The true powers of the Gullas Family
Power emanates from the ability to inspire action, to move others to a defined goal, and to encourage people to embrace changes and push individuals and organizations to go for some loftier and nobler purpose. Power is the capacity to translate dreams into realities by pioneering movements and courageous trail-blazing initiatives. Power is the strength and fortitude to stand up for the truth and the boldness to choose to do what is right even if one is standing alone in a world that is too overwhelmed by greed, anger and lust for power.
Power is the courage to be different and to refuse going along with the trends in an era of fraud, deceit, and trickery. On these principles, the Gullas Family wielded tremendous powers in the last 100 years. Other families in Cebu have chosen to pursue power by amassing billions through business empires and ventures into trading, manufacturing, and other enterprises. That too is good but it only yielded profits and prestige for themselves. Still, others went into politics and public service. They became famous and infamous, popular and notorious. But they have not touched as many peoples' lives as the Gullases did in the last ten decades.
The Gullas Family opted to invest in people, to put their treasures in things that matter most, in the education of the youth, especially the children of the poor and the marginalized, and in putting up a paper that is fair and fearless. UV for education, and The FREEMAN for a fair and fearless reporting of events and the formation of public opinions in the process of building a nation and empowering a people. Herein lies the powers of the Gullases. Hundreds of thousands have finished their college courses and built their careers here in UV. And millions of Cebuanos for the last 100 years have relied on The FREEMAN for news that is not adulterated by political agenda, and opinions based on principles, not prejudices.
The Gullas Family has become an icon for integrity, simplicity, and public service. UV has become the haven for quality education which is not only affordable to the working class but also student-friendly. There is a perfect harmony in the UV campus. The relationship between UV as an employer, and the employees, both teaching and non-teaching, is characterized as mutually-respectful of workers' rights and management prerogatives. There are no unions in UV because the atmosphere is that of a family, bound together by a common purpose. The students have strong relationship with the faculty based on the principles of freedom within the bounds of mutual respect and appreciation.
The power of the Gullas Family lies precisely in the values inculcated by the founder and still being lived and exemplified by the Gullas Family today. Love of God, fidelity to country, love of family, service to the community and integrity in thoughts, in words and in deeds.
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