CEBU, Philippines - The Halad Museum, currently undergoing expansion, will open partly to the public beginning today for the Sinulog week, while the whole project is expected to be finished within the month.
Founded by The FREEMAN chair Jose “Dodong” R. Gullas and dedicated to his parents, Don Vicente and Inday Pining Gullas, the Halad Museum will open its musically-themed main section, where old photographs, awards, vinyl records, instruments, costumes, and other precious memorabilia of notable Cebuano composers and singers, are displayed.
Among them are the guitar of Vicente Rubi, composer of the famous Christmas carol “Kasadya Ning Taknaa,” and the piano of Ben Zubiri, composer of “Matud Nila”.
Also showcased are specially commissioned paintings depicting “kinaiyang sugbuanon” or age-old Cebuano traditions.
Upon completion, the museum will also house a section called the Founder’s Corner, which elaborates on Gullas’ advocacies and pursuits through the years, including The Freeman. To be showcased are some decades-old issues of The Freeman, which was founded in 1919 by Gullas’ uncle, Don Paulino Gullas, making it the oldest-existing newspaper in the Visayas and Mindanao.
The Halad museum was first unveiled to the public on Jan. 12, 2010 and underwent renovation and expansion beginning mid of last year.
Gullas also appointed a new museum curator, Audrey M. Tomada. She is an anthropology graduate from the University of the Philippines - Diliman, who has served as college instructor, culture and arts officer, and research manager/consultant for government and corporate projects.
The Halad Museum is located in the old Freeman building along corner V. Gullas and Jakosalem Streets. – (FREEMAN)