Ethno-sustainability of an Indigenous Architecture in the Northern Philippines Using Grounded Theory
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.25034/ijcua.2025.v9n2-11Keywords:
sustainable archutecture, ethno-sustainability, grounded theory, Vernacular architecture, PhilippinesAbstract
This study investigates the ethno-sustainability of Itawit architecture as a distinctive indigenous practice in the Cagayan province of Northern Philippines. Employing a qualitative grounded theory approach, data were gathered through ethnographic interviews, field observations, and archival research with building owners, carpenters, shamans, and elders from Middle and Southern Cagayan. Using coding, memoing, and thematic analysis, the research thematised vernacular construction practices and knowledge systems, framing them as integral components of cultural heritage and community resilience. Findings demonstrate that Itawit architecture embodies sustainable principles through locally sourced materials, ritual practices, and collective labour systems such as ivvet (community construction). Despite modernisation pressures and the adoption of permanent materials, traditional ecological knowledge and oral transmission continue to sustain building practices and cultural identity. The study highlights “ethno-sustainability” as a framework wherein spiritual beliefs, environmental sensitivity, and social contracts interconnect to preserve community resilience. Documentation of terms, visual records, and rituals provides a baseline reference for conservationists, policymakers, and urban planners. Integrating these indigenous practices into contemporary planning contributes to culturally inclusive and environmentally sustainable development in the Philippines and beyond.
Downloads
References
Acabado, S. B. (2009). A Bayesian approach to dating agricultural terraces: A case from the Philippines. Antiquity, 83(321), 801–814. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0003598X00099002
Acabado, S. B., & Martin, M. (2018). The Ifugao agroecological system: Bridging culture and nature to enhance tropical biodiversity. In N. Sanz (Ed.), Exploring frameworks for tropical forest conservation: Integrating natural and cultural diversity for sustainability – A global perspective (pp. 228–253). Mexico City, Mexico: UNESCO.
Acabado, S. B., Martin, M., & Lauer, A. J. (2014). Rethinking history, conserving heritage: Archaeology and community engagement in Ifugao, Philippines. The SAA Archaeological Record, 14(5), 12–17.
Acosta, J. L. (1719). Mapa del Río y Provincia de Cagayán, en el que se identifica mediante letras la iglesia y fuerza que se construyó en la nueva entrada de dicha provincia (Nordeste de la isla de Luzón, Filipinas) [Map of the River and Province of Cagayán, showing by letters the church and fort built at the new entrance of the said province (Northeast of the island of Luzon, Philippines)] [Mapa documental]. Archivo General de Indias, PARES, MP-FILIPINAS, 22QUATER.
Aksamija, A. (2021). Research methods for the architectural profession. Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003002932
Andal, G. (2018). Cataggaman Viejo: Cradle of dynamic culture. Northern Forum.
Benslimane, N., & Biara, R. W. (2019). The urban sustainable structure of the vernacular city and its modern transformation: A case study of the popular architecture in the Saharian region. Energy Procedia, 157, 1241–1252. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.egypro.2018.11.290
Aduarte, D. (1903). History of the Dominican Province of the Holy Rosary. In E. H. Blair & J. A. Robertson (Eds.), The Philippine Islands, 1493–1898 (Vol. 30, 1640). Arthur H. Clark Company.
Bugarín, J., Lobato de Santo Tomás, A., & Velinchón, J. (1854). Diccionario Ibanag–Español [Ibanag–Spanish Dictionary]. Manila: Imprenta de los Amigos del País, a cargo de Miguel Sánchez. Retrieved from Biblioteca Digital Hispánica, Biblioteca Nacional de España
Camacho, L. D., Gevaña, D. T., Carandang, A. P., & Camacho, S. C. (2016). Indigenous knowledge and practices for the sustainable management of Ifugao forests in Cordillera, Philippines. International Journal of Biodiversity Science, Ecosystem Services & Management, 12(1–2), 5–14. https://doi.org/10.1080/21513732.2015.1124453
Chanza, N., & De Wit, A. (2016). Enhancing climate governance through indigenous knowledge: Case in sustainability science. South African Journal of Science, 112(3–4), 1–7. https://doi.org/10.17159/sajs.2016/20140286
Crosschild, C., Huynh, N., De Sousa, I., Bawafaa, E., & Brown, H. (2021). Where is critical analysis of power and positionality in knowledge translation? Health Research Policy and Systems, 19, 80. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12961-021-00726-w
Dacanay, J., Hila, M. C., Perez, R., Cabuay, A., & Ramos, I. (1992). Balai vernacular: Images of the Filipino's private space. Cultural Center of the Philippines.
Dessein, J., Soini, K., Fairclough, G., & Horlings, L. (2015). Culture in, for and as sustainable development: Conclusions from the COST Action IS1007 investigating cultural sustainability. University of Jyväskylä. https://doi.org/10.13140/RG.2.1.3380.7844
Eames, A. (2019). Imperialism’s effects on language loss and endangerment: Two North American cases of resilience, the Maliseet-Passamaquoddy and Wôpanâak language communities (Unpublished master’s thesis). Harvard University.
Fischl, G., & Teodoro, G. (2016). Mapping of sustainability in architectural practices in the Philippines. Muhon: A Journal of Architecture, Landscape Architecture, and the Designed Environment, 5, 1–6.
Green, L. (2012). Beyond South Africa's ‘indigenous knowledge–science’ wars. South African Journal of Science, 108(7–8), 1–10. https://doi.org/10.4102/sajs.v108i7/8.631
Groat, L. N., & Wang, D. (2013). Architectural research methods (2nd ed.). John Wiley & Sons.
Hoffman, M. (2009). Endangered languages, linguistics, and culture: Researching and reviving the Unami language of the Lenape (Unpublished undergraduate thesis). Bryn Mawr College.
Ignacio, J. F., & Alejandrino, R. M. (2005). Ivatan heritage architecture: A survey of different house types and their evolution. Muhon: A Journal of Architecture, Landscape Architecture, and the Designed Environment, 2, 102–107.
Ignatow, G., & Mihalcea, R. (2018). An introduction to text mining: Research design, data collection, and analysis. SAGE. https://doi.org/10.4135/9781506336985
Keesing, F. (1962). The Ethnohistory of Northern Luzon. Stanford, California: Stanford University Press.
Klassen, W. (2010). Architecture in the Philippines: Filipino Building in a Cross-Cultural Context. Cebu: University of San Carlos Press.
Kumar, A. K., Mainali, B., Ghimire, A., Adhikari, B., Lohani, S. P., & Baral, B. (2025). Role of vernacular architecture in enhancing the environmental sustainability of the building sector. Energy for Sustainable Development, 86, 101695. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.esd.2025.101695
Leza, S. (2020). Innovations in green building: Why sustainable construction should include localised knowledge (Undergraduate report, Worcester Polytechnic Institute). Worcester Polytechnic Institute.
Lico, G. R. (2008). Arkitekturang Filipino: A History of Architecture and Urbanism in the Philippines. Quezon City: University of the Philippines Press.
Macalintal, E. (1994). Beliefs and practices of Tagalogs when constructing a house (Unpublished undergraduate thesis). University of Saint Louis Tuguegarao.
Mahmoud, R. A. (2016). Old Gourna: The complexity of vernacular architecture/urbanism and cultural heritage. Procedia - Social and Behavioral Sciences, 225, 200–215. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sbspro.2016.06.020
Malumbres, J. (1918). Historia de Cagayan [History of Cagayan]. Manila: Tipografía Linotype del Colegio de Santo Tomás.
Manzolim, H., & Quilang, L. (2015). Revisiting the traditional practices of the Itawis ethnic families of Isabela, Philippines. The Countryside Development Research Journal, 3(1), 28–42.
Matar, F., Palaiologou, F., & Richards, S. (2023). Urban sustainability assessment for vernacular and traditional built environments. Journal of Urban Management, 12(2), 129-140. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jum.2023.01.001
Mazraeh, H. M., & Pazhouhanfar, M. (2018). Effects of vernacular architecture structure on urban sustainability case study: Qeshm Island, Iran. Frontiers of Architectural Research(7), 11-24. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foar.2017.06.006
Mendoza, R. C., Romano, A. D., Dulnuan, E. D., Bulong, M. P., Malabrigo, P. J., & L, H. C. (2022). Wood Identification: A Tool for Preservation of Indigenous Architecture of Traditional Houses in Ifugao, Philippines. International Journal of Wood Culture(2), 53-88. https://doi.org/10.1163/27723194-bja10004
Morales, M. V. (2013). Balay ukit: Tropical architecture in pre-WWII Filipino houses. Mandaluyong City, Philippines: Anvil Publishing, Inc.
National Archives and Records Administration. (1935). Aerial photograph of Tuao center, Philippine Islands [Photograph]. United States of America: National Archives and Records Administration.
Nguyen, A. T., Ha, N. S., Rockwood, D., & Le, A. D. (2019). Studies on sustainable features of vernacular architecture in different regions across the world: A comprehensive synthesis and evaluation. Frontiers of Archutectural Research(8), 535-548. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foar.2019.07.006
Pan, Y., Zhong, W., Zheng, X., Xu, H., & Zhang, T. (2024). Natural ventilation in vernacular architecture: A systematic review of bioclimatic ventilation design and its performance evaluation. Building and Environment, 253. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.buildenv.2024.111317
Perez, R. D., Encarnacion, R. S., Dacanay, J. E., Fortin, J. R., & Chua, J. K. (1989). Folk architecture. Quezon City, Philippines: GCF Books.
Prabaswara, B. C., Hariyanto, L., & Arifin, L. S. (2021). Corrigendum: Reinterpreting local wisdom of Rumah Kaki Seribu as sustainable architecture. IOP Conference Series: Earth and Environmental Science, 907(1), 012018. https://doi.org/10.1088/1755-1315/907/1/012018
Qian, X., & Xu, K. (2025). How village leaders behave in leading vernacular heritage-based rural regeneration in traditional villages, agent or steward? Field research in traditional villages of the southeast of Chongqing, China. Habitat International, 156, 103257. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.habitatint.2024.103257
Rai, P., & Khawas, V. (2019). Traditional knowledge system in disaster risk reduction: Exploration, acknowledgement and proposition. Jàmbá: Journal of Disaster Risk Studies, 11(1), a484. https://doi.org/10.4102/jamba.v11i1.484
Rapoport, A. (2005). Culture, Architecture, and Design. Chicago, Illinois: Locke Science Publishing Company, Inc.
Republic Act No. 8371. (1997). An act to recognize, protect and promote the rights of indigenous cultural communities/indigenous peoples, creating a National Commission on Indigenous Peoples, establishing implementing mechanisms, appropriating funds therefor, and for other purposes. Manila, Philippines: Republic of the Philippines.
Rocero, M. (1982). Ethnobotany of the Itawes of Cagayan Province, Philippines. Manila: National Museum.
Salgado, P. V. (2002). Cagayan Valley and the Eastern Cordillera Volume I. Quezon City, Philippines: Rex Commercial.
Sari, L. H., Wulandari, E., & Idris, Y. (2023). An investigation of the sustainability of old traditional mosque architecture: case study of three mosques in Gayo Highland, Aceh, Indonesia. Journal of Asian Architecture and Building Engineering, 23(2), 528-541. https://doi.org/10.1080/13467581.2023.2245006
Scott, W. H. (1962). Cordillera Architecture of Northern Luzon. Folklore Studies, 186-220. https://doi.org/10.2307/1177351
Soini, K., & Birkeland, I. (2014). Exploring the scientific discourse on cultural sustainability. Geoforum, 213-223. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geoforum.2013.12.001
Soini, K., Battaglini, E., Birkeland, I., Duxbury, N., Fairclough, G., Forlings, L., & Dessein, J. (2015). Culture in, for and as sustainable development: Conclusions from the COST Action IS1007 investigating cultural sustainability (J. Dessein, K. Soini, G. Fairclough, & L. Horlings, Eds.). University of Jyväskylä. https://doi.org/10.13140/RG.2.1.3380.7844
Tabao, M. (2022). A Comparative Analysis on the Ethno-sustainable Architecture of the Itawit in the Middle and Southern Cagayan. Manila: Mapua University.
Tabao, M. (2025). Reviving heritage: Itawit building rituals and sustainable architecture. Jxiv Preprint Server. Japan Science and Technology Agency. https://doi.org/10.51094/jxiv.1117
Tiongson, N. C., Matilac, R. S., Gatchalian, E. L., Perez, R. I., Javellana, R. B., Jose, R. T., … de Guzman, N. (Eds.). (2017). CCP Encyclopedia of Philippine Art: Architecture (2nd ed., Vol. 4, pp. xxx i, 739, 29 cm; ISBN 978-971-8546-61-1). Manila, Philippines: Cultural Center of the Philippines.
United Nations. (2002). Report of the World Summit on Sustainable Development, Johannesburg, South Africa, 26 August–4 September 2002 (A/CONF.199/20). New York, NY: United Nations. https://digitallibrary.un.org/record/478154
United Nations. (2024). Take action for the Sustainable Development Goals. United Nations. https://www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/sustainable-development-goals/
World Commission on Environment and Development. (1987). Our common future. Oxford, United Kingdom: Oxford University Press.
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2025 Michael Tabao, Junar P Tablan
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
How to Cite
