Heritage Night set for May 29

CEBU, Philippines – The Gabii sa Kabilin (Night of Heritage) is scheduled for May 29, 2009 with six Cebu museums opening their doors to the public beyond normal operating hours or from 6 p.m. until midnight.

This is the third staging of this event, reportedly the only one of its kind in Asia.

The Ramon Aboitiz Foundation, Inc.’s Cultural Heritage Program, conceptualized the event for the locals, especially the children, as well as tourists to understand and appreciate Cebuano history and culture. It is in partnership with the Visayas Association of Museums and Galleries Inc.

The participating museums are the Casa Gorordo Museum, the Yap-Sandiego ancestral house, the Cathedral Museum, the Santo Niño Museum, the Fort San Pedro and the Museo Sugbo, the newest participant of the event.

Tickets can be had at any of the participating museums. For only P100 a ticket will allows entry into the six museums, a tartanilla ride going to all six museums can also be arranged for P50 per person.

Thirty tartanillas will be available, five from each museum.

The Gabii sa Kabilin concept is patterned after the long night of the museums in European countries to encourage people to visit museums as a venue for cultural understanding and to encourage more people to take note of history.

Cebuano food and delicacies as well as Cebuano arts and crafts will also be showcased and sold in certain venues. Msgr. Carlito Pono of the National Commission on Museums and VAMGI-Central Visayas said he is proud that the Night of Heritage has entered its third year.

He hopes this year’s event will be bigger and brighter than those of previous years.

Dr. Jocelyn Gerra, executive director of the Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Inc.’s Cultural Heritage Program, also said that the program aims to give heritage awareness to the public.

Visitors will get to understand and appreciate Cebuano history and culture to culminate in the International Museum Day and the Philippine National Heritage Month Celebrations later this month.

Meanwhile, around 30 police personnel will be deployed under the Tourist Police of Cebu headed by Sr. Insp. Leonarda Ronquillo. — Johanna T. Natavio/BRP (THE FREEMAN)