4th ‘Gabii Sa Kabilin Sa Argao’ Showcases Town’s Heritage
A week before the annual “Gabii sa Kabilin” will be held in Cebu City, the town of Argao in Cebu’s southern part hosted their own version of the event, showcasing the town’s rich culture and heritage.
Now on its 4th run, nearly 300 guests relived the sound of the town’s newly-restored pipe organ, witnessed designs made from the hand-woven hablon, and had a tour around the town’s century-old houses riding a “tartanilla,” a Cebuano version of a chariot.
“We are not stuck with the old; we preserve what is good as we embrace the program (digital literacy app) tonight. This is going to be a beautiful blend of the old and the new—the digital age,” said Vice Gov. Agnes A. Magpale.
Through Smart Communications, a digital tourism mobile app was also launched during the event.
Magpale added that the Provincial Government continues to “preserve the old and the beauty in every town” across the province.
Aside from Argao’s rich culture and heritage, the town also boasts of its young set of tour guides, aged 14-20, since the Argao Youth for Heritage Society was founded in 2008. For a decade, the organization continues to train Argao youth with the best tour guide practices until now.
The funds raised during the event will be utilized in restoring Casa Real, the only clay-tiled Spanish building left in Cebu and the oldest town hall in the province, and in maintaining the century-old pipe organ.
Also present during the event were Department of Education (DepEd) 7 Director Juliet Jeruta, Provincial Board Member Jose Mari “Tata” Salvador, and Smart Visayas-Mindanao public affairs head Atty. Maria Jane Paredes.
www.cebu.gov.ph
