An evening of cultural experiences with 22 sites at “Gabii Sa Kabilin” on May 12

CEBU CITY – Step back in time and experience Sugbuanon culture at "Gabii Sa Kabilin" (GSK) on May 12, 2023 as the event returns this year in time for the National Heritage Month with 22 museum partners, new exhibits, and elevated improvements on the GSK night complimenting this year’s theme, “Pagpanag-iya” (Owning our Story).

According to Elisabeth Baumgart, Communications Manager at the Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Inc. (RAFI) that the Gabii sa Kabilin this year brings new and exciting activities for a more immersive historical journey, apart from visiting participating museums and heritage sites at night.  

GSK’s theme. “Pagpanag-iya” (Owning our Story) which commemorates the upcoming 125th Anniversary of the Philippine Independence will be showcased on how Filipinos were able to manipulate the trappings of colonialism to serve the interests as a people, and how they asserted their right to tell the story, Baumgart explained.

Many assume that the colonial projects undertaken in the country would gradually subsume, if not erase, the native way of life. However, this year’s theme highlights how the ancestors asserted their independence, their identity and sense of community, despite the corrosive nature of colonialism to serve the people’s interests, Baumgart added.

This year’s GSK sees the addition of the University of San Jose-Recoletos and Freedom Park as partner-sites, as well as the inclusion of outdoor exhibits to enhance the experience to the Gabii Sa Kabilin, Baumgart bared during the GSK media launching on April 26 at Fort San Pedro.

From 6PM to midnight, 22 partner museums and heritage sites located in the cities of Cebu, Mandaue and Talisay will open their doors for guests to enjoy indoor and outdoor exhibits and cultural presentations, plus children’s activities, contests with cash prizes, food bazaars, outdoor exhibits, and other activities, all in one fun-filled night.

Where to buy GSK tickets. Ticket holders can walk or ride buses, as well as take a ride in a tartanilla (horse-drawn carriage), based on the type of ticket purchased. Tickets with bus Rides and one free tartanilla ride are priced at P300 and tickets without bus rides are priced at P200.

There will be a P20 off discount for senior citizens, PWDs, and students with ID. Additionally, children under seven years old can access the sites for free as long as they are accompanied by one adult GSK ticket holder.

Ticket can be purchased at any of the following participating museum and heritage sites: RAFI-The Kabilin Center, St. Theresa's College- Sr. Ma Delia Coronel Folklife Museum, Sugbu Chinese Heritage Museum, University of the Philippines Cebu, University of San Carlos Museum, University of Southern Philippines Foundation - Rizaliana Museum, Fo Guang Shan Chu-Un Temple, University of San Jose – Recoletos, Freedom Park.

 Other museums/outlets to get tickets include-- Archdiocesan Museum of Cebu, Archdiocesan Shrine of San Nicolas de Tolentino Parish, Archdiocesan Shrine of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, Basilica Minore del Santo Niño Museum, Casa Gorordo Museum, Cebu City Museum, Fort San Pedro, Museo Sugbo, Museo Parian sa Sugbo - 1730 Jesuit House and Palm Grass Cebu The Heritage Hotel.  

One can also get tickets at Lapu-Lapu City and in Talisay City at the Museo De Talisay and Cebu Archdiocesan Shrine of Jesus Nazareno Heritage of Faith Museum.

GSK ticketholders can once again participate in the highly anticipated GSK Heritage Hunt along with other event contests such as the Vlogging, Phonography, and Photo Story Contests. Registration to the contests is ongoing.

Event mechanics. The ticket provides entry to all the sites that guests choose to visit during the event. This year, there are two types of GSK tickets which are ticket with (bus and tartanilla) rides and ticket without rides to decongest bus rides throughout the GSK sites and these tickets are only valid on May 12, from 6PM until midnight.  Participants can also use the ticket numbers to join the contests to get a chance of winning cash prizes.

A celebration of Cebuano culture and history would not be complete without food. GSK now offers more food bazaars that feature a wide array of sumptuous local delicacies and dishes to keep participants fueled and hydrated throughout the event.

GSK 2023 is supported by the Cebu City Government, Talisay City Government, Lapulapu City Government, Philippine National Police, Inter-Agency Task Force for Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF), Cebu City Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office, Cebu City Traffic Office, Cebu City Cultural and Historical Affairs Commission (CHAC), and the Cebu Chapter of the Radio Emergency Assistance Volunteer Organization (REAVO).

The GSK event was initiated by the Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Inc. Culture & Heritage Unit in 2007.