Dodong Gullas 'a rare gem'

CEBU, Philippines — Dr. Jose “Dodong” Gullas was a kind of person “rare” to find.

This was how Mother Ma. Louella Grace Buscato, superior general of the Daughters of Saint Teresa (DST) in Barangay Valladolid, Carcar City, described Gullas, a staunch supporter of late archbishop Teofilo Camomot sainthood.

She said DST sisters are deeply saddened by the untimely passing of Gullas, 87, who succumbed to pancreatic cancer at a hospital in Cebu City Thursday evening.

“His mission was finished but he left us the legacy of being so generous, kind and humble. He is a kind of person very rare to find whom the DST sisters could not forget,” said Buscato.

Gullas and wife, Neña, were instrumental in the construction of the multi-million Sta. Teresa de Avila Chapel and the Domus Teofilo House, which is a museum, a chapel and where the body of Camomot is laid, in Villadolid. Sta. Teresa de Avila is the patron saint of the Daughters of Sta. Teresa, the congregation that Camomot founded 60 years ago. Camomot was born on March 3, 1914 in Carcar City.

Buscato said it was Gullas’ ardent desire to attend the consecration of the new chapel on March 3, 2021, the 107th birth anniversary of Camomot.

In fact, Buscato said, a ramp was constructed in preparation for the visit of Gullas.

Quoting Nena, Buscato said the Barong Tagalog, the official national garb for Filipino men, that Gullas personally selected for the event was delivered three days ago. Instead, Gullas is laid in the coffin wearing the garb.

Buscato said DST sisters are forever grateful to Gullas for his kindness and generosity.

“God’s love for us has been manifested through the generosity of Sir Dodong and Ma’am Nena and I believed, also a strong manifestation of Archbishop Camomot’s paternal blessings to all of us, his daughters.”

“Rest in Peace Sir Dodong. The memories that you left behind will surely remain in the very core of our hearts. We thank you for everything,” said Buscato.

The remains of Gullas will be brought to Carcar Tuesday and will be laid to rest Wednesday at the Archbishop Teofilo Camomot Shrine. It was one of his final wishes.

Gullas was the chairman of The Freeman and Banat News, Cebu’s leading newspapers. He revived The Freeman in 1965, which his uncle, Paulino, founded in 1919. He served as the paper’s chairman until his death.

He also served as congressman of Cebu’s First District. During his term, he was instrumental in decentralizing the payroll system in public elementary schools to address the problem of the delayed release of salaries of teachers.

Gullas pioneered night classes for working students at the family-owned University of the Visayas, the oldest university in Cebu, through the “study now, pay later plan” that has enabled countless people to get an education. — KQD  (FREEMAN)