10,000 participants expected to join Gabii sa Kabilin 2025

CEBU, Philippines — With a target of 10,000 participants, this year's Gabii sa Kabilin (GSK) 2025 honors the power of youth in shaping culture and history, as it returns for its 18th year.

The Gabii sa Kabilin is set on May 23, from 6PM until midnight, with this year's theme: “Batan-ong Bahandi” (Youthful Treasure).

This Cebu’s annual event aims to recognize the past and present contributions of Filipino youth to national identity, coinciding with the 150th birth anniversaries of revolutionary young heroes Emilio Jacinto and Gregorio del Pilar, as well as Gregoria de Jesus, a female icon of the Katipunan.

The Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Inc. (RAFI), which leads the annual event, is amplifying this year’s celebration with the participation of 22 heritage sites across the cities of Cebu, Mandaue, Talisay, and Lapu-Lapu, with activities and cultural immersions spread across museums, shrines, schools, and heritage centers.

Deputy Communications Lead Joworski Alipon of the GSK 2025 Communications Committee said the theme not only connects with historical milestones but also promotes youth empowerment in the present day.

“We want to really emphasize the importance of giving that sense of gratitude to the intelligence and the skills of our contemporaries, our young heroes in our time,” said Alipon

“They don't really have to die for the country but you could actually maximize or optimize your skills, talents, and wisdom to be able to contribute something to the society,” he added.

He noted the urgency to revive youth interest in heritage, citing a Kantar 2022 survey, which showed that although nine in 10 Filipinos are proud of their nationality, only 50-percent of young people are inclined to join cultural advocacy movements due to lack of funding and awareness.

GSK, which started in 2007, has grown into one of the largest cultural events from a modest number of participants in its early years, it expects to surpass last year’s 7,000 to 8,000 visitors.

Ticket prices are pegged at P300 and P200. It is available at various cultural and educational institutions, including Casa Gorordo Museum, Fort San Pedro, St. Theresa’s College, and the University of San Carlos Museum, among others.

The one-night event will offer guided tours, cultural performances, interactive exhibits, and workshops, all centered on the importance of youth in heritage preservation.

Among the participating venues will be Casa Gorordo Museum, Fo Guang Shan Chu Un Temple, Museo de Talisay, Liberty Shrine, USJR Museum, Kabilin Center, and the National Museum of the Philippines – Cebu.

Also included in the itinerary are the Basilica Minore Del Sto. Niño Museum, Cebu Institute of Technology University, University of the Philippines Cebu, and University of Southern Philippines Foundation’s Jose Rizal Museum.

Alipon said that pre-GSK events, such as trainings and workshops, are also being conducted to prepare participating institutions, ensuring an immersive and meaningful experience for all.

Alipon said they are also anticipating challenges—from security to transportation logistics—as attendance grows.

But they are remained committed, hoping that the event’s success will inspire other local government units (LGUs) to replicate similar efforts across the country, he said.

The event's interactive activities range from cultural mapping exercises to hands-on workshops, enabling youth to better understand their roles as future heritage keepers.

Many of the museums and institutions will showcase artifacts, digital archives, and performances inspired by youthful revolutionaries of the past. — JG (FREEMAN)