Balay Ukit is a kind of transom tracery unique to the Philippines and found in pre-WWII ancestral homes. The term was coined in the book “Balay Ukit: Tropical Architecture in Pre-WWII Filipino Houses” by Maria Virginia Yap Morales.
This architectural element was an ingenious way of applying Green architecture during pre-World War II. It helped diffuse sunlight coming into the living spaces of the house while providing ventilation and aesthetic beauty to both the exterior and interior of the house. It is one of the reasons why the Filipino houses back then were well ventilated and lit.
Reference:
Yap Morales, Maria Virginia. 2013. Balay Ukit: Tropical Architecture in Pre-WWII Filipino Houses. Anvil Publishing, Inc.