National Museum, Freedom Park Join Gabii sa Kabilin 2022

The soon-to-open National Museum in Cebu, located near Fort San Pedro and Plaza Independencia, and Freedom Park in Carbon District will be joining Gabii sa Kabilin on October 21, 2022, from 6 p.m. to 12 midnight as featured sites.

Although the National Museum in Cebu will not be operational on the day of the event, it will be mounting a special exhibit on the history of the National Museum of the Philippines (NMP) along with a sneak peek of the museum’s future galleries.

The museum’s exhibit will also include findings from NMP’s archaeological excavations all over Cebu province since 1985, and an interactive display of archaeological objects and artifacts for children.

In 2019, after being housed in Museo Sugbo, the NMP found its new home in Cebu with the conversion of the Malacañang sa Sugbo (former Port of Cebu Customs House) as the new National Museum, thus strengthening and completing the agency’s presence in Central Visayas.

The NMP signed a usufruct agreement with Cebu Port Authority on December 13, 2019, with approved funding from the Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA) of the Department of Tourism. The rehabilitation of the century-old building commenced in 2021 and is set to be turned over to the NMP before the year ends.

Gabii sa Kabilin participants can also learn more about Freedom Park’s historical and cultural significance through an exhibit at the Senior Citizen’s Park beside Sugbu Chinese Heritage Museum.

The special exhibit, mounted by Megawide subsidiary Cebu2World Development, Inc., will also feature conservation efforts and archaeological findings in the area. Freedom Park will be rebuilt in its original location as part of the historical commemoration of the Carbon District. Once a space for gatherings and freedom of expression, the park eventually became part of the public market.

This year’s Gabii sa Kabilin will feature 20 participating museums and heritage sites in the cities of Cebu, Mandaue, and Talisay. For just one 200-peso ticket, participants will have access to the participating sites and their activities, unlimited bus rides, and a complimentary tartanilla ride.

Initiated in 2007 by the Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Inc., Gabii sa Kabilin aims to celebrate Cebu’s rich heritage, cultivate a sense of identity and pride of place among Cebuanos, and help preserve local culture and heritage by encouraging Cebuanos to visit museums.