One night in six museums

CEBU, Philippines – It started as a joke among Cebu’s heritage aficionados, and eventually became a challenge owing to the first Gabii sa Kabilin in 2007. Three years after, the event took a more serious yet exciting tone, attracting not only people from the academe but also the common Cebuano who would not even take a second look at a museum’s facade.

Jocelyn Gerra of the Ramon Aboitiz Foundation said that the Gabii sa Kabilin’s main intent is to stress the importance of heritage structures, involving the community in its preservation and promotion.

She said that one of the highlights of this year’s Gabii sa Kabilin is the entry of the Cebu Provincial Government’s Museo Sugbo. “They will be showcasing their very rich collection and interesting structures,” Gerra said.

Museo Sugbo opened last August 5, 2008, and out of the 16 planned galleries, four have already opened featuring tidbits of the province’s history. Once completed visitors will be taken back in time from the Neolithic period to Japanese occupation Cebu.

Jose Eleazar Bersales of Museo Sugbo said that the museum have already prepared to give the visitors an experience starting today.

A one-day only activity, the Gabii sa Kabilin will kick off at 6 p.m. at Museo Sugbo, after which, the other four museums – Casa Gorordo, Cathedral Museum, Fort San Pedro and Yap-Sandiego ancestral house – will open its doors from 7 p.m. to 1 a.m. The Sto. Niño Museum will open at 8 p.m. due to the preparations of the monthly last Friday church observance.

Aside from being able to view the different rich cultural collections at a bargain price (P100 for all six museums!), each museum will also be entertaining their visitors with shows like cultural dances from the University of the Visayas Dance Troupe at the Cathedral Museum; film showings and the traditional halad presentation by an original Sinulog dancer and Sto. Niño devotee (No hard beating drums and elaborate customes here) at the Sto. Niño Museum; and a Sta. Cruzan and rondalla presentation at Fort San Pedro.

To make the experience extra authentic, visitors will be transported from one museum to the other by tartanilla and only for an additional P50 for the whole evening.

Some venues will also be offering food and delicacies for sale, in addition to artworks and souvenir items. Shangri-la’s Mactan Resort and Spa will be offering sumptuous fares at Casa Gorordo at a very affordable price. This, according to Ms. Gerra, is the resort’s way of supporting the event.

Should visitors be interested in the history of one of Cebu’s oldest district, the Pari-an, a guided walking tour courtesy of radio personality and heritage guide Balbino “Ka Bino” Guerero will be available from 7 p.m., to converge at Casa Gorordo and going around visiting the different museums along the way. The tour is for free as Ka Bino’s service in raising awareness on Cebu’s heritage. But should you find the tour interesting, who could stop you from giving tips? And, with Ka Bino’s interesting take on the history of Cebu and Pari-an, I can bet the tour would be pretty interesting and controversial, so to speak.

So, still undecided on how to spend your Friday evening? Bring your whole family and friends for an exciting evening of history and fun.

The Gabii sa Kabilin is Cebu’s culmination of the National Heritage Month celebration. It is a project of the Ramon Aboitiz Foundation’s Cultural Heritage Program in partnership with the Visayas Association of Museums and Galleries Inc.

For inquiries, call Casa Gorordo at 418-7234 loc 520.