The return of the Belen in Casa Gorordo Museum signals the start of the Christmas season for the two-story house museum in the Parian district of Cebu City.
As continuation of a long time family tradition, the Belen will sport an elaborate display of ivory models depicting Biblical episodes from Adam and Eve up to the Finding at the temple with the addition of modern equipment to enhance the viewing experience.
The Belen in Philippine history is one of tradition as families display their own version of the Belen to celebrate their Christmas and the birth of Jesus Christ with the Nativity as their main highlight. The case of Casa Gorordo is that of intricacy as the family had displayed their ivory models and a depiction of the five Joyful Mysteries along with their usual Belen display.
The Belen display will run from December 16, 2022 – January 16, 2023 and viewing hours will be from 5:30 PM – 9:00 PM and a special runtime on December 16 – December 24 from 3:00 AM – 5:30 AM for those who want to view the display after Misa de Gallo. The viewing of the Belen will be free of charge for those who want to come and see a different kind of Christmas experience here.
Casa Gorordo Museum is the centerpiece project of the Ramon Aboitiz Foundation, Inc.’s (RAFI) Culture & Heritage focus area. The Culture & Heritage Unit of the Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Inc. (RAFI-CHU) through its three flagship programs – Casa Gorordo Museum, Research & Publications, and Gabii Sa Kabilin – aims to develop a strong sense of cultural identity among local communities by promoting awareness of their heritage and enabling them to articulate their stories.