SOME roads in downtown Cebu City will be closed to vehicles for eight hours on Friday afternoon, May 24, for the holding of the Gabii sa Kabilin 2019.

Certain sections of five roads will be be closed from 5 p.m. Friday to 1 a.m. of Saturday, May 25.

The affected streets are the Eduardo Aboitiz St. (from Mabini St. to M.J. Cuenco Ave., Mabini St. (from the corner of Bonifacio St. to Urdaneta St.), P. Burgos St. (from V. Gullas St. to M.C. Briones St.), Colon St. (from D. Jakosalem St. to Mabini St.) and Osmeña Blvd. (from D. Jakosalem St. to Lapu-Lapu St.).

The Cebu City Transportation Office (CCTO) advised motorists to follow the traffic plan or take alternative routes.

CCTO also urged motorists to follow the traffic signs it will put up on the roads.

Through the Gabii sa Kabilin, the Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Inc. (Rafi) promotes Cebuano culture and heritage by visiting museums and heritage sites.

The theme for this year’s Gabii sa Kabilin is “Setting Sail,” which celebrates the historic event when five ships set sail from Spain and began a journey that eventually circumnavigated the earth, and the undocumented “advances” of our ancestors as they explored a land that was about to be “found.”

From 6 p.m. to midnight, guests can enjoy cultural shows, exhibits, children’s activities, contests, food fairs and other activities.

The Gabii sa Kabilin will start at the Aduana House in Malacañan sa Sugbo at 6 p.m. The participating sites and museums will open their doors to guests and participants at the same time.

This year is the 13th run of Gabii sa Kabilin, an annual event organized by Rafi’s Culture and Heritage Unit with the local government units as partners. (JJL)