Council lauds Gullas for Halad Museum

CEBU, Philippines - The City Council yesterday commended The FREEMAN Chairman Jose “Dodong” Gullas for helping preserve Cebu’s cultural heritage through the JRG Halad Museum.

The Council made the commendation through a resolution sponsored by Councilor Margarita Osmeña, chairperson of the Council’s committee on tourism and culture. Osmeña herself was present during the museum’s formal blessing and launch last June 13. 

“There is a need to congratulate and commend Mr. Jose Gullas for opening the JRG Halad Museum. Remember, it’s the only musical museum in the Philippines,” Osmeña’s resolution reads.

Osmeña said she will recommend the museum to the Department of Education (DepEd) through the Cultural and Historical Commission (CHAC). She said the museum is a very informative place for students to visit because it houses valuable musical memorabilia from Cebu’s legendary musicians, as well as art pieces created by Cebuano artists.

“The JRG Halad Museum is in line with the city’s effort to preserve the Cebuano’s cultural heritage,” the resolution reads further.

The Halad Music Gallery, for one, displays composers from the 20th Century who have produced songs, both immortalized and not duly recognized, as well as artists who had earned recognition in the international scene for their talents. Highlights include original music sheets and musical instruments played by the composers themselves and numerous awards and personal items from gowns to gadgets owned by the artists.

Visitors will also get the chance to listen to Cebuano songs from old-school phonographs and digital music stations.

The other galleries the museum features include the Kinaiyang Sugbuanon Gallery and the Jose R. Gullas Memorabilia Gallery.

The newly-expanded Halad Museum is located at JRG Building at the corner of V. Gullas and Jakosalem Streets. The building used to house the offices of The FREEMAN and Banat News.

Gullas said the museum is dedicated to his parents, Don Vicente “Papa Inting” Gullas and Lady Josefina ‘Mama Pining’ Rivera Gullas.”

He said the museum aims to be a repository of Cebuano and Visayan musical treasures, including composers, artists and other memorabilia as well as a destination for an experience of Cebuano music and performing arts, cultural heritage and exhibitions.

The JRG Halad Museum is open on weekdays from Mondays to Fridays, 9:00am-5:00pm, and on weekends by appointment. Entry for Senior citizens is free. Interested parties may call (032) 268-2579 for details. — (FREEMAN)