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The Cebu City government eyes nighttime museum visits as a tourist attraction and a source of livelihood for the local community.
?We are giving another dimension to (Cebu City) tours,? said Nagiel Bañacia, Cebu City public information officer, at the press conference for the second Gabii sa Kabilin (Night of Heritage) held yesterday.
?Why are tourists coming in? It is because of our beaches. But they also want to look at our culture,? he added.
Bañacia said the heritage activity that will be held on May 30 from 6 p.m. to 12 midnight is envisioned by the city government to be conducted not just once a year.
?This could be a source of livelihood for the kutsero (carriage driver) and vendors,? he said.
Five museums are participating in this year's nighttime museum visits: Casa Gorordo Museum, the Cathedral Museum, the Basilica del Santo Niño Museum, the Yap-Sandiego Ancestral House and the Fort San Pedro at the Plaza Independencia.
?Museums are often viewed as musty, dark dead buildings but they are not. They are venues for cultural presentations and exhibits,? said Jocelyn Gerra, Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Inc.'s Cultural Heritage Program director.
She said the first Gabii sa Kabilin attracted about 1,000 visitors despite a short preparation time.
This year, as a new feature, about 20 tartanillas or horse drawn carriage from barangay Duljo-Fatima will be available for those who wish to visit the museums.
For P50, each visitor would be able to take a ride on the carriage and will be brought to the participating museum of their choice, while for only P100, visitors will be able to visit all participating museums.
?It is a way of reviving this dying (means of) transportation,? said Banacia.
?The tartanillas are hardly seen except in Tabo-an,? said Louella Alix, Cathedral Museum representative and member of the Archdiocesan Cultural Heritage Commission.
She said there will be a Mass held at the Msgr. Virgilio Yap memorial chapel at the Cathedral Museum on Friday next week.
Security during the activity will be provided by the Cebu City Tourist police led by Senior Insp. Ryan Devaras who also warned the people against pick pockets.
There will also be a walking tour that will be conducted by Balbino ?Ka Bino? Guerrero of the Cebuano Studies Center at the University of San Carlos.
The pre-arranged activity includes 25 people through the Cebu Heritage Monument, which Guerrero describes as ?400 years of Cebu history in 10 minutes.? Editorial assistant Bernadette A. Parco
