Faith, Miracles, and Legacy: The Story of San Guillermo, Buting's Beloved Patron Saint
This article examines the life, legacy, and veneration of Saint William the Hermit, known as San Guillermo de Maleval, with particular focus on his significance as the patron saint of Barangay Buting. San Guillermo, who was born in Poitiers, France, and lived in the 12th century, underwent a notable transformation from a life of youthful transgressions to one of deep penance. He eventually dedicated his life to prayer and asceticism as a hermit in Italy, where he became renowned for his spirituality and piety.
This work further explores the stories and miracles attributed to his image in Buting, from accounts of divine intervention during wartime to instances of personal healings and blessings. Through these stories, we aim to understand the enduring impact of San Guillermo's life on local traditions, faith practices, and the cultural memory of the community. By analyzing these narratives, this article contributes to the broader discourse on the role of patron saints in local and religious identity.
Biography of St. William
Born in Poitiers, France, he lived a sinful life in his youth. As an act of repentance to God, he traveled to the Holy Land. Upon his return, he sought a place in Tuscany to live as a hermit, but he was unsuccessful in becoming a hermit there.
After this failure, he moved to a hermitage in Malavalle (Maleval) in Grosseto, Italy. He stayed there, living in prayer, silence, fasting, and penance until his death on February 10, 1157. He did not establish a Religious Order or its Rule. However, two of his followers formed the Order of Saint William, also known as the Williamites, after Saint William's death. One of them, named Albert, created a rule titled "The Rule of Saint William." During the unification of the Augustinians in 1256, various groups of hermits were united to form the Order of Saint Augustine. This included the Order of Saint William, which became part of the Augustinians. However, this union did not work out well, and many former Williamites withdrew from the Augustinians after some time. Nonetheless, the Augustinians have honored Saint William since the 13th century.
Saint William the Hermit is also known as Saint William of Maleval and Saint William the Great. In 1202, Pope Innocent III included him in the ranks of the saints.
The Story of the Images of St. William
There are stories that the original miraculous image of Saint William was found floating on the river aboard a cascó (boat) near Longos. It was retrieved by witnesses and placed in the chapel of the barrio.
During a period of unrest, five women carried the image to save it. While fleeing, they grew tired and rested beside a large rock, placing the image on it. However, after hearing a gunshot, they fled in fear, leaving the image behind. When they returned, the image was gone and could not be found, despite efforts by the villagers of Buting and nearby towns.
Meanwhile, a couple had taken the image with them as they fled to Talisay, Batangas, where they stayed. Due to the image's miraculous nature, it was never returned to Buting and remained in the church in Talisay, as the locals wished.
After some time, peace returned to the barrio. One resident of Buting dreamed of a tall man dressed in a black habit, whom they believed to be the long-lost image of San Guillermo. The next day, they went to a local artist and had the man in the dream painted. The villagers were astonished, as the painting resembled their missing patron’s image. They enshrined this painting in the chapel, and it was used during the feast of San Guillermo. Today, the painting’s whereabouts remain unknown.
Years later, the elders of the barrio decided to commission a new image based on the painting. They sought the help of a local sculptor. However, the completed image appeared older than the original, earning it the nickname "San Guillermong Matanda" or "Matandang Imahe." This image was used during feasts for some time and is currently in the parish's care.
With the aging of previous images, a certain philanthropist of the barrio commissioned a new, younger-looking, taller image than the elder one. Dubbed "San Guillermo Bata" or "Batang Imahe," it is now used in processions, especially during the feast day.
Miracles of St. William
During the war, the Japanese planned to bomb Buting because of its proximity to Fort William McKinley (later called Fort Bonifacio) and the fact that American soldiers bathed their horses there. On the day Buting was to be bombed, San Guillermo performed a miracle by deceiving the Japanese. According to the elders, when the Japanese planes flew overhead, Buting appeared as a vast sea. But when they descended, the land reappeared. Some witnesses even claimed they saw a white horse with an elderly man in a black habit following the plane.
During the same war, the Japanese intended to burn Buting because American soldiers were staying there. According to the story, San Guillermo appeared as a child carrying a basket of tomatoes. Since the Japanese loved tomatoes, they became so engrossed in eating them that they forgot to burn the entire town.
Many personal prayers have also been answered through devotion to San Guillermo. People have been healed from illnesses, solved their problems, found comfort in times of hardship, received financial blessings, attained educational success, and even solved problems on fertility.
There is also a folk tale that San Guillermo m takes the form of a beggar when his feast day approaches, going house to house asking for water. If someone refuses to give him water, heavy rains fall on the day of his feast.
One resident of Buting had a dream that the image of San Guillermo was under the stairs of the church in Talisay, dirty and covered in cobwebs. Some Buting residents went to Talisay and found the image just as it appeared in the dream. They cleaned, repaired, and dressed the image.
Another story tells of a Buting resident who saw the beloved patron saint riding a horse along the riverbank.
During one of San Guillermo's feast day processions, the image stopped for a long time at a certain spot. It turned out that in a nearby house, an elderly woman, bedridden and blind, lived. Her relatives were outside watching the procession, but to their surprise, the sick woman walked out of the house, seemingly cured. She said that an elderly man in a long black robe helped her out of bed and led her outside. As soon as she stepped out, the man disappeared, and the procession continued.
For hundreds of years, San Guillermo has protected the small community from various calamities. By God's mercy, the community has not suffered from severe floods or large fires.
Let us continue to have faith in God and emulate the holiness of San Guillermo.
This work further explores the stories and miracles attributed to his image in Buting, from accounts of divine intervention during wartime to instances of personal healings and blessings. Through these stories, we aim to understand the enduring impact of San Guillermo's life on local traditions, faith practices, and the cultural memory of the community. By analyzing these narratives, this article contributes to the broader discourse on the role of patron saints in local and religious identity.
Biography of St. William
Born in Poitiers, France, he lived a sinful life in his youth. As an act of repentance to God, he traveled to the Holy Land. Upon his return, he sought a place in Tuscany to live as a hermit, but he was unsuccessful in becoming a hermit there.
After this failure, he moved to a hermitage in Malavalle (Maleval) in Grosseto, Italy. He stayed there, living in prayer, silence, fasting, and penance until his death on February 10, 1157. He did not establish a Religious Order or its Rule. However, two of his followers formed the Order of Saint William, also known as the Williamites, after Saint William's death. One of them, named Albert, created a rule titled "The Rule of Saint William." During the unification of the Augustinians in 1256, various groups of hermits were united to form the Order of Saint Augustine. This included the Order of Saint William, which became part of the Augustinians. However, this union did not work out well, and many former Williamites withdrew from the Augustinians after some time. Nonetheless, the Augustinians have honored Saint William since the 13th century.
Saint William the Hermit is also known as Saint William of Maleval and Saint William the Great. In 1202, Pope Innocent III included him in the ranks of the saints.
The Story of the Images of St. William
There are stories that the original miraculous image of Saint William was found floating on the river aboard a cascó (boat) near Longos. It was retrieved by witnesses and placed in the chapel of the barrio.
During a period of unrest, five women carried the image to save it. While fleeing, they grew tired and rested beside a large rock, placing the image on it. However, after hearing a gunshot, they fled in fear, leaving the image behind. When they returned, the image was gone and could not be found, despite efforts by the villagers of Buting and nearby towns.
Meanwhile, a couple had taken the image with them as they fled to Talisay, Batangas, where they stayed. Due to the image's miraculous nature, it was never returned to Buting and remained in the church in Talisay, as the locals wished.
After some time, peace returned to the barrio. One resident of Buting dreamed of a tall man dressed in a black habit, whom they believed to be the long-lost image of San Guillermo. The next day, they went to a local artist and had the man in the dream painted. The villagers were astonished, as the painting resembled their missing patron’s image. They enshrined this painting in the chapel, and it was used during the feast of San Guillermo. Today, the painting’s whereabouts remain unknown.
The present image of "San Guillermong Matanda"
or "Matandang San Guillermo" which is now kept
in the private chapel of the Parish Priest
Years later, the elders of the barrio decided to commission a new image based on the painting. They sought the help of a local sculptor. However, the completed image appeared older than the original, earning it the nickname "San Guillermong Matanda" or "Matandang Imahe." This image was used during feasts for some time and is currently in the parish's care.
This image of San Guillermo is said to be
the exact replica of the original image
which is now in Talisay, Batangas.
This is image is currently under the care of Dumbrique Family
in Brgy. Malinao
Over the years, the elders observed that the older image did not closely resemble the original, prompting a family to commission a new one based on the image in Talisay, Batangas. This new image was used in feast day processions and for home visitations. Due to its condition the image was replaced with a new one. Although now too fragile for main processions, the family remains willing to lend it to those who request it.
With the aging of previous images, a certain philanthropist of the barrio commissioned a new, younger-looking, taller image than the elder one. Dubbed "San Guillermo Bata" or "Batang Imahe," it is now used in processions, especially during the feast day.
Sa Guillermong Bata o Batang San Guillermo,
the present callejera image
which is currently under the care of
former Brgy. Captain Mrs. Evelyn Tuaño
Miracles of St. William
During the war, the Japanese planned to bomb Buting because of its proximity to Fort William McKinley (later called Fort Bonifacio) and the fact that American soldiers bathed their horses there. On the day Buting was to be bombed, San Guillermo performed a miracle by deceiving the Japanese. According to the elders, when the Japanese planes flew overhead, Buting appeared as a vast sea. But when they descended, the land reappeared. Some witnesses even claimed they saw a white horse with an elderly man in a black habit following the plane.
During the same war, the Japanese intended to burn Buting because American soldiers were staying there. According to the story, San Guillermo appeared as a child carrying a basket of tomatoes. Since the Japanese loved tomatoes, they became so engrossed in eating them that they forgot to burn the entire town.
Many personal prayers have also been answered through devotion to San Guillermo. People have been healed from illnesses, solved their problems, found comfort in times of hardship, received financial blessings, attained educational success, and even solved problems on fertility.
There is also a folk tale that San Guillermo m takes the form of a beggar when his feast day approaches, going house to house asking for water. If someone refuses to give him water, heavy rains fall on the day of his feast.
One resident of Buting had a dream that the image of San Guillermo was under the stairs of the church in Talisay, dirty and covered in cobwebs. Some Buting residents went to Talisay and found the image just as it appeared in the dream. They cleaned, repaired, and dressed the image.
Another story tells of a Buting resident who saw the beloved patron saint riding a horse along the riverbank.
During one of San Guillermo's feast day processions, the image stopped for a long time at a certain spot. It turned out that in a nearby house, an elderly woman, bedridden and blind, lived. Her relatives were outside watching the procession, but to their surprise, the sick woman walked out of the house, seemingly cured. She said that an elderly man in a long black robe helped her out of bed and led her outside. As soon as she stepped out, the man disappeared, and the procession continued.
For hundreds of years, San Guillermo has protected the small community from various calamities. By God's mercy, the community has not suffered from severe floods or large fires.
Let us continue to have faith in God and emulate the holiness of San Guillermo.
Whether or not we experience miracles, we must keep our trust in the Almighty.
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