Patron saint saves village from ‘Sendong’

RESIDENTS of Iponan village in Cagayan de Oro will be celebrating today the feast of Señor San Guillermo, their patron saint.

Iponan village chief Anthony Brilleta, who is also known as Lady Gaga, said they have a reason to celebrate because nobody died and got hurt during the height of tropical storm Sendong (Washi) in December.

Brilleta said they believed San Guillermo made a miracle and saved their village from the wrath of “Sendong,” which affected 80 percent of the area.

“At the height of the flood that occurred at dawn in some areas of the city, a resident saw a mysterious bearded man in the river, who was believed to be San Guillermo. The man was trying to prevent the flood from entering our barangay. That is why the flood happened only in the morning, giving the residents time to prepare and evacuate, as compared to other affected areas where thousands died because it happened while they were sleeping,” he said.

But Brilleta said that unlike previous celebrations, this year would be different.

“Before, our celebration lasted for 10 days, starting on February 1. But this year, we chose to have a simple but well-meaning occasion,” he said.

Report from Sun.Star