World-class heritage

Cebu’s colorful culture and history was in the spotlight when at least 22 museums opened their doors to visitors until midnight in yesterday’s Gabii sa Kabilin or Night of Heritage.

Cebuanos seized the opportunity to reacquaint themselves with their roots symbolized in artifacts and shows in art galleries, museums, heritage structures and child-friendly activities.

Entrance to the museums cost an affordable P150 per head. But the rewards to tourists went beyond sightseeing: pride of place, a deeper sense of stewardship of all that is true, good and beautiful about Cebu and stronger bonds with family and friends.

The interactive demonstration of handicrafts like hat, basket and puso weaving, beadwork and rosary stringing as well as communal traditions like beadwork, bugsay making and playing sungka were creative approaches to teaching children to appreciate their culture, the value of community-building and the world outside computer games.

We congratulate the Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Inc. and the partner museums who nurtured this event, conceived six years ago with inspiration from Germany’s Lange Nacht der Museen or Long Night of Museums.

The night-long showcase of Cebu’s life and times took a huge step to permanence when the Cebu City Council approved Wednesday an ordinance designating the last Friday of May each year as Gabii sa Kabilin.

Councilor Margot Osmeña, the chairperson of the Cultural and Historical Affairs Commission who proposed the ordinance, is right. The Gabii sa Kabilin is “a joyful event of knowing more about our rich culture and heritage without sitting in the classroom.”

Looking ahead, organizers would do well to hold a Gabii sa Kabilin throughout the year, not just during the auspicious National Heritage Month of May.

A periodic museum night in Cebu City would complement the provincial government’s Suroy-Suroy Sugbo that the Provincial Board wishes to institutionalize through an ordinance.

This will also erase the notion that high culture and tourism belong to the elite and go a long way in promoting socioeconomic progress.

Today, while Western civilization continues to be revered, commentators speak of the global economy’s Asian century that is dominated by storied nations like India and China.

Through events like Gabii sa Kabilin, in visiting sites like Fort San Pedro or the Rizaliana museum, Cebuanos and the rest of the nation can look at their own historical narrative to see not just vestiges of Occidental or Oriental influences but more importantly a unique and thriving civilization.