Superstitious Beliefs in Philippine Construction

Ladders Leaning Against House in Front of Trees




Construction companies in the Philippines are no stranger to the many unknown and mysterious things that surround different Filipino beliefs when it comes to construction. Our beliefs range from warding off engkantos that stem from our aboriginal faith to properly placing structures as learned from the Chinese. Here are some of the most popular construction superstitions that helped build the structures we know today.


Superstitions on Foundation


It is believed that the foundation of the house influences how the whole family will operate in the future as well as affect the overall luck of the home and all its inhabitants. The most common practice is to throw in coins or medallions to the first pouring of the foundation—this is believed to bring good fortune. Some might throw in books to make the inhabitants wiser. To ward off evil spirits, it is believe that you should splash wine, sprinkle salt, or shed the blood or a life chicken to the soil. For the first pouring of the foundation, there is a standing belief that it should be done at night in the full moon for auspiciousness.


Superstitions on Costing


Did you know that from superstition alone, you can make a house cost less? Ask a construction company in the Philippines but if a lot or house is famous for being haunted, it might sell on the market dirt cheap. Things like having a murder or being built above a graveyard can really lower the value of a lot. If a lot has a punso (dwarf mound) or ominous trees like atis, and ___, they lot could be believed to be inhabited by unseen beings.


Superstitions on Orientation


This one section is mainly focused on Feng Shui in that, elements of the house should or should not be situated a certain way so as to improve the flow of good fortune in the home. It is believed that the main door should face east to let in good luck and a mirror must not be faced to the door because the mirror will deflect good luck. Facing two doors next to each other is bad luck because the good luck will think it is being urged to leave. There are many other Feng Shui related modifications that have observed through the years but the ones about doors seem to be the most popular still.


Superstition on General Construction


It is believed that stairs shouldn’t have steps that are divisible by 3 because of the Spanish chant of “oro, plata, mata” meaning “gold, silver, death”. Stairs should not make you land on mata. But you also cannot have stairs with 13 steps since this number is attributed to bad luck. It is also believed that you should choose wood that has a few knots. Knots are the sections of wood that swirl to look like eyes. Other worldly being might have an easy time spectating your home through these “eyes”. Lastly, construction companies in the Philippines are asked to start construction on very specific days, mostly on the August 8 or any other 8th day of the month because it is believed that the number 8 has a great influence on luck.



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