Dap-ay

A dap-ay (Kankanaey and Applai), ato, or ator (Bontoc) is a paved raised ceremonial platform ringed with stone seats and with a central fireplace among the Cordilleran cultures in the northern Philippines.

[5][2][6] Dap-ay is also utilized by its members for arranging a mutual exchange of labor (called dang-as), for work that can not be done alone (like repairing the dikes in their rice terraces).

The member requesting the service will usually offer an animal sacrifice (like a certain number of chickens) in exchange, which are used in the preparation rituals and eaten by the participants afterwards.

These buildings were also utilized as a place for storing weapons, a barracks for training warriors, and a school for teaching the laws, histories, and traditions of the village.

Unlike the dap-ay, the ebgan did not host rituals or meetings, but served as a place for girls to learn various skills.

[9][11] Children were expected to sleep in these dormitories as soon as they stopped requiring parental support for feeding, locomotion, or bodily functions (usually at the age of seven or eight, ten in modern times).

[9][11][12] During daytime (usually in the early mornings and in the evenings), dap-ay (and ebgan) also functioned as village centers where adult members of the community can interact with each other or do communal activities.