Wednesday, 21 September 2011

Bayanihan - "YouHaul"


"Bayanihan" is a Filipino term that refers to acts in spirit of community. One of the most common examples, and has often become synonymous with the term is the Bayanihan of moving homes.

When natives want to relocate their home, neighbors and friends gather and literally carry the entire house on their backs using support frames underneath the house. These frames are usually made of bamboo. The number of people varies, of course, depending on the size of the house.

These small homes are called Nipa Huts (or Bahay Kubo ~ Kubo House). These are made with Bamboo frames and Nipa leaves for the coverings. They are the traditional indigenous homes of the Philippines. They are usually built on stilts but some modern variations have fixed foundations (where Bayanihan cannot not be used). They are generally lightweight - light enough for people to carry without the aid of machines.

The terrain offers a challenge to these people, especially in the past when this was done more often and there were less paved roads. These people are unpaid volunteers - it's all about the community. They are treated to a fiesta afterwards in gratitude of their efforts.

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