Gullas Museum to be unveiled

CEBU, Philippines - Tourism Secretary Ace Durano will lead a ribbon cutting ceremony to formally unveil the Don Vicente ug Inday Pining Gullas Museum this January 12.

Sec. Durano will be joined by top musical Cebuano artists Pilita Corrales, Dulce and Raki Vega. 

The museum is one of the projects of The Freeman chairman Dr. Jose R. "Dodong" Gullas under his Tipiganan sa mga Kanta ug Kinaiyang Sugbuanon Foundation. 

Gullas is the youngest child of the late Don Vicente and Inday Pining Gullas, esteemed educators and patrons of Cebuano culture and the arts, who founded the University of the Visayas.

The museum, which will be located inside the old Freeman building in cor. Jakosalem and V. Gullas Sts., is hoped to become a major attraction in this known historical district, designed to propagate Cebuano's cache of beautiful music and traditions, as well as honor composers and musical artists, some of whom have memorabilia displayed at the museum.

These include the piano that the late Ben Zubiri used to create the timeless love song "Matud Nila," the guitar of Minggoy Lopez, composer of "Rosas Pandan" and "Kamingaw sa Payag", and original score sheets of several Cebuano classics.

Another interesting feature inside the museum are the listening stations wherein you can hear samples of old Cebuano songs, both familiar and long forgotten tunes. Commissioned artworks depicting unique Cebuano culture will also be in display at the museum. 

While the museum is sure to evoke nostalgia and renewed interest of especially of Cebu's musical past, Gullas said that the main intention of this museum is truly to educate the younger generations of Cebuanos and foster increased appreciation in homegrown treasures. — Nathalie Tomada    (FREEMAN NEWS)