The
designs of homes in the Philippines have a distinct characteristic that is uniquely Filipino. Sure, it has features a typical house has but once you step in their doorstep you get that unmistaken vibe. What are the signs you’re in a Filipino home?
Wooden Spoon and Fork
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| Pinterest |
The rightful place of this oversized wooden utensils is on the walls. These are usually seen in the dining area or kitchen. I don’t know if these symbolize Filipino’s love for food but is it ironic, that despite the (over)size of these dining displays, Pinoys love to eat food by hands?
Walis Tingting and Walis Tambo
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| madeinphilippines.nl |
Ah, the ultimate duo of the Filipino cleaning arsenal. These two are the manual counterparts of its electronic cousin, the vacuum cleaner. The walis tingting, shown above is used outdoors, while the walis tambo below reigns inside the house. Both are products of the coconut tree, the “Tree of Life.”
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| connectingcultures.us |
Dustpan
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| philamfood.com |
It seems we are forgetting something, ah, the good ‘ole dustpan or daspan. It could be considered as an ‘unfaithful’ household cleaning tool because it can be partnered with walis tingting or walis tambo. After a backbreaking sweeping, daspan collects all the dust, dirt and trash. After this, you can chuck it in the garbage bin.
Bunot
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| ffemagazine.com |
This is the cheapest way to have a shiny and squeaky clean floor, especially if it is made of wood or concrete. It may be not as easy as using a standard floor polisher but at least you get an instant workout from it. Bunot is the product of coconut fruit or dried coconut husk.
Tabo and Timba (Dipper and Pail)
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| renzylamorena10.wordpress.com |
You cannot miss these two in any homes in the Philippines which serve as a ‘design’ or ‘decoration’ found in the bathroom or banyo in Tagalog. Well, it is not a design per se but it seems like a permanent fixture. Although it is not as fun as using a shower, you can save a lot of water using a tabo and timba, and consequentially get billed for less, too.
Cabinet Full of Chinaware
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| copycatcollector.blogspot.com |
Ah, the pride and joy of Filipino mothers, a cabinet full of chinaware (pictured above) or Tupperware (pictured below). You can spot this beside the dining table or it is stacked inside one of the cupboards in the kitchen. However, I can’t really fathom why it remains untouched for years and not even a single family member is able to use it.
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| asprinkleofthis.blogspot.com |
Plastic Food Cover
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| aliexpress.com |
This is used to keep flies away from food and to protect it from sneaky house pets. It comes in all shapes, sizes and colors.
Kulambo (Mosquito Net)
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shaneyanz.blogspot.com
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If there is a cover that protects food from flies, the kulambo is the shield of humans against mosquitoes. You can set this up while having siesta or sleeping at night. It looks odd though because you’re like camping right inside your bedroom.
Slippers at Doorstep
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| flickrhivemind.net |
Yes, you can obviously tell you’re about to enter a home in the Philippines because of this unsightly ‘design.’ This is the barrage of slippers scattered over the doormat which is right at the doorstep. This is despite the fact that a shoe rack is an arm’s length away.
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