The Filipino Bayanihan spirit is characterized by teamwork and a shared goal.  In rural Philippines, folks and friends work together to pick up and move houses and nipa huts -- helping someone move to a new home or location, literally.  After the move, the relocated family throws a fiesta for their friends and family to celebrate.

Bayanihan is an old tradition in the Philippines wherein neighbors of a relocating family would help the family move by gathering under their house and carrying it to its new location.Although bayanihan practiced in this form has become rare in today�s modern times, the word bayanihan itself has come to mean any manifestation of the powerful spirit of communal unity that can make seemingly impossible feats possible through the cooperation of many people working towards a common goal.

The image most associated with Bayanihan is of a bahay kubo [nipa hut] borne on the shoulders of men to be moved to its new location... the image of an entire village helping out one of their neighbors in this most arduous task is one of those things that are taught by Social Studies teachers when they discuss certain Filipino Values or Traits once you hit first grade

BAYANIHAN is probably one of the most ubiquitous concepts of the Filipino Values system. If you're not familiar with it, the closest equivalent to the English language is collective community spirit.

As the aftermath of the last tropical storm that hit the archipelago still looms over us, my praises go to the Filipino people as we all come together and help each other out through this most difficult time. Relief operations, donations, pledges, volunteers, are all but testaments to the Bayanihan Spirit. We as a people are resilient.

Some find solace in the fact that they are not alone in this, some find themselves with a stronger resolve to get through, some -though their faith may have been tested- still hang on to it... Hope doesn't run out easily for us.

Tthis is the practical way of moving houses. And it is! It is fast and cost-free. If you have to deconstruct and build the house again, it would take days. But this can be done in a matter of hours only. Here's a tip though: don't use tile flooring =)

This whole event was also a source of entertainment for the local women. They cheered their men on. But they were also teasing and challenging them.

MABUHAY!