Calmly nestled atop the hills of the town of Compostela, sits Q Park- a 200 hectare family and adventure park that’s gaining recognition among adventure seekers, family trippers, curios’, and pilgrims alike. Situated some 35 kilometers north of the metropolitan, Q Park is fully owned by the Quisumbing family and the Norkis Group of Companies and are offering the place’s amenities for the public to enjoy free of charge!
To get to the Park, one must simply enter via the Brgy. Buluang route (the border barangay of Compostela with adjacent Danao City) or by traversing the Brgy. Tubigan- Bagalnga route via Guimbal at Compostela, Poblacion. You’ll never get lost as roadsigns are posted all over the place to guide you on your way.Whatever you’re looking for, be it be family recreation, camping, adventure trekking, or just simply want a place to commune and meditate; a visit at Q Park is a must.
The park’s attractions include:
The Stations of the Cross.
A favorite among pilgrims and devotees especially in the Lenten season, the park boasts of artistic life- size traditional crucifixion scenes each rooted on a steep and scenic landscape.
Marian Hill.
A monument of devotion that’s 41 ft high, the statue of the Blessed Virgin – “Mary, Mother of Love, Peace and Joy” stands like a proud sentinel of religion, seated atop one of the park’s hills and can be accessed through a 300+ step stair the chapel below, all the way up to shrine. If one’s not up for the long climb, then an access road to the overlook is an option.
Nativity Cave and the Saints.
Commemorating the birth of Jesus Christ, a natural cave was made to replicate the one in Bethlehem and comes complete with other characters of the holy scene artistically sculpted by local artisans. A visit to another cave nearby, focuses one to the known figures of Filipino devotion such as the Santo Niño de Cebu, Our Lady of Guadalupe, San Lorenzo Ruiz, Blessed Pedro Calungsod and La Pieta- the Sorrowful Madonna with the lifeless Christ on her lap.
Retreat House and Cottages.
The management of Q Park sees to it to offer comfort to visitors. The Park has a sizeable retreat house with air conditioned rooms and three cottages, all complete with kitchenette, toilet, bath and veranda. Reservations and queries maybe made at the Norkis main office at Mandaue City, Cebu.
Heroes Hill- A Tribute to Filipino Heritage
With the goals of preserving national heritage for the coming generations to view, Q Park also features the Heroes Hill- which houses the exhibit of the legacies of unsung Filipino heroes, brave warriors and leaders as well as a tribute for OFWs.
This part of the park is open for students, teachers or just about anyone who wants to get an enriching experience of our heritage.
Boys and Girls Camps.
Q Park also features a campsite for young people to experience camaraderie and adventure of the outdoors or enjoy sitting together amidst the campfire at night.
The Labyrinth.
One of the park’s main attractions is this green labyrinth that’s made of 1, 500 sq. meters of lush greens, that’s a sure challenge for children and the child at hearts to enjoy.
Encourage everyone to participate in the global fight for the protection and preservation of the environment.
Q Park is committed to the preservation and protection of the environment and as a token of this social responsibility, encourages visitors in its campsites and Heroes Hill to plant tree seedlings and take care of flora and fauna.
Currently, innovations are still in the works to add more attractions to the park and it’s facilities.
Situated 26 Kilometers away (1 hour ride) from the Metropolitan and sits adjacent to the City of Danao, Compostela holds a convenience for trade and commerce in terms of ports and geographic proximity. The town is classified as a 4th class municipality under the 5th District, that holds a population of 39, 167 (approx.) and has a land area of 68.9 km2. It is composed of 17 barangays namely: Bagalnga, Basak, Buluang, Cabadiangan, Cambayog, Canamucan, Cogon, Dapdap, Estaca, Lupa, Magay, Mulao, Panangban, Poblacion, Tag-ubi, Tamiao, and Tubigan.
Currently, Compostela along with the rest of the mid-northern towns of Cebu, plays host to sprouting subdivisions and a growing number of housing projects which is an indicator of progress. Due to its near proximity to Urban Cebu and the prominent cities of the North (Danao and Bogo) a fraction of the town's populace are foreign, local tourists and young professionals whose careers, businesses and families circulate to these cities.
Developments are also in the works as well to refine the town's tourist destinations to lure more visitors who want to enjoy the serene and pristine atmosphere that the town has to offer.
Sr. Santiago and the town’s history
Established in the year 1844 by a Spanish “Conquistador” by the name of Captain Manuel Aniceto del Rosario, Compostela used to be one of the barrio components to the then Municipality of Danao.
The barrio received its official name through the endorsement of Father Jose Alonzo, a Spanish friar serving under the crown and reportedly a resident of Compostela, Spain. He was then designated as the first parish priest and adopted Señor Santiago de Apostol as the parish patron saint.
Sr. Santiago de Apostol’s parish chapel laid witness to the barrio’s growth for as the years traversed and its population grew, the chapel was later decided by Spanish church leaders to be reconstructed into a church (Saint James Parish) in honor of Señor Santiago Apostol and to serve as the major place of worship for the Catholic faithful. It is standing to this day, being one of Compostela’s proud historical monuments.
Political establishment and progress
The prosperous barrio existed with constant growth, for as the years progressed, so did its population. At the turn of the tide during the Spanish-American war, Spain lost control of the Philippines to the Americans; the result of which after the Treaty of Paris, a requirement to modify and re-classify all the local government units in the Philippines according to population and income was implemented.
In 1903, Compostela was officially annexed to the Municipality of Liloan. After more than a decade of secession, a special committee headed by Hilario Canen along with the then Cebu Provincial Governor Manuel Roa, presented their proposal to Hon. Sergio Osmeña Sr. which was then the Philippine Assembly Speaker, to sponsor the bill changing the status of Compostela to a municipality.
On January 17, 1919 Compostela was officially recognized as a municipality.
Today, the town is continually growing in terms of population with high literacy ratio, infrastructure and economy. Viable sources of income for the townsfolk include livestock and agriculture products, canning, furniture exports, handicrafts, and semi-industrial establishments which have now started to bud throughout the town.
Fresh from the May 10 National Polls, the town's newly elected officials are now spearheaded by first-term Mayor Hon. Joel Quiño and Vice- Mayor Hon. Mary Antonette Dangoy.
*Special thanks to Compostela de Cebu for the photos used in this post.
Cebu Urbano
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