So far we have explored 2 out of 20+ participating destination in Gabii sa Kabilin. If you missed the first two, here are quick links you can checkout: Archiocesan Museum of Cebu and Yap-Sandiego Ancenstral House.
Today, we aren't going to an ancient home that owners turned into a museum, instead we're exploring a contemporary destination, The Kabilin Center. Kabilin translates to one or all of the following: inheritance, legacy, or heritage. Their official website describes the place as a
a hub for Cebuano culture; a source of credible content and creative experience and a center for connection and collaboration that brings pride to Cebu
It is owned and operated by the Ramon Aboitiz Foundation (RAFI) as an extension of their dire passion and dedication to continually preserve Cebu's rich culture and heritage so the future generation will have a glimpse of and if possible, experience,to some extent, Cebu's past. I was once a Young Minds Academy (YMA) Scholar of RAFI so I know how serious they are in these kind of things.
Just like big museums, The Kabilin Center hosts events and exhibitions; some are permanently displayed while others are temporary. During our visit, the main theme, from which every other display revolved around, was Duyan sa Kadagatan (Cradled by the Sea).
From the outside, the center looks big but with the thick moving crowd, we rarely got the chance to stay longer in a corner, read thoroughly the displays's descriptions and listen attentively to the docents. It was noisy and chaotic.
Everything inside the center was in sync with the theme, sea and its vital role in
Below arre types of fishing nets and other tools used to capture fishing.
There were three (3) things that stood out for me: (1) the hanging display composed of fishnets, weaved baskets and a small fishing boat, (2) a wall bombarded with different types of dried fish and (3) the back wall with portraits of people involved, one way or the other, in any sea-related activity whether it's fishing, making dried fish, or any other product from the ocean.
If you look at the photo below, you'd think that the displays have nothing to do with fishing or the ocean. But if you look closely, these are useful tools in fishing. On the left-hand side are tools used as sources of artifical light when navigating the sea at night. Yes, fishermen in Cebu and, I think in the Philippines in general, go out at night to fish and return home early in the morning with a good catch. Meanwhile, on the righthand side are spearguns used in spearfishing, a type of fishing that requires precision. The spearguns came in different sizes.
The crowd was getting thicker by the time we were almost done touring around the center. It has been a fantastic experience; The Kabilin Center has lived up to its goal of capturing the attention of the young and letting them partake in Cebu's rich history all thanks to its proximity to the ocean.
Living life intentionally every single day, she believes that there’s no limit to one’s potential. Right now, she’s on the loose for the pursuit of endless holistic self-growth and development. She wants to light the way for others. She believes there’s no better way to leave a legacy than to pay it forward.
Her ultimate goal in life is to reach the state of enlightenment where there’s nothing but peace, love, happiness, and contentment - nothing more, nothing less.
If you are captivated by what this girl just wrote here, an upvote is pretty appreciated. Follow her as she tells her stories full of positivities. The next story might be for you! ❤️