Building a Bahay Kubo
We are in the middle of having a bahay kubo guesthouses built in our farm, two houses that are being built are for my aunt and my mom who got a piece of land next to our farm. We already have a few houses in the farm actually but we need to build new ones for investors visiting our farm.
It is not easy doing this project from a distance though and it is especially frustrating as I don’t see the developments of the building. I just need to trust the people building there to make good judgments and to do their work.
For those of you wondering how much is it to build a house in the countryside in the Philippines, let me give you some ideas. Labor or manpower per day there cost Php200 – 300 or US$4.20 -$5.00. It’s crazy right and almost nothing compared to salaries one would get in the US ( like jobs in philly pa for example) but of course life is very different in the Philippines and the USA or any other western country for that matter.
As for the materials, it varies from the design and size of your house. A typical Bahay Kubo will cost about Php php 35,000 or US$738.275 that includes kitchen, toilet and septic tank.
durok clearing of land - Php 1200
poste bakod – fence post – Php 200
kahoy sa bahay – wood for the house Php4500
pako – nails – Php600
sawali -Php 4140
kawayan para sa sahig – bamboo for flooring – Php900
yero – zink for roof support Php 900
semento – cement -Php2500
pagtayo bakod -Php100
alambre – barbed wire -Php 1000
pawid – native (coconut leaves) roofings Php 1920
patrabaho – labor -Php 8200
kubeta – toilet – still to be determined
For our new guesthouse, check the design below I drew 
, the cost is roughly Php130,000 more expensive because of it’s size (area roughly 10 x10 meter ) and we are using better and prettier materials like cogon which would last longer.
So what do you think, can i pass as an architect maybe not hehehe…
pehpot on Nov 5, 2009
pede ba kame ang unang guest? wahehe
Vera on Nov 5, 2009
We used to have a bahay kubo in Laguna. I miss that house
sandy on Nov 5, 2009
Wow are cars cost more than building a house there; had no idea there was that big of difference.
Good luck with your project.
Sandy
Jade on Nov 6, 2009
@ Pehpot – di na kayo una e, may mauna na sa December…but you are welcome to be next
Jade on Nov 6, 2009
@ Vera- it is so nice to have one right?
Nedekcir on Nov 6, 2009
Oi, I want to try it even for a few days…lol. kelan kaya?
Jade on Nov 6, 2009
@ Nedekcir – Sure dear, let me know kung magagwi ka dun
peenkfrik on Nov 6, 2009
I’m not an architect too but I guess the rough sketch is good enough though you wouldn’t want to put the bed right in front of the door. A little bit of feng sui might help you with the interiors. Good luck!
fedhz on Nov 10, 2009
huwaw! di lang writer, entrepreneur.. artist pa! yes yes! ganda ng drawing mo. aw.. mahal din pala no. kulang pa din pera ko. toinks. wahah!
Eric : BlogDeManila : Philippine Blog on Nov 11, 2009
doon sa budget na P35,000, kailangan ko pa pala ng 34,500 para makapagpatayo ng bahay namin
kailan ba pwedeng makitulog dyan?
eastcoastlife on Nov 14, 2009
I would like to own a farm in the Philippines too! That would be lots of space for my animals and crops!
rob on Jan 8, 2010
did you have some one come to check if the spirits was good before you commmenced your building and if so was u told wot the feelings of the spirit were..
kayth on Mar 24, 2010
I cant see the picture but I must say you pass as Quantity Surveyor!