ALTHOUGH the Philippines is a predominantly Catholic country, many Filipinos still adhere to superstitious beliefs (pamahiin). This is the result of the syncretic merger of the Catholic faith and the native religion of our ancestors, which showed they were not completely eradicated when Spanish colonizers instilled Christianity. These superstitious beliefs and practices can be seen in just about every aspect of our daily lives.

Architecture and construction is no exception. Some locally trained architects adhere to these superstitions, which influence their designs. The following are some of these superstitious beliefs of Filipinos, which may be different from that of the Chinese.