City Council exempts 'Tipiganan' from taxes

CEBU, Philippines - The Cebu City Council has agreed to exempt the “Ang Tipiganan sa mga Handumanan sa Kanta ug Kinaiyang Sugboanon Foundation” from the payment of amusement taxes out of its collections of minimal admission fees from the public.

Councilor Sylvan ‘Jack’ Jakosalem successfully convinced his fellow city legislators to grant full amusement tax exemption to the foundation chaired by former Cebu 1st District Congressman Jose ‘Dodong’ R. Gullas.

The amusement tax is equivalent to 30 percent of the gross income or sales of any entertainment institution.

Jakosalem explained that aside from being non-stock, the foundation is a non-profit organization solely dedicated to the preservation of Cebuano music and culture with its “Ang Tipiganan Museum” situated at the second floor of the old The Freeman building at Vicente Gullas corner D. Jakosalem Streets.

The foundation is actively involved in showcasing, finding, and acquiring the work of well-known Cebuano artists not only in preserving them, but to make them available to the people, especially to the young for the information and educational purposes.

The museum that was formally opened last January 15, houses the memorabilia of Cebu’s musical composers and artists over the years and immortal Cebuano songs.

Popular Cebuano composers and singers like Pilita Corales and Dulce Amor or Maritess Llamedo in real life, are featured in the museum.

The life-size statues of Don Vicente Gullas and wife Josefina “Inday Pining” Rivera Gullas can be also found in the museum.

The former congressman said the piano of well-known composer Ben Zubiri also known as “Iyo Karpo” and the guitar of Minggoy Lopez are among the items kept at the museum.

“Iyo Karpo” was the composer and singer of the popular balitaw entitled Pasayawa Ko Day and Matud Nila, while Minggoy Lopez was the composer of the famous Rosas Pandan.

Other featured Cebuano talent is Vicente “Noy Inting” Rubi, who composed the very popular song Kasadya Ning Taknaa.

Gullas said the minimal admission fee of P10 for children and P20 for adults will be used to sustain the operation of the museum. — Rene U. Borromeo/NLQ   (FREEMAN NEWS)