REVIVED several times before as a business hub, downtown Cebu never looked that novel until last Friday’s night event: a bevy of beauties parading in one corner, a Mardi Gras ongoing the other end, a soprano diva performing at the top of her lungs, and—the one that I was quite envious about—lovers on the streets on a humid summer night.
It was certainly the best date a man could ever give to his lady, but the singles (or more appropriately known as “unattached”) certainly did a good job in pulling off a classic Sex and the City Carrie Bradshaw line, saying: “The city is your date.” That is, even if you did not have a date, you’d still feel romantic about the city. In fact, it was even better to travel alone. No sour grapeing here, but really, an undivided attention takes you deeper into the roots of your very own beginnings, so to say.
So, now—why is Gabii Sa Kabilin better than Valentine’s Day? To begin with, you needed not to match your schedules. The tour last May 28 covered the historical spots in the former business center of Cebu, from Colon to D. Jakosalem St. Participants were free to plot their own itinerary as the nine museums around the vicinity were open between 6 pm and 12 midnight, just for the occasion.
“The Gabii Sa Kabilin concept is patterned after the long night of the museum in Germany and other European countries to draw and encourage people to visit museums as a venue for cultural understanding,” said Dr. Joy Gerra, executive director of the Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Inc.-Cultural Heritage program
Although the starting point was at the University of Southern Philippines on Mabini St. where the Rizal Museum is located, I opted for Pari-an where the Yap-Sandiego house is the main attraction with all its antique objets de art (mostly religious items). The museum visit there also showcased zagalas in their butterfly dress, and paraded in honor of Mother Mary. Also at the Plaza Pari-an, the Dumanjug Artist Guild (DAG) and the San Diego Dance Company brought back time through different dances of our forefathers.
A stone’s throw away is the 1730 Jesuit House where old Visayan and Sinulog short films, and a poetry reading by the Bathalad were shown on the silver screen.
At Casa Gorordo, international diva Izaruzi Vidal interpreted Cebuano songs, followed by DAG’s performance of balak,(poetry), awit (song), and balitaw (a song and dance debate performed by a man and a woman). Or how about lechon, wine, and beverages prepared by Shangri-la’s Mactan Resort and Spa?
Still at the same venue, dresses and other garments made of piña and jusi were donned by the candidates of Mr. and Ms. Cebu 2010 in a fashion show accompanied by the Marigondon Children's String Orchestra.
The familiar stomps of the feet and beats of the drum were audible from the Cathedral Museum of Cebu. The Sinulog dance greeted the participants when they entered the Basilica del Sto. Niño de Cebu museum where ritual vests, religious replicas, and offerings are preserved.
From the Pilgrim Center, I took a tartanilla (horse-drawn carriage) to Fort San Pedro that was surrounded by harp, marimba, and rondalla instrumentalists (i.e. an ensemble of plectrum and stringed instruments). It also featured pre-Hespanic dances.
Included were Sacred Heart Parish on D. Jakosalem St. and Museo Sugbo, which was the former provincial jail on M.J. Cuenco Ave.