AboitizLand to Tell Forging of Cebu Thru Music, Food, Art

How Cebu underwent a process of refinement to shape its current cultural landscape is a spectacle to be told as AboitizLand will once again participate in Gabii sa Kabilin on May 27 at Plaza Parian, Cebu CIty.

This year’s Handurawan sa Karaang Sugbo, AboitizLand’s annual Gabii sa Kabilin presentation, will highlight the shaping of Cebu’s history and culture in one-night cultural event thru food, music and art.

Highlight of event will be a theater play which will re-tell the forming of Cebu — what it went through from when it was founded to becoming what it is now today. The Kabag-uhan: Now and Then Photo Contest which aims to capture the essence of the place in today’s time from the same perspective as that of the photos released by AboitizLand; and Food Festival, a showcase of Cebu’s best delicacies and local cuisines will also be staged.

‘Pasundayag,’ a cultural talent contest open to all college students in Cebu, and Lumba Pangita, a race to various Gabii Sa Kabilin participating sites, also promise an evening of more fun and a richer cultural experience from 6pm to 12. ‘Pasundayag’ and ‘Lumba Pangita’ are additions to the Parian leg of Gabii sa Kabilin.

Gabii sa Kabilin, held every last Friday of May, marks its tenth annual staging this year.  It was first opened in 2007 in celebration of the Philippines’ National Heritage Month and International Museum Day.

Gabii sa Kabilin is an adaptation of Germany’s Lange nacht der Museen or Long Night of the Museum where an entire evening is devoted to the visitation of various museums and heritage sites.  The annual event has evolved to become one of Cebu’s most anticipated as it brings locals and tourists through a rewarding journey back to the days of old Cebu.

This year’s Gabii sa Kabilin theme is “Forging Peoples.”  Taking the imagery of the forging process, the theme looks into how Cebu and its people have journeyed towards building alliances, gaining partners, shaping a society based on its needs, at times being in wars or welcoming different political views, religions or lifestyles.

Since 2011, AboitizLand annually participates in the Gabii sa Kabilin to support the enrichment of Cebuano history and culture and to involve communities in this endeavor, thus living to its

brand promise of nurturing communities.