Tribute To Great Cebuano Composers

Never was there any such award or tribute made to known composers in Cebu until Dr. Jose "Dodong" R. Gullas, Chairman of The FREEMAN, came to start and enliven the immortal songs of composers Ben Zubiri whose "Matud Nila" and Vicente Rubi's "Kasadya Ning Taknaa" were sung by every Cebuano in every nook and cranny of the globe.

As Dodong Gullas mentioned in passing in his speech during the affair, "Matud Nila" was composed by Ben Zubiri ostensibly dedicating the song to the woman he secretly loved. Because of the disparaging difference between the high and mighty, and just the ordinary being, he couldn't even dare say to the lady his feelings of true love…"gugmang putli" where, for years, he tacitly kept to himself. The lady was a good friend and colleague, and stopped writing before she succumbed to the Big C. We learned later that "Matud Nila" was purposely composed because of her. Wow! if the song were written especially for me, apparently, I would cry a river. By the way, the lyrics are just beautiful and fully meaningful!

Ben Zubiri's daughters, Elnora and Edwina, received the award on behalf of their family, and Edwina thanked Dodong for this once-in-a-lifetime "pasidungog sa among familia".

"Halad: Sugbuanong Kanta" tribute had another awardee, Vicente Rubi for his most popular daygon "Kasadya Ning Taknaa", both catchy and melodious, exuding joy of the traditional Filipino pasko, and evoking visions of Aguinaldo Masses. Inting Rubi composed the song with lyricist Arcadio Vestil who happened to be his neighbor. Only daughter, Luduvina Rubi Najarro, thanked Dodong Gullas for the honor given to their late father.

The third awardee was lyricist of Kasadya - Arcadio Vestil. His eldest son, Hermani Vestil, received the award.

The affair, the first ever to honor Cebuano artists in the field of music, was held at the Casino Español de Cebu. More than 300 guests came to attend this memorable affair. Entertainment had the award-winning UV Chorale dishing out the compositions of Ben Zubiri…Matud Nila and Ikaduhang Bathala, while Inting Rubi's Carmela was sung by grandson Ryan Racar. Pop songfest winner Genevieve Abuloc sung her winning piece Bakho sa Anghel with dexterity. But what touched the hearts of many was the presence of two visually-impaired from Mandaue (a discovery of Dodong and Nena Gullas), John Rey, 9 years old and Josephine, 7 years old, singing Zubiri's hilarious composition Pasayawa Ko Day, where the two children were given a defeaning applause.

Dodong Gullas, true-blue Cebuano who loves Cebuano songs, was never wrong in opting to acknowledge, recognize and honor some Cebuano artists. For him, it was an occasion to articulate his apprehension that if he would not do something to preserve and perpetuate the beautiful Sugbuanong Kanta like Matud Nila or Kasadya…, then who else would?

Congratulations are in order to our very own Dodong Gullas (of course with the support of his family, in cooperation with The FREEMAN, Banat News and DYAB for airing the program live), for initiating the first laudable step, even as we hope that he will continue with his project, as promised, every two years!