Building A House? Oro, Plata, Mata — Positively Filipino …

Among the Tagalogs, stair steps are erected with a ritual that calls for alternate counting to three, using the chant “Oro, plata, mata” (Gold, silver, death) for each count. Of course, the counting commences with the lowest rung. The topmost step should never end with “mata,” that being a symbol of bad luck.

http://www.positivelyfilipino.com/magazine/2013/3/building-a-house-oro-plata-mata