Gabii sa Kabilin tickets available on May 3

On May 31, the Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Inc. (RAFI) and its partners will hold the seventh run of Gabii sa Kabilin from 6 p.m. to 12 midnight.

A Gabii sa Kabilin ticket worth P150 admits holders to all destinations, unlimited Gabii sa Kabilin-designated bus rides, and one *tartanilla*(horse-drawn carriage) trip within the city’s old district. Admission is free for children aged seven and below.

Tickets can already be purchased and reserved in advance starting May 3 at any of the 34 participating destinations in the cities of Cebu, Lapu-Lapu, Mandaue, and Talisay.

In Cebu City, sites include Casa Gorordo Museum, Cathedral Museum of Cebu, Cebu City Museum, Cebu Cultural Center, Colegio del Santo Niño, Don Sergio Osmeña and CAP Art Gallery, Fo Guang Shan Chu Un Temple, Fort San Pedro, Iglesia Filipina Independiente, Cathedral of the Holy Child, Jose R. Gullas Halad Museum, Museo Parian sa Sugbo, Museo Sugbo, Plaza Independencia, Plaza Parian-AboitizLand Heritage Pocket, Sacred Heart Parish Church-Alternative Contemporary Art Studio, San Nicolas Parish Church, Sugbo Chinese Heritage Museum, United Church of Christ in the Philippines-Bradford Memorial Chapel, University of San Carlos, University of Southern Philippines-Rizaliana Museum, University of the Philippines Cebu College, and Yap-Sandiego Ancestral House.

In Mandaue City, Mandaue City Presidencia, Bantayan sa Hari, Plaza Complex, and National Shrine of St. Joseph Parish Church will open their doors to visitors.

Lapu-Lapu City will feature Mactan Shrine, Muelle Osmeña, Nuestra Señora Virgen de la Regla Parish Church, and Plaza Poblacion.

Meanwhile Talisay City sites include American World War II Landing Site, Museo de Talisay, and Sta. Teresa de Avila Parish Church.

The implementation of the event is made possible in collaboration with local government units of Cebu Province, Cebu City, Lapu-Lapu City, Mandaue City, and Talisay City; government agencies, which includes Department of Tourism 7, National Commission for Culture and the Arts, Cebu City Traffic Operations Management, Cebu City Police Office, Cultural and Historical Affairs Commission, Cebu City Parks and Playgrounds Commission, Naval Central Forces of the Philippine Navy, and the Santo Niño de Cebu–Augustinian Social Development Foundation.

The event’s partner barangays in Cebu City provides additional security personnel and volunteer tour guides.

Major sponsors are City Savings Banks, SM Holdings Inc., San Miguel Corporation, and Philippine Spring Water Resources Inc.

Inspired by the Long Night of the Museum in Germany and other European countries, Gabii sa Kabilin aims to encourage the public to visit museums and understand its position as a venue for cultural understanding.

It also hopes to make visitors appreciate Cebuano history and culture. Gabii sa Kabilin is the culmination of the International Museum Day (May 18) and the Philippine National Heritage Month (May) celebrations.

RAFI won the “Anvil Award of Merit for public relations program—sustained basis: arts and culture/heritage/tourism” for the “Gabii sa Kabilin (Night of Heritage) 2010.”

Culture & Heritage is one of the focus areas of RAFI. It aims to help communities understand, value and share their culture and heritage with others. The foundation’s other focus areas are Integrated Development, Micro-finance & Entrepreneurship, Leadership & Citizenship, and Education.

For more information about Gabii sa Kabilin, please call 418-7234 local 703 and look for Karl Damayo or Florencio Moreño II, or visit www.rafi.org.phor www.facebook.com/rafi.org.ph, or follow @rafiorgph on Twitter.