I have come to realize and understand that Cebuanos have, indeed, been looking and longing for something like last Saturday’s musical and cultural affair “Halad sa Kinaiyang Sugbuanon.” Giuhaw gyud ang mga Sugbuanon sa atong mga nindot nga kanhing mga kanta nga ato nang gibutang sa atong kaban sa kalimot.
So touched I was upon seeing in the audience the many people aged 15-70 years old, the many priests and nuns, people who came even in wheelchair and some visually-impaired individuals who were close to my mother, Mama Pining.
Aside from reliving the beautiful old songs of Noy Minggoy Lopez, Noy Maning Velez, and last year’s “Halad sa Sugbuanong Kanta” awardees, Noy Inting Rubi, Mr. Ben Zubiri, and Mr. Mariano Vestil, nangahas lang ko, bisan dili takus, sa pagpukaw sa atong nahikatulog, nahinanok, ug gilawalawa-an na gani nga mga kinaiyang Sugbuanon. Atong gipun-an ug special award na si Dr. Dodong Maningo sa iyang nindot kaayo nga kantang Luyo sa Dag-om kay natandog kaayo ko.
If I’m not mistaken, the Harana, Balak, Pamalaye, Kasal and Kulilisi sa Hari are—like drops in an ocean—important pieces of our beautiful and vast Cebuano culture.
Many are asking if we can have a “repeat performance” of that affair last Saturday.
My answer is... ang tanan pag-buot sa kahitas-an. Allow me to just share that the event was a huge challenge to mount. If you can only realize and understand that from day one, when I started the preparation for this “Kinaiyang Sugbuanon,” with all humility, I did not seek any assistance from anyone. Borne out of my pride and desire to awaken Cebuanos to the beautiful songs of yesteryears and almost-forgotten cultural traditions and heritage, it has challenged me to venture into staging “Halad sa Kinaiyang Sugbuanon” last March 15.
And so, I have engraved in my humble heart and will always remember with gratefulness all those very important friends of mine who willingly helped, assisted and guided me in the preparation.
Again, magpasalamat gyud ko sa mga Sugbuanong gimingaw ug giuhaw na sa atong mga kanhing kinaiyang Sugbuanon.
May our Blessed Senor Sto. Nino and the Blessed Virgen of Guadalupe watch us and our families always.
Mabuhi ang Sugbuanon!
Dr. Jose “Dodong” R. Gullas,
Founder of “Ang Tipiganan ug Handumanan sa mga Kanta ug Kinaiyang Sugbuanon Foundation, Inc.”