floor and roof supported by two independent
sets of posts. The binuron has ample space inside due to its slanting
walls and roll-up floor made from long reeds. The walls can be
converted into a platform or stage for rituals, ceremonies, and
meetings.
APAYAO
Traditional House
The Isneg build their family houses close to their uma (farming
community), which is a swidden farmer's house. They build sigay
(makeshift shelters) on their kaingin fields to avoid the daily trek
between Dumalneg and Saliksik. The contemporary Yapayao's
granary is small but built more solidly than their family house,
with rat guards attached to each post. The granary is enclosed by
dried tree bark walls and thatched with cogon grass.
History of
APAYAO HOUSE
The gabled, raised, and extended Isneg binuron is a prime
example of northern Cordillera architecture. Two fully
separate sets of posts serve to support the entirety of the
structure's floor and roof. Along the sides of the floor are
slightly raised platforms. The southern home, on the other
hand, has a roof that is supported by posts that do not rise
beyond the floor joists and is instead supported by the walls
of the square cage that makes up the house proper.
Characteristics of
APAYAO HOUSE
BALAI, HOUSE
The traditional type of house in Apayao with
an elevated rectangular one-room structure
and protected by a high-pitch thatch roof
that resembles a pointed barrel vault.
Interesting features of this house include the
removable wall panel which can be opened
during the hot season and returned back as a
wall durinj) cold days, and the removable and
washable floor mats placed above a closely-
spaced wood floor that allows natural
ventilation thru its floor.
Characteristics of
APAYAO HOUSE
ANATOMY OF APAYAO HOUSE
The Isneg binuron is a large, one-room, rectangular dwelling in
the Cordilleras, supported by 15 wooden piles. It measures 8
meters long, 4 meters wide, and 5.5 meters from the ground to
the roof ridge. The house features a gabled atap and a tarakip,
an annex-like structure. The Isneg use wood for posts,
anadixiyan for girders, toldog for joists, and dingding for walls.
The roof is made of thatch or bamboo, with alternating faces
interlocking to keep out rainwater. The Isneg binuron is an
example of the northern style of Cordillera architecture.
Characteristics of
APAYAO HOUSE
The Isneg house, despite its small size, offers ample space
due to its bamboo roof and slanting walls. Its roll-up floor,
made from long reeds, can be used for washing in a nearby
river. The walls are planks that can be converted into
platforms or stages for rituals and ceremonies. Windows are
part of the walls themselves. The Isneg, swidden farmers,
build their family houses close to their uma. When the
Yapayao of Saliksik relocated to Dumalneg, they built sigay
(makeshift shelters) on their kaingin fields. After returning to
Saliksik, they initially built makeshift homes of bamboo and
grass thatch, but eventually built sturdier family homes
made of bamboo.
APAYAO
A PA Y A O , I PA S I N D A Y A W !
