Council passes ordinance on ‘Heritage Week’

CEBU, Philippines - Starting this year, the Cebu City Government will be holding a weeklong showcase of several heritage sites in different barangays, as the City Council has approved the ordinance declaring the last week of May as Cebu City Heritage Week.

Each of the 80 barangays will come up with its own established barangay profile which includes the origin of the barangay name, its history and heritage sites, among others.

“These series of activities may be done by expanding the Gabii sa Kabilin or Night of Heritage to include the whole last week of May every year,” the approved ordinance reads.

City Councilor James Anthony Cuenco, chairman of the council's committee on tourism, authored the ordinance.

The ordinance still waits for the final stamp of Mayor Tomas Osmeña.

In the ordinance, the involvement of the barangays and public schools are needed for the conduct of the series of activities. These activities will be submitted to the City's Cultural and Historical Affairs Office (CHAO).

Once CHAO verified the barangay profile, each barangay will conduct its own information drive in its area to educate the residents.

The Cebu City Local School Board and the CHAO are the primary implementing offices of the ordinance.

The city only used to observe the Night of Heritage also known as Gabii sa Kabilin.

Cuenco said the celebration of heritage week aims to encourage the general public, not just the people of Cebu City, to visit and enjoy heritage sites in the city.

With this, the city government is asking all barangays to submit list of heritage sites and its profile of the barangay that can be showcased during the celebration.

The month of May has been declared as the National Heritage Month.

Cuenco said there are several activities to be prepared for the cultural week such as exhibits, fairs and shows, among others.

All activities that will be proposed by CHAO will be subject to the City Council’s approval.

One of the functions of CHAO, Cuenco said, is to coordinate with the barangays for a full information drive on their barangay history and culture. (FREEMAN)