Gabii sa Kabilin is set for its 18th iteration this May!
What is Gabii sa Kabilin?
Often abbreviated as GSK, this is Cebu’s version of the European “Long Night of Museums”, where heritage sites around the city stay open late at night, giving visitors a unique experience.
2025 marks the event’s 18th year, but unlike a teen adjusting to adulthood, Gabii sa Kabilin 2025 taps into its youth by celebrating and highlighting the country’s young creative savants.
A post published on the Gabii sa Kabilin Facebook Page announced that the event will be officially returning on Friday, May 23rd. The theme “Batan-ong Bahandi” translates to “young riches”.
This year’s celebration will shine light on the young Cebuano artists and their importance in the preservation of history and the arts.
A press release for the event published in Sunstar Cebu mentions that the dedication to innovation among the youth will lead them to be better leaders for the country in the future. (2025)
This focus on youth also comes in line with the National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP) declaring 2025 as the Year of Youth in Philippine History, commemorating the births of Emilio Jacinto, Gregorio del Pilar, and Gregoria de Jesus.
Jacinto and del Pilar are well known soldiers who fought for the Philippines during the Spanish colonial era at very young ages. Both eventually passed away fighting for their country at the ages of 23 and 24 respectively.
On the other hand, de Jesus is an inspiration to young Filipinas because of her work to support her family at a young age. She did all this while fighting for the country’s freedom along with the Katipunan rebels.
Museums within the city are expected to participate, with a series of talks and workshops that will tackle the preservation of the structures, artifacts, and traditions in Cebuano history.
PREVIOUS ITERATIONS
The first Gabii sa Kabilin was held in 2007, organized by the Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Inc. (RAFI). It featured only four historical sites, namely: Casa Gorordo Museum, the Cathedral Museum of Cebu, Basilica del Sto. Niño Museum, and Fort San Pedro.
Soon, more museums, galleries, churches, ancestral houses, and even some of the city’s oldest universities contributed to the cultural event.
Aside from educational tours, Gabii sa Kabilin also hosts special activities for its participants, including a vlogging challenge, a photography contest, and a scavenger hunt.
There are Cebu-related activities as well, like riding a tartanilla and hablon weaving.
The success of the event led to a “Best Heritage Event” win from the Sunstar Best of Cebu Awards in 2016, 2017, and 2018.
Unfortunately, because of the onslaught of the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2020 and 2021 events were canceled to avoid crowds and enforce social distancing protocols.
The event proceeded to go digital, holding several talks and workshops hosted by previous participating sites and new partner locations.
In 2022, the physical event finally returned, albeit with strict protocols like the use of face masks. Around 20 partner sites were in attendance, including the National Museum of the Philippines – Cebu and the Freedom Park.
With some landmarks located in areas outside of Cebu City, organizers worked with local transport companies to ensure better accessibility. They provided bus rides to Talisay, Mandaue, and Lapu-Lapu.
The following year, COVID-19 protocols were partially lifted, and participants were no longer required to wear masks. This also led to the Gabii sa Kabilin food bazaars at four specific sites.
The 2024 iteration was another success, with 24 partner sites in total.
The 2024 GSK was also the first to include the Filipino Martial Arts Heritage Tourism Program (FMA-7) under the Department of Tourism in Region 7 (DOT-7), which aims to showcase the Filipino Martial Art of Arnis to the masses.
With that, they performed a demonstration at the Liberty Shrine grounds in Lapu-Lapu City.
RAFI also partnered with Sugbo Mercado to host the event’s food bazaar. Stalls were set up along Plaza Independencia and E. Aboitiz Street, near the Kabilin Center and the Casa Gorordo Museum.
Premium ticket holders were given discounted toll rates when they passed through the Cebu Cordova Link Expressway (CCLEX).
Each year, participants may visit the sites from 6:00 in the evening until midnight.
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There is little information about this year’s event as of writing, but we can expect something fresh and new with their emphasis on the future generations’ creative minds.
The aforementioned press release talks about the positivity and idealism of the youth that can prepare them to be the country’s future leaders.
Gabii sa Kabilin is a big step forward for them, as the cultural event preserves our history while giving everyone a glimpse of what Cebu and its people can become.
REFERENCE:
Press Release. 2025. “Gabii sa Kabilin 2025 blossoms at 18 with a ‘youthful’ vibe.” Sunstar Cebu.
https://www.sunstar.com.ph/cebu/gabii-sa-kabilin-2025-blossoms-at-18-with-a-youthful-vibe
