Cebu’s Heritage Night Returns: Islands Souvenirs Showcases Batan-ong Bahandi Collection

Cebu’s heritage is not only found in old walls and relics but also in the people who carry its stories forward. This May, Gabii Sa Kabilin 2025 returns for its eighteenth year. With the theme “Batan-ong Bahandi” (Young Treasures), the event highlights the youth as the keepers of Cebuano history and culture.

Launched by the Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Inc. (RAFI) in 2007, Gabii Sa Kabilin was inspired by Europe’s Long Night of Museums. It began with only four participating sites and has since grown into Cebu’s most celebrated cultural evening.

More Sites, More Stories

This year, more than twenty-two museums and heritage landmarks across Cebu City, Lapu-Lapu, Mandaue, and Talisay will open their doors from six in the evening until midnight. Visitors can explore historic venues such as Fort San Pedro, Casa Gorordo Museum, the University of San Carlos Museum, and the BPI Museum. Heritage buses will shuttle guests across sites, while special programs such as the heritage hunt, pop-up exhibits, murals, and youth-led performances will animate the night.

Gabii Sa Kabilin 2025 also resonates with the National Historical Commission of the Philippines’ declaration of 2025 as the Year of the Youth in Philippine History, commemorating the 150th birth anniversaries of Emilio Jacinto, Gregorio del Pilar, and Gregoria de Jesus.

Islands Souvenirs Celebrates with Heritage Merch

Fresh from the success of last year’s participation, Islands Souvenirs once again gears up its printing presses for Gabii Sa Kabilin 2025. This year’s collection is brighter and bolder, featuring three limited-edition shirts and bottle opener magnets.

The designs celebrate the theme of youth with vibrant graphics and playful elements, making each piece not only a keepsake but also a modern tribute to Cebu’s living heritage. These items allow guests to carry home a tangible reminder of the night, connecting the old with the new.

A Night for the Youth, A Gift for the Future

Gabii Sa Kabilin has always been about celebrating the past, but this year it is equally about looking ahead. By spotlighting the youth, the event makes a statement: the next generation is not only learning history but actively shaping it.

As participants wander through museums, hop on heritage buses, and join interactive programs, Islands Souvenirs’ merchandise stands as a creative extension of the evening. The shirts and magnets become more than souvenirs. They are symbols of a cultural movement where Cebu’s young people are at the very center.

Because Gabii Sa Kabilin is not only a night of remembering—it is also a night of becoming.