Gabii sa kabili

CEBU, Philippines - To develop and strengthen awareness of the significance of museums and heritage sites in the creation of cultural identity and rallying public support in protecting them, the Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Inc. Culture and Heritage Unit and its partners will be staging the 2012 Gabii sa Kabilin on May 25 from 6 p.m. to midnight.

This annual event is held every last Friday of May in celebration of the National Heritage Month and International Museums Day (May 18). Inspired by the Lange Nacht der Museen (Long Nights of Museums) in Germany and other European countries, this is the only cultural event of its kind in the Philippines and in Asia, encouraging the public to visit museums and understand their position as a venue for cultural understanding and fun and dynamic learning. During the event, museums and cultural institutions remain open until late night for public viewing. Cultural presentations and activities are also offered.

Participating sites grew to 21 from last year's 18, with ticket sales expected to surpass last year's 3,000 pieces.

New participating sites this year are the Ayala Center Cebu Cinema and The Terraces featuring performances of contemporary dances and songs, album launch, food fair and interactive guitar-making demonstration for children, as well as free documentary films screening; Fo Guang Shan Chu Un Temple (Buddhist temple complex in the heart of the city features Kuan Yin Boddhisatva exhibit and calligraphy demonstration); Bank of the Philippine Islands Museum (exhibit on history of the country's first bank museum and banking in the Philippines); College Assurance Plan Center (former residence of President Sergio Osmeña, Sr.); JRG Halad Museum (exhibits on musical heritage of Cebu and the Visayas, Dr. Jose R. Gullas memorabilia, The FREEMAN as Cebu's oldest existing newspaper); and University of San Carlos Museum (exhibits on archaeology and ethnography of the Visayas, Spanish period and USC history).The BPI Museum will, however, be available for viewing to Gabii sa Kabilin guests from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. only.

With one ticket worth P150, guests may go to as many participating museums and cultural heritage sites (art galleries and alternative spaces, heritage structures, historical educational institutions, churches, temples, and sacred places; and public spaces) within the six hours of the heritage event. The ticket allows them to take as many rides as they want in Gabii sa Kabilin-designated buses and one tartanilla (Cebu's iconic horse-drawn carriage) trip in Cebu City's old district.

According to Dr. Jocelyn Gerra, executive director of the RAFI Culture and Heritage Unit, sustaining this annual program is meant to continue empowering communities and raising their sense of pride, ownership and responsibility in conserving heritage.

"Museums are built for peace, encouraging social development. It is the soul and conscience of society. It helps move people to conserve what they would learn to embrace as their own," she said.

Tickets are sold at the 21 participating museums and cultural sites, including the Concierge at Ayala Center Cebu. Detailed information about these sites and their presentations as well as tour routes of Gabii sa Kabilin will be available for download also, beginning today, at www.rafi.org.ph or www.facebook.com/rafi.org.ph. For ticket reservations, go to www.rafi.org.ph/event/2012gsktr.

On May 18, or International Museums Day, a version of the Gabii sa Kabilin in Argao and Sibonga will be launched in partnership with RAFI. It was learned that Argao, southeast of Cebu, is the first town to have staged this type of historic properties preservation initiative.

"We were the first to have staged a heritage tour in our outdoor museum. Only a few people attended though, that's why we would like to create a buzz about it to make the event more exciting and also to further promote pride of place," Vip Semilla, Argao Tourism Commission executive director, said.

"Since Gabii sa Kabilin started, there has been an increased awareness of the public on Cebuano culture and heritage," RAFI noted.

"What's good is that the youth are also actively joining and even coming up with write-ups and blogs about the event. More people are discovering the rich heritage that Cebuanos have. Places of cultural and historic significance that used to be unknown are beginning to be familiar among the Cebuanos. The collaboration among museums, the participation of the barangays, and the support of the public and private sectors have established Gabii sa Kabilin as a venue for strengthening community involvement and multisectoral partnerships."  (FREEMAN)