Sir Dodong’s compassion, humility retold at funeral

CEBU, Philippines —  With overflowing love for what they described as “a man with the heart for the poor,” family, friends, and supporters sent philanthropist, educator, and The FREEMAN chairman Jose “Dodong” Gullas to his final resting place in Carcar City yesterday.

In his eulogy, Talisay City Mayor Gerard Anthony “Samsam” Gullas noted three things he learned from his uncle – to always pray, to be humble, and to know that everything is but temporary.

Samsam also fondly recalled the many times he had witnessed the “bond of brothers” between his Papa Eddie (First District Rep. Eduardo Gullas) and Dodong.

Both, he said, had always advised him to remain humble and to always leave a footprint of goodness to the people he would meet.

Likewise, the young mayor took pride in the “good name and legacy” of the Gullas family that have been built over a century.

“Uncle Dodong would always tell me nga wala ka gihatagan og problema sa Ginoo nga dili nimo kaya (that God will not give you a problem you can’t bear),” Samsam said.

As for Dodong’s wife, Nena, her husband was “a masterpiece brought to life.”

“My friend, my boyfriend, my ex-boyfriend, my partner, my husband for life, I love you so much,” Nena addressed her husband of 16 years, four months and eight days, before singing to him for the last time the famous Cebuano love song “Matud Nila.”

Nena further described her husband as “a compassionate and kind human being” who always had the heart for the poor, as well as for the religious community.

She also recalled their love story but preferred not to talk the details as it would take more than a day.

“He is not 100 percent perfect but our love for each other is so deep, as well as our faith in God,” she said.

Gullas, an educator, a humanitarian, and former congressman, was buried at the motherhouse compound of the Daughters of Sta. Teresa in Barangay Valladolid, Carcar City, Cebu.

His other children, relatives, friends, and the JRG UV Chorale shared their beautiful memories with Dodong in their eulogies that sent many to tears as speakers remembered the love and the generosity of the latter.

Some of employees of The FREEMAN and the University of the Visayas, as well as supporters like the sisters of Daughters of Sta. Teresa, joined the Gullas family headed by Dodong’s sons Joselito and Johnvic, in-laws, grandchildren and relatives in sending the man of compassion to his final resting place just beside the new Sta. Teresa chapel, which he helped built.

Dodong revived The FREEMAN in 1965 after a long hiatus during and after the Second World War. The paper was founded by his uncle Paulino, an illustrious lawyer, in 1919. — JMD (FREEMAN)