More Cebu heritage sites join 10th Gabii sa Kabilin

It’s that time of the year again when Cebu’s heritage sites and museums will welcome visitors from 6 p.m. to midnight for the 10th year of “Gabii Sa Kabilin” (Night of Heritage) set on May 27, also the culmination date of the International Museum’s Day and National Heritage Month.

This year, 47 destinations in the cities of Cebu, Mandaue, Lapu-Lapu and Talisay will be open for public viewing, upped from last year’s 37 participating sites.

The theme this year — “Forging People” — aims to emphasize how events in the past shaped today’s multi-cultural society. Guests will witness different cultural performances, culinary experience, art fairs, and special exhibits, revealed Dr. Jocelyn Gerra, executive director for the Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Inc. (Rafi) Culture and Heritage Unit, which spearheads the event.

For a ticket that costs P150, a visitor can go into any and all of the participating sites, including a tartanilla (horse-drawn carriage) ride along Paseo de Parian, Cebu City’s old district. For long distance destinations, there will be free and available buses, including the SM-operated MyBus units.

Gerra said the kick off activity will be held at Casa Gorordo, the Rafi-run heritage house in Barangay Parian, Cebu City. New participating sites are the GMR Megawide, Golden Prince Hotel, Paulina Constancia Museum of Naive Art (MoNa) at West Gorordo Hotel and Cebu Palm Grass Hotel.

Aaron Que, Golden Prince’s vice president for corporate communications, told reporters they would teach their guests how to prepare Cebuano delicacies such as biko (sticky rice stewed in coconut milk and caramelized sugar) and linusak (banana and grated coconut pudding).