Excerpts from Dodong Gullas' memoirs

CEBU, Philippines - “Memory is one of the most beautiful gifts of God. However, as one turns the pages of time, the hazy recollection of the past dims. This is what spurred me to revive things I hold dear in my life—so that I, as well as other people, may never forget.”

Thus wrote The FREEMAN chairman Dr. Jose “Dodong” R. Gullas in his 160-page memoir, which is set to be unveiled today, Dec. 12.

Entitled “To Never Forget”, the memoir retraces what Gullas calls as “the footprints of my life,” including the highs and lows and inspirations behind endeavors, whose revival and growth he initiated and nurtured. Among them is The FREEMAN, which he brought out of dormancy in the ‘60s to honor the memory of its founder, his uncle Paulino Gullas, a brilliant lawyer and former assemblyman, who vanished during the Japanese occupation and was never heard from again.

There are also heart-warming tales about his family relationships, especially with his parents, Don Vicente and Doña Josefina Gullas —the founders of Cebu’s first university, the University of the Visayas— for whom he also dedicates his memoir.

“Their teachings and examples have guided and immensely enriched my life. I will never be able to pay them back, except perhaps in my loving remembrance of them,” he wrote.

He also talks about the stories behind his present advocacies, such as the active propagation of Cebuano musical and cultural heritage through his multi-awarded choir, the UV Chorale; the one-of-a-kind Halad Museum; and the Halad awards and concerts, the latest of which was held early this year and became the most attended Cebu concert in recent years.

The Halad projects were foremost set up with the intention of paying tribute to Visayan musical greats and long-forgotten Cebuano composers by reviving and preserving their works.

Gullas wrote that his sympathy for Cebuano artists grew when he was serving his term in Congress, from 2001 to 2004.

“I remember one time when Christmas was approaching and ‘Ang Pasko ay Sumapit’, the Tagalog version of ‘Kasadya’, was played on the radio. The announcer declared that the song was an original composition by Manila professors. I couldn’t believe my ears!” recalled Gullas, adding why he was particularly upset by this was because he personally knew the composer, Vicente Rubi.

“[My] Papa Inting’s words rang in my head: ‘Many Cebuano composers have suffered much pain and frustration in their lives.’ Many of these composers had long since passed away. How could we allow their memories to be continually be disrespected with the open abuse of their musical works?” he wrote.

Last January, he launched the Halad museum, located along the street named after his father, V. Gullas, inside the old Freeman building, and which is also where their ancestral home used to stand. The museum, which is the repository of old lyric sheets, albums, awards, and musical instruments of Visayan music artists, is currently undergoing expansion to house more precious memorabilia.

Stories of such and more, including very personal revelations, are detailed in “To Never Forget” in a tone that’s sentimental, honest, even humorous, but more importantly, grateful for all that has happened in his 76 years.

Gullas said that he was inspired to pen the memoir after undergoing a critical medical operation in 2008. Recuperating from the ordeal, he said, gave him the opportunity to reflect and put his thoughts into writing.

The memoir, specially printed in Singapore by Tien Wah Press Ltd,. will be launched at the Radisson Blu tonight, Dec. 12, with two great Visayan artists as guests —Ms. Pilita Corrales, “Asia’s Queen of Songs,” and Ms. Susan Fuentes, who became very popular nationally in the ‘70s, but disappeared from the limelight for many years. Her guesting tonight will be her first-ever public appearance after her long hiatus. (FREEMAN)