The Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Inc. (RAFI) Culture and Heritage Unit and its partner Local Government Units (LGUs), museums and cultural organizations will hold the 13th run of the Gabii sa Kabilin on May 24, 2019, from 6 PM to midnight.

Gabii sa Kabilin 2019 sets its sails in May

The heritage event features 18 cultural destinations in Cebu City, Lapu-Lapu City, Mandaue City, and Talisay City.

This year’s Gabii sa Kabilin is made possible through partnerships with the LGUs of Cebu City, Mandaue City, Lapu-Lapu City, and Talisay City. Other government agencies and offices supporting the event are Philippine National Police (PNP), Cebu City Traffic Operations Management (CITOM), Parks and Playgrounds Commission and the Cultural and Historical Affairs Office of Cebu City.

The theme for this year’s Gabii sa Kabilin is “Setting Sail”. Gabii sa Kabilin 2019 celebrates that historic event when five ships set sail from Spain and began a journey that eventually circumnavigated the earth, and the undocumented “advances” our ancestors as they explore a land that was about to be “found”.

“Gabii sa Kabilin is drumming up for the 500th anniversary of Magellan’s arrival in the Philippines which will be celebrated in 2021,” Florencio Moreno II, curator of Casa Gorordo Museum, said. “Starting this year, our themes will have reference to that expedition that had a critical impact not only on Filipino but world, history, which we are experiencing even to this day,” he added.

Throughout the night, participants will be treated to cultural performances, culinary experience, art fairs, and special exhibits, among others, while select participating sites also offer children activities.

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The participating heritage sites are as follow:

Cebu City
Archdiocesan Museum of Cebu
Armed Forces of the Philippines @ Customs (Aduana) House
Cebu Archdiocesan Shrine of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus
Basilica Minore del Santo Niño Museum
Casa Gorordo Museum
Cebu Provincial Capitol
Fo Guang Shan Chu Un Temple
Palm Grass The Cebu Heritage Hotel
Jose R. Gullas Halad Museum
Museo Parian sa Sugbo – 1730 Jesuit House
Museo Sugbo
St. Theresa’s College – Sr. Ma. Delia Coronel Folklife Museum
University of San Carlos (Main) Museum
University of Southern Philippines Foundation Rizaliana Museum
Sugbo Chinese Museum

Mandaue City
Mandaue Presidencia

Lapu-Lapu City
Mactan Shrine

Talisay City
Talisay City College

To join the Gabii sa Kabilin, guests must purchase a Gabii sa Kabilin ticket worth ₱195.00 only. It comes along with a Gabii sa Kabilin tour map. Also, an e-magazine will be uploaded to provide the public with more details on the participating sites.

The e-magazine can be downloaded from the internet starting April 19, 2019, via the following sites and pages: Official Gabii sa Kabilin Facebook Page; RAFI website;
Official RAFI Facebook Page; and Official Casa Gorordo Museum website.

The ticket also entitles participants to a tartanilla (horse-drawn carriage) trip in the city’s old district, and unlimited rides in Gabii sa Kabilin-designated buses.

Admission is free for children ages seven and below. The tickets can be purchased and reserved in advance at any of the participating museums and heritage sites.

To allow participants to walk freely and safely in the historic downtown area of Cebu City, the following roads will be closed to traffic on May 24, 2019, from 5 PM to midnight:

Mabini Street
P. Burgos Street
E. Aboitiz Street (formerly Lopez Jaena Street)

Note: Drivers are encouraged to make detours away from these areas at least 2 hours before the road closure to avoid getting stuck in a traffic jam.

Additional highlights for this year’s Gabii sa Kabilin are the Gabii sa Kabilin Heritage Hunt, which is in partnership with RAFI – Kool Adventure Camp, the Gabii sa Kabilin Blogging / Vlogging Contest, and the Gabii sa Kabilin Phoneography contest.

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For more information about these contests, please go to the official Gabii sa Kabilin Facebook Page.

About Gabii sa Kabilin

In 2012, the Cebu City Council passed Ordinance 2327 declaring the last Friday of May of every year as Gabii sa Kabilin or Night of Heritage.

Culture and Heritage is one of the focus areas of RAFI. It aims to help communities understand, value and share their cultural heritage with others. The foundation’s other focus areas are Integrated Development, Micro-finance & Entrepreneurship, Leadership & Citizenship, and Education.

For more information about Gabii sa Kabilin and other programs of the RAFI Culture & Heritage unit, please call +63 32 411 1700 or +63 32 343 1700 local 24538 and look for Haidee Emmie K. Palapar, or visit the RAFI website or Facebook Page. You can also follow @rafiorgph on Twitter.