Imagine how overjoyed I was that this year’s Gabii sa Kabilin (GSK) took place on my day off. Last year, I took half day of my night shift just to join the GSK. It’s a special event for the top reasons: 1) avenue for my little mission –the purpose of this site was to “rejourney” as a lumad Cebuana who, in my youth, realized that I was stranger to my culture; I wanted to rediscover how Cebuano identity has evolved and share such learning to many who are also lost amidst globalization and colonial mentality; 2) it was in GSK that I had my first ride on the tartanilla (horse-drawn carriage) 3) I’m a sentimental person, I love reminiscing and imagining about time travel (you see, in my college years I’d visualize Colon in black and white or sepia – instead of 01K, 13C, 14D jeepneys, there are real tartanilla in sight).

It’s my third time in GSK. Moving away from the sites we’ve already visited before, we went to Yap-Sandiego Ancestral House, Halad Music Museum, Chu Un Temple, and University of the Philippines Cebu.

My visit to Chu Un Temple was unique. I’ve never been to a Buddhist Temple before – it felt like I was touring to China or Malaysia. Well, considering I’ve not been to those places abroad, I’m not accurate (wink!).  Yap-Sandiego always gives me a different kind of satisfaction. Though seeing old things or antique furniture is not new, I don’t tire of them. If these things were people, they probably know the world so well. In UP, I couldn’t help but creep out. During the war, its main building was used as garrison and a torturing area for guerrillas of some sort.

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The Yap-Sandiego Ancestral House, built in the late 17th century, to this day stands tall amidst the busy Parian district.

Well, it reminds me of the “gamu-gamo” and Jose Rizal, don’t you think so too?

Let’s make sikwate!

Performers outside the ancestral house.

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The Chu Un 慈恩寺 Buddhist Temple is one of the branches of worldwide Sangha of Fo Guang Shan based in Kaohsiung, Taiwan (caption taken from the official FB page of the Chu Un Temple).

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Founded in 1918, UP-Cebu was formerly under UP-Visayas. It has gained autonomy in 2010.

In the basement is a gallery of artworks by UP -Cebu Fine Arts students.

You don’t want to be left alone in the dark in the basement, too. Because they say it is shrouded by ghosts from the war. Then again, don’t think there are ghosts in this picture.

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My favourite for the Gabii sa Kabilin 2012 is the Halad Museum. It displayed musical instruments – foreign and native. The museum showcased history about Visayan musicians, under each framed photo are MP3 players with headsets too, so you can listen to the songs sung or composed by the featured artist.

Using these headsets, you experience how beautiful Cebuano and Visayan music were.

Ben Zubiri did not just gain recognition locally, he was also a national media personality in his time. He is known for the songs Matud Nila, Ikaduhang Bathala, Katulog Na Inday, Nganong Mipakita Ka, Tuhoi, Mitu-o Ako, Ang Gugmang Gibati Ko, etc.

The multi-awarded University of the Visayas Chorale serenaded us with series of Visayan songs – some sweet and sad, some humorous but witty. They were such a joy to watch that I got a CD of their live performances.

The Kulintang is one of the native musical instruments showcased at the Halad Museum. The Jose R. Gullas Halad Museum is a musical heritage site and is home to memorabilia paying tribute to Cebuano and Visayan musicians and artists that made waves not only locally but also abroad.

It was in Halad that I felt most connect, this was a closer past. This was something I had experienced myself.

As a child, during Sunday mornings, I would wake to songs played over FM radio – from the funny and naughty Budbod ug Bibingka (Max Surban), the chorale world famous Rosas Pandan (Pilita Corrales), the romantic ballads Matud Nila and Ikaduhang Bathala (Ben Zubiri) and the forceful Kinsa Siya? by Luz Loreto.

Yet, where is our music industry now? When supposed to be this is the most accessible – it is written in our own tongue, with true feelings, and it existed not centuries ago – we are unappreciative if not unaware that sometime ago, we sang our hearts out in the dialect so familiar.

Since we’ve only gotten to only a few places, we are full of anticipation for the next year’s Gabii sa Kabilin – I know it could only get better each year. It would be my fourth and won’t be too much. @

All content are owned by this site, unless specified so. Credits to my partner, Floyd for the photos. He’d probably become the official photographer for this site and this is his debut.

This is an official entry to the 2012 Gabii sa Kabilin Blogging Contest.

Unsyalan ba. Sa panahon sa akong mama, ang pan de sal mura og gidak-on sa tag-singkong pan nga Francis karon. Ug niadtong panahona, tag-singko ang pan de sal – singko’s tabos.

Kay kini akong inahan ganahan man mamainit kay sa mamahaw mabuntag, ako siyang gihapitan og pan de sal sa Pan de Manila. Kay lagi ingon man sila, lami kuno ang pan didto, healthy pa. Whole wheat man gud ang gamit. Lami pa’s pan sa among silingang bakery (pero affordable kaayo ang sa among silingan, mopalit ka gani’g balig PhP30 nga pan, pakapinan ma’g usa ka tagsingkuhong pan – tam-is o tab-ang, pili lang).

Tuod sa akong paggawas gikan sa trabaho, gisubay nako ang dan padulong sa e-Bloc sa gibantog nga panaderia. Ang Pan de Manila, sa pangalan pa lang, klaro nang de taga-Sugbo. Bag-ohay lang sila miabot dinhi apan daghan na kaayo sila’g branches – pipila naa sa Mandaue, naa pud sa SM, sa Ayala, ug uban pa.

Gawas sa pan, naa pud sila’y homemade peanut butter, Spanish sardines, jam, ug daghang nagkadaiyang palaman ug pagkaong maayo isuwa sa pan.

Just a few minutes ago, in front of our house a manaygonay (caroller), dropped by and played his harp. So yes, here in the Philippines you hear carols all year round – not just Christmas carols. And this one is pretty special because he plays this musical instrument very soothing to the heart.

This was not the first time I saw this of course, but this was the time I had the courage to call out on someone like him and ask to play more. And yes, stay for some photo op. His name is Erwin. He can play at events, if you want him to play for you, I have his cellphone number. I guess he just plays in Cebu areas.

He made my 1st of May! His music echoed outside, I couldn't help but jump out of my seat and invite him over to play a few more.

And look at that, even my nephew appreciates his music!

Inila ang Sugbo sa mga lutong baboy niini – Cebu’s lechon baboy, Balamban liempo, Carcar chicharon, ug uban pa. Ug kaning mga pagkaona mao sad akong matawag og “guilty pleasures” – akong mga paborito. Ambot ba sad ning akong mga ginikanan nga gibuhong man sad gyud mi sa pagkaon sukad pa kaniadto. Gani, bahala na’g wala mi daghang materyal nga butang basta lang dili mi mamahimong ma-linya sa mga “malnourished” sa elementarya nga kinahanglan rasyonan og fresh milk ug nutri-bun.

Ug balik sa baboy – nganong lami man gyud ning bidli-a? Ang Carcar, usa ka siyudad sa habagatang bahin sa Sugbo, sikat sa ilang kagumkom og lamian nga CHICHARON! Kung kaniadto, panit o tambok lang sa baboy, mas espesyal pa gyud nga apil ang unod nga pakupsan. Pipila lang ka lakang gikan sa “Welcome to Carcar”, sugaton ka dayon sa mga abtik nga vendor dungan sa pag-ingon, “’Charon, ‘charon Ma’am, espesyal. Tulo 100 (3 for PhP100)”. Inubanan pa sa pag-ingon, “Ampao (a kind of rice crispies), bukarilyo (buko rolls).

Tuod, inig abot nimo sa lungsod sa Carcar sa may rotunda, makita nimo nga mag-linya ang nagkadaiyang tindahan nag-display sa ilang bag-ong luto, init-init pa nga Carcar chicharon – naa pa’y free taste! Ahhhh…plus suka nga halang (Pinakurat sa Iligan, maybe?)…heaven.

If I should have a daughter someday, I will name her Kalinaw. So that wherever she goes around the world, she would know where she comes from and she’ll keep her feet on there. And so that maybe, just maybe she would live by her name, in peace with everyone. She will fight for it and never let anyone take it from her.

If I should have a son, someday, I’d like to name him Kilat. So that wherever he goes around the world, he would know where he comes from and he’ll keep his feet on there. And he will be strong and firm, if he has to break his silence, then he must, much like lightning. He will fight for what is right and never tire of doing it.

Identities. They will be identified by their names indeed. I will not name them the names of strangers, the names that even I could not say perfectly especially – their grandparents, or their teachers when they go to school. I will not name them with all consonants until they look like some Wi-Fi encryption key. I will not name them like a TV star, but they will stand out. For what they do, and what they are towards other people, for their goodness, their strength, their love for their names and where they came from.