Don Paulino A. Gullas, the first Cebuano to top bar exams
Don Paulino A. Gullas' life legacy was not only being the founder of Cebu's oldest newspaper, THE FREEMAN, he was also the first Cebuano to place 1st in the bar examinations. Paulino, born on April 1891, was the son of Jose Gullas and Pura Arandia. His brother, Vicente, who founded the Visayan Institute (now University of the Visayas) also became a lawyer in the same bar examinations that Paulino took.
The bar examinations, the entrance examination for admission to the Philippine Bar or roster of lawyers in the country was introduced by the Americans as part of the Philippine Bill of 1902. This is to complement the creation of the Supreme Court. The first bar examinations was held in 1903, however the result was only released in 1908. There were 13 examinees in the first bar examinations. A Cebuano placed 2nd in the examination that was Don Sergio S. Osmeña, who became the first Speaker of the Philippine National Assembly or what is known as the Philippine Congress. President Manuel Quezon placed 4th in that examination.
Don Paulino, while in law school at the University of the Philippines, became the first business manager of the "Philippine Law Journal", a legal publication established in 1914 by the University of the Philippines first dean, Justice George A. Malcolm. The first managing editor of the publication was Associate Justice Alexander Reyes. The Associate Editors were Victoriano Yamzon and Aurelio Montinola.
Don Paulino actively practiced law, he handled cases all over the country. Most of the cases handled by Don Paulino reached the Supreme Court. Don Paulino was the Counsel of the "Moros" Sandal, Arimao, and others for the case of murder on a crime committed on February 28, 1928 in Lanao. The case was decided by the Supreme Court on September 5, 1920. Another case that reached the Supreme Court was the case of Ruperta Vda. De Konahap an appealed case from the Court of First Instance of Agusan.
Don Paulino established a law office with famous and brilliant lawyers as partners. Among his partners was Pedro Lopez, who was admitted to the Bar on December 4, 1929. Pedro became a Congressman of the old 2nd District of Cebu. He died along with President Ramon Magsaysay on March 17, 1957, when the plane they boarded crashed into Mt. Manunggal. A street formerly called "Carmelo" is named after Congressman Pedro Lopez, this is by virtue of City Ordinance No. 378 enacted on May 15, 1962.
Another partner of Don Paulino was Justice Jose N. Leuterio (also a graduate of the University of the Philippines), who also placed first in the Bar Examinations in 1931. Justice Leuterio was admitted to the bar on January 11, 1932. Leuterio, later became Judge of the Court of First Instance in Manila, also of Camarines Sur and Nueva Ecija. Leuterio was later appointed as Associate Justice of the Court of Appeals.
Don Paulino married Gilda Kilayko (of Bacolod, a relative of the Escario's in Parian District). They had three children: Mary, Cecilia and Victoria. Mary, was Cebu's Carnival Queen in 1939 who married Mike Jayme his escort, who was also a lawyer and died ahead of her.
Don Paulino has a grandson and a namesake, Paul, the son of her daughter Mary and Marcelo Villarino Hubahib of Bantayan Island, Cebu. Paul married Rosa Edna, daughter of Constantino Marquez Lucero of Argao and Edna Celiz Luna of Iloilo. Paul who holds a Civil Engineering Degree and Masters Degree from the University of the Philippines became a Corporate Officer of the Visayan Electric Company (VECO) and Active Organizer of the Couples for Christ and continually serve the Cebuanos as Consultant of Cebu City Mayor Michael Lopez Rama. The siblings of Paul, Eva, Maristella, and Angeline are based in Canada.
A street formerly named "Calle Nueva" was renamed after Don Paulino Gullas on April 4, 1960 in accordance with Cebu City Ordinance No. 285.
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