Art Fair in Gabii Sa Kabilin at Sacred Heart Parish

CEBU, Philippines -  One great asset of any country is not always gauged on how vibrant its economy is but also on how rich is its heritage. Either to attract foreign tourists and investors or to cultivate nationalism in its people, a progressive country focuses on positive cultural undertakings to have an edge in trade, art, and culture over other countries. Though it seems that good business enterprise is the usual arena to attract foreign investors, it is in the area of arts and culture that each country can truly boast about their unique attributes as a people.

Cebu is one of the prime movers of development in the country due to the city’s ingenuity in discovering and developing a truly local enterprise which brings pride and joy to Cebuanos. One such successful undertaking is the Gabii Sa Kabilin, organized and supported by the Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Incorporated (RAFI). This project aims to encourage both foreigners and locals to appreciate the rich and varied Cebuano traditions even for just a night. 

Through its maiden Heritage Walk, Gabii sa Kabilin project started with a handful of participating museums. This year, more museums and galleries have collaborated with RAFI. Among these are Casa Gorordo Museum, Cathedral Museum of Cebu, Fort San Pedro, Yap-San Diego Ancestral House, Museo Sugbo, Museo Parian Sa Sugbo (Jesuit House of 1730), USPF-Rizaliana Museum, Sacred Heart Parish Alternative Contemporary Art Studio, Cebu Normal University Museum, Cebu City Museum, Mandaue City Plaza, Plaza Independencia, Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral, Basilica Minore del Santo Niño, Sacred Heart Church, Heritage of Cebu Monument, Plaza Hamabar, and Plaza Sugbo. 

Sacred Heart Parish through its Alternative Contemporary Art Studio partnered with the Cebu Artists Incorporated (CAI) in organizing the Gabii sa Kabilin Art Fair 2011. Both aim to promote greater awareness and appreciation of Cebuano art. They also hope to gain more support and patronage of the local artists. Several notable art organizations and communities participated in this endeavor, namely, Academy Artists, Cebu Art Association, Cebu Artists Incorporated, Pusod, Tuslob-Buwa, WawArt, Nueves Artists, Samboan Artist, The Junks Collective, Cebu Fine Arts Photography group, independent artists and even emerging young artists who attended the summer art workshops.

Simultaneous with the opening of Gabii sa Kabilin at Casa Gorordo last May 27, the art fair opened at 6:30 in the evening at Social Hall 1, Sacred Heart Parish. The guests Lawrence Dino, Alma Mia Garcia, Karla Kintanar and Ramon Fernandez opened the art fair after they had cut the ceremonial ribbon. The highlights of the fair were the communal interaction of various local art groups, portrait sketching sessions and the interactive live mural painting.

Next year, the organizers of the art fair hopes to make it bigger by partnering with local galleries and collectors in an art auction. (FREEMAN)