The essentials of building a lasting home

Building a house is often imagined as picking tiles, choosing paint colors, and arguing about where the dining table should sit.

A home is a sequence of construction decisions with consequences for comfort, cost, and longevity. The process may seem wrapped in jargon and blueprints to newcomers, but demystifying the fundamentals reveals which parts truly matter and why they carry weight.

The ground beneath

Every house begins with soil. Its condition dictates the type of foundation required, whether shallow footings for stable ground or deep piles for soft or shifting soil. Ignoring this step risks uneven settling and cracks.

A proper geotechnical investigation may seem like an extra cost, but the insurance policy ensures the entire structure rests on a reliable footing.

The architectural plan

Before concrete is poured or steel is tied, architectural design gives order to the build. It aligns the foundation with circulation, light, ventilation, and proportion. Taking time in this exercise avoids costly rework and ensures that technical decisions support strength and livability from the start.

Beyond comfort, a thoughtful plan saves money by preventing wasted space and structural inefficiency.

The structural skeleton

Columns, beams, and slabs are the bones that hold the house upright. Their placement and sizing follow the rules of load distribution.

Reinforced concrete, the staple of Philippine housing, must be mixed, poured, and cured with discipline. Skipping curing time or using low-grade steel can shave costs in the short term but compromise decades of stability. Good skeletons make homes that stand firm even in earthquakes and typhoons.

The roof and its armor

A roof is the frontline defense against heat and rain. Proper roof pitch lets water run off quickly, while trusses engineered with correct spacing resist winds. Layers of insulation beneath can help keep interiors cooler.

Though often overlooked, flashings, gutters, and downspouts determine whether water stays out or sneaks into ceilings and walls. Careful detailing extends the lifespan of roofing systems, reducing costly repairs.

The wet zones

Kitchens and bathrooms concentrate plumbing and drainage. Proper slopes in bathroom floors prevent puddling. Pipes sized correctly for flow reduce clogs, and vent stacks avoid sewer gas from sneaking back inside. Waterproofing membranes beneath tiles stop leaks before they stain ceilings below.

These wet zones are the most expensive to renovate later, so attention here during construction is essential.

The enclosure

Walls, windows, and doors seal the house from the elements. Hollow block walls need correct mortar joints and plastering to resist water penetration. Windows and doors must be plumbed and sealed to prevent leaks and drafts.

Choices here influence both comfort and utility bills. Properly executed enclosures mean less repainting, fewer repairs, and consistently livable interiors.

The finishing touch

Finishes are the most visible layer, but also the thinnest protection. Tiles, paint, and cabinetry all rely on the quality of preparation beneath. No matter how expensive, a floor tile laid on uneven screed will crack. Paint applied to poorly cured plaster will peel.

Workmanship quality in these finishing touches reduces maintenance and extends the life of materials, proving that value is measured by durability as much as by appearance.

The price of building

According to the Philippine Statistics Authority in 2025, the average construction cost for rough residential buildings is around P12,182 per sqm. Industry trackers confirm similar figures.

A mid-range home with comfortable finishes typically costs between P25,000 and P30,000 per sqm. Semi-luxury builds may climb to P35,000 per sqm, while luxury residences can exceed P50,000 per sqm. For a 200 sqm to 300 sqm home, expect P2.4 million at the leanest end, and as high as P15 million for a premium build.

Building with clarity

For those new to building, the lesson is clear: invest in what holds the house together and keeps it dry. Elegance can always be layered later, but strength and integrity must be built from day one.

Source: Inquirer

Suretyship vs. Guaranty under Philippine Law: What’s the Difference?

In Philippine obligations and contracts, suretyship and guaranty are often confused because both involve a third person answering for the obligation of another. However, under the Civil Code of the Philippines, they are legally distinct contracts with significantly different consequences—especially for the person who gives the assurance.

Understanding this distinction is crucial for borrowers, lenders, business owners, and anyone asked to “sign as guarantor or surety.”

1. Legal Basis under the Civil Code

The governing provision is Article 2047 of the Civil Code, which expressly distinguishes guaranty from suretyship:

“By guaranty a person, called the guarantor, binds himself to the creditor to fulfill the obligation of the principal debtor in case the latter should fail to do so. If a person binds himself solidarily with the principal debtor, the provisions of Section 4, Chapter 3, Title I of this Book shall be observed. In such case the contract is called a suretyship.”

This single article sets the foundation for all practical differences between the two.

2. Nature of the Obligation

Guaranty

• The guarantor’s obligation is subsidiary.

• The guarantor answers only if the principal debtor fails to pay.

• The guarantor is not primarily liable.

Suretyship

• The surety’s obligation is direct, primary, and solidary with the debtor.

• The surety is considered equally liable as the principal debtor.

• The creditor may proceed directly against the surety, even without first going after the debtor.

Key difference:A guarantor is a backup. A surety is on equal footing with the debtor.

3. Right to Require Exhaustion of Debtor’s Assets

Guarantor

Under Article 2058, a guarantor may invoke the benefit of excussion, meaning:

• The creditor must first exhaust all the assets of the principal debtor before going after the guarantor.

This right is a major legal protection.

Surety

• A surety has no right to excussion.

• The creditor may sue the surety immediately and directly, without first suing the debtor.

In practice, this is why banks strongly prefer suretyship over guaranty.

4. Extent of Liability

Guarantor

• Liability is generally limited to what is stated in the contract.

• Under Article 2054, guaranty cannot exceed the principal obligation and may be subject to conditions.

Surety

• Liability is typically co-extensive with that of the principal debtor.

• The surety may be held liable for the entire debt, including penalties and interest, unless expressly limited.

5. Practical Consequences in Litigation

Aspect	Guaranty	Suretyship
Nature of liability	Subsidiary	Solidary
Creditor can sue immediately?	❌ No	✅ Yes
Benefit of excussion	✅ Available	❌ Not available
Common in bank loans	Rare	Very common
Risk level	Lower	Very high

Philippine jurisprudence consistently holds that a surety is in effect an insurer of the debt, while a guarantor is merely a fallback obligor.

6. Common Real-World Scenario

Many people sign loan documents believing they are “just guarantors,” when the contract actually states they are “solidarily liable” or uses the term “surety.”

Courts look at:

• The wording of the contract, not the label used in conversation

• Whether the obligation is stated as solidary

If the contract says “jointly and severally liable”, it is suretyship, not guaranty—regardless of what the parties thought they were signing.

7. Conclusion

While both guaranty and suretyship involve answering for another’s debt, the legal exposure is vastly different:

• Guaranty offers protection and secondary liability.

• Suretyship imposes immediate, solidary, and often severe liability.

Before signing any contract involving either, it is essential to read the liability clause carefully and understand whether you are assuming a subsidiary or solidary obligation under Philippine law.

When in doubt, seek legal advice—because in suretyship, one signature can make you as liable as the borrower himself.

Source: Ziggurat Real Estate

Marcos-era design center resurrected under Marcos Jr.

The signature trade shows of the Center for International Trade Expositions and Missions (CITEM) include Manila FAME, which is centered on home, fashion, and lifestyle goods, and IFEX Philippines, which focuses on food and ingredients.

Both a flaw and feature of these shows are their limited weekend runs, creating excitement, scarcity, and three-day selling dates. But when the show is over, the magic is all gone. Now an old-new facility in Pasay City, finished just in time for the 2026 ASEAN Summit, might just change all that.

Originally opened in 1983 as the PhilTrade Center, the new Likhang Filipino Exhibition Halls displays some of the best that Philippine artisans can offer in a variety of sectors — home and lifestyle, fashion and accessories, traditional arts and crafts, food and beverages, and wellness.

The exhibition halls opened on Jan. 15 with much fanfare, attended by President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr., his wife, first lady Marie Louise “Liza” Araneta-Marcos, and his mother, former first lady Imelda R. Marcos, amid a crowd of diplomats and other dignitaries. The senior Mrs. Marcos, now in a wheelchair, spearheaded the first PhilTrade Center in 1979, also meant to exhibit the same categories of artisanal goods during her husband Ferdinand E. Marcos, Sr.’s dictatorship, which ended in 1986 with the EDSA Revolution.

Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Assistant Secretary Al Modesto Valenciano recalled in a press conference prior to the opening that after the Marcos Sr. era, the PhilTrade Center had been used by antique shops, and most recently — prior to the younger Mr. Marcos’ Executive Order No. 75 — had been occupied by restaurants catering to Philippine offshore gambling operators (POGOs).

Executive Order No. 75, “Strengthening the Center for International Trade Expositions and Missions,” says, “For this purpose, within six months from the effectivity of this Order, the CITEM, in coordination with the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) and such other relevant agencies, shall come up with a roadmap that will detail the strategic plans and programs to further strengthen the mandates of CITEM, including among others, the establishment of an exhibition facility and/or permanent showrooms and outlets designed to host trade shows, exhibitions, conferences, and other similar events, subject to existing laws, rules and regulations.” The new facility is part of the fulfillment of this order.

“Three days might not be enough for both the buyers and the exhibitors,” said CITEM Executive Director Leah Pulido Ocampo about the trade shows they currently conduct and their limited scope.

According to her, all of the exhibitors at the refurbished area (numbering about 200, spread out over several galleries with different categories), are from CITEM shows like FAME and IFEX. “It’s an extension of the three-day events. So now, we have a 365-a-year, seven days a week, 10 hours a day exhibition center,” she said.

“The reason why the First Lady Liza Marcos was very urgent in giving us a short period of time [to set up the center]… because this is basically one of the major destinations of the ASEAN delegates for the ASEAN summit,” she said. Mr. Valenciano said that the project began in July 2025 and was finished in December (in contrast, the senior Mrs. Marcos finished the site in the 1970s in 12 days, according to a press release).

Brands represented in the facility include: Calfurn, Contemporaneo, Filipino Creazione, Finali Furniture, JB Woodcraft, and Prizmic & Brill for furniture; Albertina Import and Export, Inc., Allanae Printshop & Paper Products Corp. (APPP.Co), Creativly Studio for gifts and holiday decor; and Carl Jan Cruz, Arnel Papa, Bitagcol, and Jor-el Espina for fashion.

The CITEM trade shows sometimes feature limited supplies due to the nature of their usually artisanal make, but since a year-round supply of goods is needed for the exhibition halls, Ms. Pulido Ocampo noted that “Supply is actually relative as far as CITEM is concerned. What we’re trying to do is to teach our exhibitors to look for their specific niche. You do not entertain buyers if you know that you cannot supply.”

The goods are also available to buyers on a retail basis.

Meanwhile, the Design Center of the Philippines, along with its library and product development facilities, will be moving to the exhibition halls. “[The] Design Center will be moving our offices here; our full operations would come [in] March,” said Rhea Matute, executive director of the Design Center. “The idea is really it’s a one-stop complex for the creative industries.”

Mr. Marcos said in a speech: “This space was conceived and inaugurated in 1979 — Mommy, talaga you are always ahead of your time — under your stewardship, the First Lady Imelda Romualdez Marcos. It was founded on a simple belief: that Filipino design and craftsmanship deserved a place on the world stage. So today, we proudly carry that vision of yours, Mom, we carry it forward to the year 2026.

“There is nothing but immense pride that comes from recognizing our own, from seeing materials shaped by Filipino hands, ideas rooted in Filipino culture, and designs that feel both familiar and exceptional,” he said.

The Likhang Filipino Exhibition Halls is located at the International Trade Center Complex (formerly PhilTrade), Roxas Blvd., Pasay City. It will be open for free to the public starting on Jan. 20. Likhang Filipino’s hours are from Tuesday to Sunday, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. For details, visit its official website https://likhangfilipino.com.ph. For questions, e-mail info@citem.com.ph.

Source: Business World