RAFI to hold photo contest on Gabii sa Kabilin

CEBU, Philippines — Once again, the Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Inc. (RAFI) will be staging its annual Gabii sa Kabilin (Night of Heritage) which will bring back participants to the pre-colonial period.

Now on its 12th year, GSK will offer fun activities and a new contest on May 25.

GSK will feature 29 cultural destinations in the cities of Cebu, Lapu-lapu, Mandaue and Talisay from 6p.m. to midnight.

“We have checked on our areas of improvement last year and it will be applied this year,” said Caroline Ballesteros, event coordinator for GSK and RAFI Vice President for Corporate Communication.

Aside from children’s activities, heritage hunt, blogging and vlogging contest, GSK will break a new ground for photographers as they open their photography contest with the theme “Balangay”.

Balangay refers to the sailing vessel that transported families and communities throughout the archipelago. This also reflects the bond of communities together by kinship and communal ties.

The people behind GSK hope to include a real Balangay in future events and they are trying to get in touch with a group in China that can bring to Cebu a Balangay.

Selected museums will present different aspects of pre-colonial Bisaya culture.

Casa Gorordo Museum will present family life, Saint Theresa’s College – Folklike Museum and Jose R. Gullas Halad Museum will perform music, Museo Sugbo will illustrate pre-historic village, University of San Carlos Museum will show aesthetics, Cathedral Museum will convey religious belief and faith while food and local delicacies will be presented by the Archdiocesan Shrine of San Nicholas de Tolentino, Talisay, Mandaue and Capitol.

There will also be a Chinese segment at Fo Guang Shan Chu Un Temple, Jesuit House and Sugbu Chinese Heritage Museum and Archdiocesan Shrine of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus.

For a P150 ticket, participants will have access to the activities and presentations at the 29 participating sites.

It will also entitle them to a tartanilla (horse-drawn carriage) ride in Cebu City and unlimited rides in GSK-designated buses. Admission is free for children ages seven and below but they must be accompanied by adults.

Tickets will be available at the participating heritage sites or interested participants may send a message to RAFI’s Facebook page.

Participants can to walk freely and safely in the historic downtown area of Cebu City as Mabini Street, P. Burgos Street and E. Aboitiz Street (formerly Lopez Jaena Street) will be closed to traffic.

The PNP has committed to deploy 113 police personnel to the whole event.

Meanwhile, the town of Argao will also hold its own Gabii sa Kabilin on May 18 in time for the celebration of International Museum Day. —/MBG (FREEMAN)