00000ctm a22000003a 4500 UP-99796217608485158 Buklod 20080826161111.0 a r |||| u| ta 080826s xx d r |||| u| (iLib)UPD-00048494967 DCHE eng LG 993.5 2008 I58 G66 Gonzales, Kariza Laura Rodriguez A comparative study of altar design among selected lower, middle and upper class Filipino Roman catholic homes Kariza Laura R. Gonzales ; Ma. Teresa P. Quevedo, adviser. 2008. 71 leaves col. ill. Thesis (BSID)--University of the Philippines Diliman This study aimed to come up with a general description of Filipino home altars and the objects found in them by comparing the altars of three representative families coming from different socio-economic classes. It also aimed to determine how socio-economic status affects Filipino Roman Catholic home altar design. The study provides additional information on Filipino Roman Catholic home altars which is not given particular attention when it comes to design. Furthermore, it will help interior designers in understanding the role of religion in designing spaces. A descriptive and comparative approach was used in the study. Questionnaires, interviews, ocular observations and photo documentation were used to generate data. The operational definition of an altar was determined through a survey conducted prior to the actual data gathering. This and the Social Weather Stations' (SWS) socio-economic classification were used to determine the homes to be studied. The representative homes were chosen through purposive sampling. Results reveal that there were similarities among the objects present in the different altars, such as statues of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Santo Nino, flowers, prayer book and special light sources. These objects differed in number, quality, size and material with each socio-economic class. Among the three socio-economic classes, the middle class had the most number of objects in their home altar. The lower class meanwhile, had objects that were smaller in scale as compared to the other two classes. Generally , the higher the quality of the objects and the materials of which they were made, the higher the socio-economic status of the family. Based on the results of the study, socio-economic status may have an influence on the location and the number of altars present in each home. In general, the home altars were located in places seen upon entry into the homes. However, the upper class had a more personal home altar located in the second floor, since their first floor home altar was more symbolic than functional. While each of the middle and lower classes had only one altar, it was observed that the latter practiced communal praying regularly. This was made possible by the location of the altar. It was observed in the three case studies that the mothers were the ones who used the altars the most and were the most connected to the home altars as they were the ones who had a hand in their arrangement and decoration. Thus it can be said that mothers influenced home altar design. Home altars, then, may be considered feminine spaces. Based on the gathered data, it can be said that socio-economic status affected altar design directly, through the design of the objects present in the home altars and the materials of which they were made, as well as indirectly, through the attitudes, personalities and religious beliefs of the owners. Altars Philippines. Quevedo Ma. Teresa P. UPIANA Thesis UPD DCHE LG 993.5 2008 I58 G66 Thesis