Cebuano culture gets boost with Gullas Halad Museum

CEBU, Philippines - Cebuano culture got a shot in the arm yesterday with the opening of the “Jose ‘Dodong’ R. Gullas Halad Museum” at the old The Freeman building at corner V. Gullas and Jakosalem Sts.

Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia and Cebu Province 6th District Rep. Nerissa Soon-Ruiz led the ceremonial cutting of the ribbon as over a hundred guests witnessed the historic occasion.

The Holy Mass was officiated by Msgr. Esteban Binghay, who expressed his gratitude to Jose “Dodong” Gullas for helping preserve the cultural heritage of the Cebuanos.

The museum houses memorabilia from Cebu’s legendary musicians as well some pieces painted by Cebuano artists.

Featured in the museum are five paintings by Gabby Abellana.

There are also murals by Jesse Rona.

Archt. Arnold Saballa designed the museum.

Old musical instruments like guitars, bandurias, violins and an antique piano owned by legendary songwriter Wenceslao ‘Ben’ Zubirri are also on display.

Cebuano songs also filled the air as the multi-titled and much praised University of the Visayas Chorale sang old Cebuano favorites.

Three of Cebu’s brightest products in the music industry – Pilita Corrales, Dulce and Raki Vega, who are also the featured artists in tonight’s Halad 2010 at the Waterfront Cebu City Hotel, also attended the museum opening.

Gullas, chairman of the board of The FREEMAN, said he is praying that his parents Don Vicente and Inday Pining Gullas, who founded the University of the Visayas, will be happy of the museum he dedicated in honor of their memory.

Among the Cebuano composers and artists, who are featured in the museum are Maning Velez, Dominggo “Minggoy” Lopez, Manuel “Maning” Tan Villareal, Matring Ylaya, Francisco “Dodong” Maningo, Oscar Dominguez Pagcu, Stacs Huguete, Manny Cabase, and Ciriaco “Cacoy” Cañete.

Gov. Garcia, who said that she cancelled a meeting to grace the event, expressed her elation that somebody from the private sector has come forward to help preserve Cebuano heritage.

“Keep the flame burning and keep the passion going…this will propel us to forever be the number one province in the country,” Garcia told Gullas.

Members of the Gullas family as well as Nena Gullas, wife of Dodong, were on hand for the ceremony.

The museum will be officially open to the public on February 2 yet. The entrance fee for adults would be P20 and P10 for students.

“With the passing of time, my love, my devotion, my passion for our many beautiful and timeless Cebuano songs and culture practices have grown more and more. My burning desire, my constant dream, is if I can in some humble way inculcate in the hearts and minds of both parents and children the need to keep and cherish the vast treasures of our Cebuano heritage that have given life and meaning in these songs and cultural practices,” Gullas said.

Gullas’ fervent wish is that someday, sometime, someone may pass through the portals of our “Tipiganan sa mga Kinaiyang Sugbuanon” and be touched and stirred into loving and desiring to preserve and pass on these truly Cebuano legacies to the future generations.

“As long as God gives me the chance to pass it on, I will, in my own humble way, so that others may see how beautiful it is to be a Cebuano,” Gullas concluded in a message engraved on a wooden tablet.    (FREEMAN NEWS)