It was a night filled with dances, history, culture

The rains and a power interruption failed to dampen the enthusiasm of local and foreign tourists as they enjoyed the night of culture and heritage during the 7th Gabii sa Kabilin last Friday.

Busloads of visitors moving from one heritage site to another were welcomed by cultural dancers with colorful costumes, treated to local delicacies in some areas, and re-introduced to the history of these places.

Visitors in this year’s edition of the heritage night held every last Friday of May from 6 p.m. to midnight were treated to a tartanilla ride from the Plaza Independencia to the Cebu City Hall, an e-jeepney ride in Mandaue City passing through the Mandaue City Presidencia and the Plaza Complex, a short re-enactment of the Battle of Mactan, in Lapu-Lapu City, and a short bike ride at the Poblacion plaza with stops at tents showing the delicacies of Lapu-Lapu barangays. In Talisay City, guests were welcomed with the sound of children playing the rondalla as they got ready to enjoy the Museo de Talisay.

more visitors

Aside from the increase in the number of historical sites to 34 with Lapu-Lapu and Talisay Cities joining the event for the first time, Joy Gerra , executive director for culture and heritage unit of the Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Inc., said the visitors increased this year based on the tickets sold in heritage sites.

Gerra cited the allocated 200 tickets in Casa Gorordo which were sold out.

She, however, said she couldn’t give the exact number yet.

The youth were among the participants in the Gabii sa Kabilin.

Among them were the 13 scholars of Project Anakatira.

“ We are here to remind everyone especially the young generation of today to learn history and old culture despite the advances in technology that are being introduced to us right now,” said Jessabel C. Tabares, Anakatira project and social manager.

Project Anakatira is a non-profit organization based in Cebu, focusing on helping street children by providing them scholarships in high school and college.

“Everyone should be reminded that history has a great impact on our future and everyone should appreciate it because history has contributed to what we are today,” said Tabares.

Aside from the museums, the Project Anakatira youths were also interested in the Generation, Redemption, and Expansion of Natural Resources Initiatives (GREENIN) Philippines Program presentation at the Casa Gorordo where the visitors were introduced to the different native trees in the country.

There were several heritage stops where cultural dancers greeted the guests such as in Fort San Pedro, the San Diego Ancestral House, the University of Southern Philippines Foundation where Jose Rizal artifacts during his visit in Cebu are kept, in Mandaue City plaza, and at the Lapu-Lapu Liberty Shrine.

churches

There were also visits to churches such as the St. Pedro Calungsod chapel at the South Road Properties where youth acolytes welcomed guests with a smile and handed out texts describing the events leading to the Cebuano saint’s martyrdom.

In Lapu-Lapu City, visitors were given a tour of the Virgen of the Rule Shrine as well as a history of its dagkutanan, and hagkanan.

Lapu-Lapu City Mayor Paz Radaza said next year’s kabilin in Lapu-Lapu would be more exciting as this had been a learning experience this being the first time Lapu-Lapu has been included.

“”I am happy that the city has thought of joining this activity as this is a way of giving importance to the city’s cultural heritage.” Radaza said.

In Mandaue City, the visitors were given an e-jeepney ride to the city’s heritage sites such as the St. Joseph Shrine, the Plaza, and the Bantayan sa Hari./Correspondents Michelle Padayhag, Norman Mendoza, with a report from Jose Nino Santino Bunachita