Bayanihan in the 2011 Gabii sa Kabilin

Eight of Cebu City’s barangays participated in the Gabii sa Kabilin of the Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Inc. (RAFI) held last May 27, 2011. These barangays include Sto. Niño, San Roque, Tejero, T. Padilla, Cogon Ramos, Parian, Zapatera, and Day-as.

Barangay tanods from these barangays were deployed to assist the police officers of the Cebu City Police Officer (CCPO) and traffic enforcers from the Cebu City Traffic Operations Management to secure the safety of the visitors of the Gabii sa Kabilin.

At the same time, the Gender and Development (GAD) focal side-by-side with members of the Sangguniang Kabataan manned the information desks that were placed in the designated bus and tartanilla stops. These barangay-based organizations were also instrumental in convincing other residents of the barangays to join them in manning the desks.

The barangays also lend their public buses that were used to transport visitors to the participating museums and heritage sites to augment the three buses from the City of Cebu. The barangay buses from Barangays Sto. Niño, San Roque, Tejero, and T. Padilla plied the route from Museo Sugbo to Fort San Pedro and vice- versa .The buses from Parian, Cogon Ramos, Zapatera and Day-as covered the route from Museo Sugbo to Sacred Heart Parish, and back to Museo Sugbu.

This year marks another milestone for Gabii sa Kabilin when barangay residents showcased their talents. A fire dance by Barangay San Roque was witnessed by spectators in the newly reopened Plaza Independencia, while the timeless harana and the baile performance from Barangay Parian where performed at the Plaza Parian stage.

The barangays have pledged to continue to work together to nurture the “bayanihan” spirit and show their support to the cause of the Gabii sa Kabilin.

“We strongly support and participate the Gabii sa Kabilin that showcases the rich culture and heritage of Cebu,” said Barangay Sto. Niño captain Pancho Ramirez.

Association of Barangay Councils (ABC) President Michael Ralota of Barangay T. Padilla has been a strong supporter of the Gabii sa Kabilin and has expressed creating a resolution in the city council to bring awareness of Cebuano heritage to the barangays.

The Gabii sa Kabilin, the only museum and cultural event of its kind in the Philippines and Asia, is an annual cultural event organized by RAFI in cooperation with museums, cultural institutions, private companies, and local government units—Cebu City Government, Mandaue City Government, and the Cebu Provincial Government.

This year, a total of eighteen museums and heritage sites opened from 6 p.m. until midnight. These are the Casa Gorordo Museum, Cathedral Museum of Cebu, Fort San Pedro, Yap-Sandiego Ancestral House, Museo Sugbo, Museo Parian sa Sugbo, University of Southern Philippines-Rizal Museum, Sacred Heart Parish Alternative Gallery, Cebu Normal University Museum, Cebu City Museum, Mandaue City Plaza, Plaza Independencia, Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral, Basilica Minore del Sto. Nino, Sacred Heart Church, Heritage of Cebu Monument, Plaza Hamabar and Plaza Sugbo.

Participants increased to more than 2,500 this year from more than 1,800 last year, partly reflecting the growing awareness of the public on the importance of heritage conservation.

For more information about the Gabii sa Kabilin, please contact 418-4234 loc. 703 and look for Karl Damayo.

 

Image courtesy: RAFI.org