Gabii sa Kabilin: 22 sites show best of Cebu’s heritage

From dusk to midnight, Cebu’s museums and rich cultural heritage were enjoyed by Cebuanos and tourists for the sixth run of the Gabii sa Kabilin (Night of Heritage).

A Mass and opening program was held in the recently proclaimed Archdiocesan Shrine of Sacred Heart parish which celebrated its 60th founding anniversary.

The event also launched the Sugbu Chinese Heritage Museum project, which will be the premier museum of Chinese culture in the Philippines to rise in the downtown Gotiaoco building built in 1914 by Don Pedro Gotiaoco.

A new twist this year was the offering of child-friendly activities such as storytelling, arts and crafts making, decorating a carroza with flowers, and traditional Filipino games in eight participating sites.

Among these were Ayala Center Cebu, Casa Gorordo Museum, Cathedral Museum, Cebu City Museum, Cebu Normal University, Fo Guang Shan Chu Un Temple, Fort San Pedro, and Sacred Heart Parish Church.

A QR code hunt introduced by mycebu.ph and Smart Communications had over 100 technology and history buffs using their smartphones to scan codes in heritage sites for information and performing tasks like singing “Matud Nila” and stringing beads.

Also launched last Friday evening was the Bantayan Parish Exhibit at the Cathedral Museum with an opening performance by the Mandaue Children’s Choir.

A total of 22 participating museum and heritage sites were open for public viewing this year, including new participants like the Buddhist Fo Guang Shan Chu Un Temple in V. Rama Avenue and the temple of the Church of Jesus Christ Latter-Day Saints in Gorordo Avenue.

The Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Inc. (RAFI) which initiated the Gabii Sa Kabilin in 2007, drew its inspiration from Germany and Europe’s Long Night of Museums, a tradition which is geared towards promoting cultural and heritage awareness. Correspondent Jessa Chrisna Marie J. Agua