His Life, His Way

During World War I, an army general was widely looked down within the British military for his stubbornness. Winston Churchill himself likened Gen. Tudor to “an iron peg hammered into the frozen ground, immovable.” But in the face of the fierce German assault, the common view of the general changed.

Gen. Tudor led a greatly outnumbered army division tasked to repulse the enemy. The odds were heavily against them, but the general knew how to meet the apparently irresistible force. He and his men merely stood their ground and let the attacking force expel itself on them. The British won.

The lesson from that incident is not at all new. People always tell us to rise above criticism and listen to our own inner drummer. Such advice is ideal, but it is a long leap from being practical. It is very difficult to remain firm on our stand amid ravaging currents of public disapproval.

There’s no doubt about the importance of popularity for one’s sense of self. But the person who bases his own personal value on how well he pleases the people around him is in trouble. At one time or another, most of us find ourselves in a situation where it seems we are being attacked from all quarters.

If we are to gain some sense of power for ourselves, it is absolutely essential that we know how to take the disapproval of others. It can be very difficult, of course, given that our self-image can be devastated by just a single negative remark. Yet, for sure, those who have advanced themselves in their own unique ways know how to stand secure in the face of their critics.

I know a man who belongs to this very rare breed. He is neither criticized nor unpopular, though. But, like the British General Tudor, he is immovable when he sets his heart on something. Often, he goes his own way.

This man only makes compromises when absolutely necessary. He had given up his biggest personal ambition in heed of his parents’ request. As a young person, he most wanted to become a medical doctor. But he was needed in the growing family undertaking.

He holds no regrets, though; there is nothing he won’t do for the sake of family. Besides, what he was asked to do is something that he himself believed in. It is a noble cause, no doubt, to provide a means for the children of the poor to get themselves an education, and, thus, improve their prospects for a better life.

As if this was not enough of a service to others, he went into politics in order to serve the people more. He was more a public servant than a politician. Once, when offered a hefty commission by a contractor of a road project under his auspices as a congressman, he politely declined and asked that the money be used instead to build a few extra kilometers of road.

His moral grounding is solid. While his fervent religiosity springs from dear family tradition, his faith in God is his own. He continues, to this day, his long deceased parents’ religious devotions. His piety can be mistaken as mere public act, if not for the fact that he never makes it known.

He is dogged when pursuing what he wants. But he seldom openly argues in defense of his decisions. He goes on his own, even if the odds are great and the opposition strong.

It was against the advice of his well meaning and learned friends that he decided to revive the long dormant newspaper publication of his uncle. His own family cautioned him on the great financial burden that his plan entailed. He couldn’t be dissuaded.

At his age now, this man should already be taking it easy and enjoying the gains of his long years of toil. But he is not. These past few years he has embarked on yet another ambitious project that he claims to be very close to his heart – the preservation of the rich Cebuano artistic heritage.

The FREEMAN newspaper and the new Tipiganan Museum, a repository of Cebuano cultural mementos, are just two monuments of the many passions of this admirable man. The best traces of his good deeds, however, are in the hearts of those whose lives he has touched.

The family’s University of the Visayas, which he runs together with his brother, gives scholarships to students who are too poor to sustain their studies. Those who have talents are given opportunities to excel and be known. The award-winning UV Chorale has since been receiving standing ovations in concert halls here and abroad. 

Many people have been warmed by his kindness. Many still have benefited from his boldness. Too bad, he is not getting any younger. Good enough, he is not slowing down, either; although the recognition he gets for his accomplishments is far less than what is actually due him.

On February 1, Dr. Jose R. Gullas, PhD. is turning 77. Many people older than him have not done as much or as well. Many others much younger are not as full of life or as daring. His personal qualities are certainly the envy of some, but not me — he is my hero.

Happy Birthday, Sir! I wish you all the happiest returns of the day. You deserve it.

(E-MAIL: [email protected])