CEBU CITY, Philippines – A feast to the eyes, a blast of cultural music and dances, a lively atmosphere and seeing the past through the cultures and artifacts of the old Cebu on display on the resumption of the face-to-face Gabii sa Kabilin 2022 on October 21.
The night is promised to be festive, vigorous, and entertaining to ticket holders of the event that is participated by 20 museums with two bonus sites in Cebu City, Talisay and Mandaue City.
The soon-to-open National Museum Cebu and currently restored Freedom Park will be among the itinerary on this year’s tour to remember Cebuano cultures and traditions.
“We have sold around 3,000 tickets last month and based on the past GSKs, people are still buying a day before or even on the night of the event. We are targeting around 4,000 participants this year, probably we will hit that target,” GSK Event Director and RAFI’s The Kabilin Center head Haidee Palapar, answered during the press conference held at the TKC on Wednesday.
Since 2007, the event has usually been staged on the last weekend of April. However, because of the onslaught of Typhoon Odette in December 2021, where all partner museums suffered damages – the Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Inc. – Cultural & Heritage Unit (CHU) and the partner museums decided to move the 16th GSK on the third Friday of October.
Theme
Amidst the struggles, crises and challenges that laid back Cebu for two years, especifically the COVID-19 pandemic and Odette’s havoc – the organizers adopted a fitting theme – PADAYON, to highlight the Cebuano’s spirit and personalities that manifested despite the predicaments that came along the way.
“The theme also highlights and celebrates local museums, galleries and cultural sites – treasure troves where one can find proof of Cebuanos knack for survival and character of resilience, optimism and ingenuity.”
From 6PM to 12 midnight, the ticket holder will have unlimited access to all 20 museums and sites that have partnered for this year’s “Heritage Night.”
Partner sites and prepared presentations
Among the museums that can be visited on October 21 includes the Archdiocesan Museum of Cebu where the musical serenade by the Jose R. Gullas Visayas Chorale will welcome the guests upon entering the mu; a reenactment of Kaplag, a Sinuog Dance and an audio-video presentation of “Padayon sa Pagtuo” is the highlight at the Archdiocesan Shrine of San Nicolas de Tolentino Parish; a display of Chinese traditional games and a tour of the church at the Archdiocesan Shrine of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus; the Basilica Minore del Santo Niño will have an exhibit of the Ecce Homo de Cebu. The Ecce Homo is one of the three distinct religious cultural-historical icons in Cebu, which includes the Santo Niño and the Magellan’s Cross. The Basilica will also present a Documentary “Finding of the Ecce Homo de Cebu,” and an AVP entitled “Padayon ta Niño: A Devotion to the Sto. Niño in time of the pandemic.”
A Binisaya Film Festival will be shown at the Casa Gorordo and it is coupled with a Fashion Show & Exhibit and a CoViD street exhibit; the Cebu City Museum will showcase the Floral Artforms in Cebu which is called Lagang and Buwak-Papel; a Tambolista exhibit and Harana by the Cebu Blind Acoustics is prepared at the Fort San Pedro; Make a wish with light offering at the Fo Guang Shan Chu Un Temple, also witness the Chinese Art cutting and calligraphy, Tai Chi and Martial Arts, Musical performance and Chinese instruments, tea ceremony and array of vegetarian food at minimal price.
The Museo Parian sa Sugbo – 1730 Jesuit House will have an art exhibit and serves free ice cream and cotton candy to their visitors; the Museo Sugbo will be presenting the winners of the Pasigardo sa Sugbo and a product exhibition of the Sugbo Negosyo beneficiaries; Palm Grass The Cebu Heritage Hotel will present a short video titled: “Hello, love, lumay,” an art exhibit which carries a theme “Gugmaoy (love and perseverance amidst crises) by Cebuano visual artists, weapons love and sex gadgets in Cebu history, and a Demo on Traditional Way of Life of Cebuanos.
The RAFI – The Kabilin Center will present an exhibit called Pagsagubang – a courageously futuristic exhibit of Cebuano resilience and creativity in overcoming the CoViD-19 pandemic plus a dance drama on the Cebuano struggles in History, covid monologues, Basa-Balak, a documentary on museums and a showcase of Cebuano songs; the St. Theresa’s College – Sr. Ma. Delia Coronel Folklife Museum will present a video on the Contribution of ICM (Immaculate Heart of Mary) Sisters on the growth and development of Christian Education in Cebu; the Sugbu Chinese Heritage Museum will have a calligraphy contest and will display a theater/interpretive dance on the struggles of the (early) Filipino Chinese.
The University of the Philippines-Cebu – artwork exhibits, exhibit of UP Cebu institutional history and Binisaya Film showing; University of San Carlos Museum – Handloom weaving DIY and demo; University of Southern Philippines Foundation Rizaliana Museum – vignettes from Noli Me Tangere and Live trivia / Q&A about Life of Rizal, and Poem Reading by Rizalore; Mandaue City Presidencia – exhibit & video of Mandaue history, tour at the Mandaue Presidencia, Panagtagbo Festival, Mandaue delicacies and experience Mandaue in a box; Talisay’s Cebu Archdiocesan Shrine of Jesus Nazareno Heritage of Faith Museum will exhibit images of Blessed Virgin Mary apparitions, Hardim de San Jose and the Museo de Talisay will showcase a live performance from various Talisay talents and Talisay City College Folkloric Dance Troupe. There are also other museums in Talisay that will also open their doors to GSK visitors on the same evening.
The two additional features sites include the soon-to-be opened National Museum in Cebu – which will have an exhibit and presentations and the Freedom Park which will exhibit historical and cultural significance of the site and the conservation efforts and archeological findings in the area.
Free rides, routes, traffic scheme & security.
Three buses are allocated for each of the three routes within Cebu City and two each for the Talisay and Mandaue routes.
Bus rides are free, and unlimited for the ticket that is worth P200 (P180 discounted price for senior citizens, students and early birds). The tickets will also give the holder access to the museum, sites he/she wants to visit.
All buses will start from the University of San Carlos Main Campus.
Route 1 will traverse the Cebu City Museum along Osmeña Blvd., the Fo Guang Shan Chu Un Temple in V. Rama Ave., Archdiocesan Shrine of San Nicolas de Tolentino Parish, and Palm Grass Cebu The Heritage Hotel.
Route 2 will take the passengers to visit the Archdiocesan Shrine of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus in D. Jakosalem St., St. Theresa’s College – Sr. Ma. Delia Coronel Folklife Museum in Mango Ave., The University of the Philippines Cebu and back to USC Main Campus where the University of San Carlos Museum is located.
And Route 3 will ply to the direction of the Museo Sugbo in M.J. Cuenco Ave., Fort San Pedro at the Port Area, Casa Gorordo, RAFI – The Kabilin Center, Museo Parian – the 1730 Jesuits House, the USPF Rizaliana Museum and the Archdiocesan Museum of Cebu.
The Talisay City bus will be waiting at the gateway of the Cebu South Coastal Road to Museo de Talisay in Jose Rizal St. (old City Hall) and to the Cebu Archdiocesan Shrine of Jesus Nazarene Heritage of Faith Museum in Washington St. while the Mandaue City bus route will start at Imus Ave.
Aside from the bus the Tartanilla ride is from Sugbu Chinese Heritage to Fort San Pedro or vice versa only.
There is also the so-called Walking Tour for those who want to shake off excess baggage or need a stress reliever. It is taking the route from TKC-Jesuit House-USPF Rizaliana Museum-Archdiocesan Museum of Cebu-Basilica Minore del Santo Niño Museum.
Stuck in Friday traffic is not a problem as the Cebu City Traffic Operations has granted partial and full road closure on the routes.
Eduardo Aboitiz St. (formerly Lopez Jaena) will be fully closed while Mabini and P. Burgos streets are partially closed. CCTO personnel will place a separator barrier in the middle of the road to separate the pedestrians and the vehicles. Also, affected by the traffic scheme are MJ Cuenco Ave., V. Gullas St., Legazpi St., Sikatuna, T. Padilla, Zulueta, P. del Rosario, Colon, MC Briones, Osmeña Blvd., and N. Bacalso Ave.
Commuters and motorists are advised to avoid the following areas.
Aside from CCTO personnel, barangay tanods, PNP personnel, and Radio Emergency Assistance Volunteer Organization (REAVO) will provide security, communication and emergency assistance to the Gabii sa Kabilin 2022.
Safety & Health protocols.
The Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) has granted the organizer a permit to hold this event, but participants are reminded to observe the minimum health protocol.
This includes wearing of facemask, physical distancing, especially when falling in line and during indoor tours and presentations.
Participants are advised to refrain from touching surfaces and museum displays and always sanitize each time they arrive and leave a site.
The GSK organizers will be monitoring foot traffic to avoid overcrowding and will regularly disinfect surfaces that are usually touched in museums and heritage sites. Sanitizers are available for use at the entry and exit points.
Participants are also advised to keep hydrated during the tour, bring an umbrella or raincoat, refrain from bringing extra baggage and jewelry, especially those who planned to join the Walking Tour. Food and drinks are available for sale at the sites.
The organizers ensure that GSK guests will be treated to spectacular cultural performances, exhibits, food markets, children’s activities and contests at the participating museums and heritage sites.
Gabii Sa Kabilin ensures the promotion and preservation of Cebuano culture and heritage. Its objective is to celebrate the rich heritage, and develop the sense of identity and pride of being a Cebuano which can be preserved through or by visiting Cebu museums. RCM
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