Kota Park in Madridejos is a
destination that you shouldn’t miss when you are in the island of the “living
paradise” Bantayan Island in the Northern part of Cebu. It is just a simple
park yet marks the history and the humble beginnings of native Bantayanons.
Kota Park was built sometime in 1880’s.
It was a Spanish fort that serves as watch tower of the natives in protecting
themselves from the Moro Pirates during the Spanish era. After the Spanish times
Kota Park became public cemetery where the departed love ones of the native
Bantayanons were buried.
Since 1950’s it has been
rehabilitated and converted into a beach
resort that allows everybody to see the nice view of the Visayan open sea and
the beautiful sun set panorama.
Inside
the park is a concrete footbridge that connects to a floating balcony which
enables visitor to under watch the different types of sea creatures. The bridge has a 187 meters length which was historically
built in a period of 40 days and 40 nights. The construction of the bridge has been very significant for it was part of the natives sacrifice during that times.
Historically, Lawis is the old
name of Madridejos. It was founded by a certain Loreto Mangubat, the very first
person who decidedly settled in the island. He was believed to be the direct
descendant of Lapu-lapu, a native Cebuano hero who kills the Fortugees explorer
Ferdinand Magellan in the battle of Mactan.
Lawis was founded in the middle
of 16th century and became the very first organized settlement in
Bantayan Island. Along with the founding of Lawis is also the establishment of
Kota or Fort in Spanish as it serves as the watch tower in the area.
It
was in 1917 when Lawis became a town and was changed its name into Madridejos
in honor of Benito Romero de Madridejos the archbishop then of Cebu. Madridejos
is the third municipality in Bantayan island other than Sta. Fe and the
Municipality of Bantayan.
How to get there?
From Cebu City, it will take you 3-4 hours travel by public bus or approximately 3 hours drive in private car going to Hagnaya port in San Remegio, northern Cebu. From Hagnaya port, need to travel thru ferry at about 1 and 1/2 hours going to Sta. Fe in Bantayan island. From Sta. Fe another 30 minutes ride going to municipality of Madridejos where Kota Park is located.
