Compostela’s charm is this rural area’s nearness to the cities. With the town’s offerings to visitors, one does not have to drive or commute far to experience the excitement of the great outdoors. Whether you are looking for a serene breezy place for soul-searching, or want to test yourself with a rough and rigourous trail, Compostela has a perfect place for you.
Only 24 kilometers away from the Cebu Provincial Capitol, Compostela reaps the benefits of being not too near and not too far from the city. The opening in 2010 of the Cansaga Bay Bridge along the North Coastal Road has made Compostela even more accessible from Cebu’s urban centers, with travel time cut by almost half. Subdivisions are sprouting, on the account of its being traveling distance from schools and workplaces. On the other hand, companies have come to Compostela, too, giving work to residents and income for the Municipal Government.
A landmark added to the town is the plant of Norkis Trading Co. Inc., a giant in the motorcycle industry. As the relocation of Norkis was completed in a 150-hectare compound in 2003, Compostela is now home to the local plant of Yamaha, one of the leading motorcycle brands. Norkis’ plant used to be in Mandaue City and its transfer to Compostela was a big boost to the town’s economy and image as a business-friendly place. The Quisumbing family behind the motorcycle giant company also gave Compostela another place to be proud of, the Q Park.
The Q Park is now a magnet for domestic tourists especially during the Lenten Season because the hills were developed to feature the Way of the Cross, a huge statue of the Virgin Mary and the Nativity Scene, among many others. A resting place is available for visitors – the anahaw-roofed kiosks featuring portraits of Philippine presidents and statesmen. The place also features a pond full of kois, adding both a restful ambiance and fun for koi enthusiasts. The place also has a Heroes’ Hill as a tribute to soldiers, overseas Filipino workers and awardees of the Filipino Foundation. Spanning some 200 hectares, this park offers residents and visitors to Compostela an alternative place to hang out with friends and family to deviate from the usual beach destinations.
Other big names in the industrial and manufacturing world have been staying in Compostela for years. Their continued confidence in doing expansion in Compostela town reinforced the local government’s efforts at bringing in new investors. These include Virginia Foods Inc., a meat processing company that produces canned and frozen products supplied all over the country. Virginia Foods spent the bulk of its P80-million fund for capital expenditures on new equipment at its eight-hectare plant in Barangay Cogon. A homegrown Cebuano company, Virginia Foods is also doing its share for Compostela through its activities showing “corporate social responsibility,” like giving school supplies to school near its plant.
Compostela is also part of Cebu’s big furniture industry, a leading contributor to the economy of the island and the entire Philippines. Since 1996, Upper Cogon hosts Nature’s Legacy, a rising global manufacturer of home furnishings and garden accessories. It is involved in the stone casting manufacturing process and is becoming one of the prime movers in the stone casting industry. Apart from Cogon, Barangays Bagalnga and Buluang are also considered light industrial areas. With Cebuano legislators’ efforts to declare the whole Cebu as economic zone, a fully booming Compostela teeming with workplaces is not far off considering its short distance from the airport and seaports.
Compostela has several awe-inspiring secrets that remain untapped, such as the caves in Canamucan, the small lakes in Barangays Tag-ubi and Panangban, and the Tapul Falls in Barangays Tag-ubi, Pandong Bato Falls in Barangay Dapdap and Busong-busong Falls in Barangay Panangban. The beaches in Compostela, meanwhile, face the sunrise at the waters of Camotes Sea, being situated at the northeastern coast of Cebu island. Although it has changed its name several times, the Democrito Mendoza family-owned resort in Stakili or Barangay Estaca would come to mind if one speaks of a Compostela resort. Originally named the Stakili Beach Resort, this relaxing yet affordable facility has since been a popular landmark in Compostela.
Other new players have joined the list of local resorts in recent years. The Boardwalk Resort and the Green Lagoon are only two of the various beach facilities where people could spend their leisure time. The Boardwalk is located right in the middle of the town, in Poblacion. This has become a favorite for couples, families and even corporate activities as it contains multi-level cottages, a badminton court and a conference room. The Boardwalk offers relaxation at its poolside, which has a scenic view of the Camotes Sea. Green Lagoon, meanwhile, is fast becoming popular because of its wide area in Sitio Guimbal, Barangay Canamucan that spells inexpensive fun. People flock to Green Lagoon for its affordable facilities that include a volleyball court, swimming pool and nice rooms which some describe as having a “nostalgic” view of the seawaters. Several other resorts are spread in the rest of Compostela’s barangays.
Compostela is a mirror image of a town in Spain with a similar name. But it is not only the name of Compostela, Cebu that was patterned after the town of Compostela in Spain. The two towns have Santiago or St. James the Apostle as patron saint, they both have July 25 as annual fiesta, and both churches are pilgrim sites, from which plenary indulgence is granted for those who meet certain requirements.