Cebu PB Makes Gabii sa Kabilin Official Heritage Month Celebration

The Cebu provincial government has adopted the Gabii sa Kabilin as its official celebration of May as National Heritage Month.

In a resolution passed during its regular session last May 4, the Provincial Board said it made the declaration because “the Province of Cebu is strong and steadfast in its support in the preservation and promotion of Cebuano arts and culture through active participation and cooperation with local government units, non-government organizations, civil society organizations and cooperatives.”

“Since 2007, the participation of the Cebuano public and the cooperation of various art and cultural centers in the Gabii sa Kabilin has been increasing, thus signifying the growing awareness of Cebuano heritage,” read the resolution.

“Cognizant of the growing and well-established support to Gabii sa Kabilin, this august body recognizes, commends, wishes to further strengthen this program and integrate it into the activities that the Province of Cebu strongly supports,” it added.

The PB also recognized the Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Inc. (RAFI) for organizing the event, which has grown into an anticipated annual celebration with the active participation of all partner museums and heritage sites.

PB Member Miguel Antonio Magpale, who authored the resolution, said that as chairman of the arts and culture committee, he saw how culture and heritage awareness of the Cebuanos has grown through the years, and he wants to support endeavors towards that end.

“The Gabii sa Kabilin is the only cultural event in the Philippines or even in Asia that encourages Cebuanos to visit our heritage sites, museums and other cultural institutions and with the participation of LGUs (local government units),” he said in an interview.

“It is about time to recognize the reality that the preservation of Cebuano heritage should be a shared duty of the local government and non-government organizations. The Gabii sa Kabilin is a manifestation that the government and organizations which advocate cultural preservation can work together,” he said.

The Gabii sa Kabilin is an annual cultural event where participating museums and heritage sites open their doors to guests from 6 p.m. until midnight. The venues also have special activities and presentations offered only during the occasion.

Guests can visit the sites by riding especially-marked buses that follow certain routes and take them from one location to another.

Magpale said he considered the PB resolution and declaration “timely” because the Gabii sa Kabilin, which happens on the last Friday of May, or this coming May 29, culminates the end of the national heritage month.

Those interested to buy tickets for the event may visit or call the RAFI Culture & Heritage Unit at 418-7234 local 701/703 or any of the participating museums and heritage sites.