Museum, concert to mark "Kinaiyang Sugbuanon"

CEBU, Philippines - A unique evening of Cebuano classics and a cultural showcase will be presented anew through HALAD 2010 (also known as Halad sa Kanta ug Kinaiyang Sugbuanon) this coming January.  

The pet project of Dr. Jose R. Gullas, The Freeman chairman, for his Tipiganan sa mga Kanta ug Kinaiyang Sugbuanon Foundation, this is the third Halad to happen in the last four years, after successful stagings were held last 2007 and 2008 at the Casino Espanol and CICC, respectively.

As its previous presentations, a new set of Cebuano composers will be given recognition. Among the composers, whose works were recognized in the past Halad, were Ben Zubiri, Vicente Rubi, Maning Velez, Minggoy Lopez, etc.  

Gullas decided to bring back the Halad following many requests of Cebuanos to (re)introduce “some of our beautiful Cebuano songs of yesteryears, as well as kinaiyang sugbuanon that have been nearly if not already long forgotten.”

He also hopes that young audiences will be encouraged to celebrate their cultural identities and heritage through Halad.

The concert will be fittingly headlined by top Cebuano artists, Asia’s Queen of Songs Pilita Corales and Diva of Visayan Songs Dulce, together with the internationally-acclaimed UV Chorale. It will be held at the Waterfront Grand Pacific Ballroom on January 13, 2010.  

Prior to the concert, the Tipiganan’s museum which will house music memorabilia, commissioned artworks, among many others, will officially open on January 12, 2010.

Located at the old building of The Freeman along V. Gullas St., the museum will be called the Don Vicente and Inday Pining Gullas Museum in honor of the parents of Dodong Gullas, who were not only known as esteemed educators for having founded the University of the Visayas, but were also staunch supporters and patrons of Cebuano culture and the arts. — Nathalie Tomada (THE FREEMAN)