P. Cabatingan St., Compostela, Cebu
It is the street that intersects to the National Road and to the other end the Macario Arias St. It is the road parallel to F. Murillos St. in Compostela town, Cebu.
It is named in honor of PABLO SASO CABATINGAN SR, who was born on January 15, 1889 in Compostela. Pablo Sr. was the son of spouses Eugenio Cabatingan and Olympia Saso. Pablo was the Vice Mayor of Mayor Hilario A. Kanen who in the elections of 1926 announced to support his secretary, Sebastian Perales, to replace him as mayor. Aside from Mayor Kanen, Perales was supported by Don Sergio Osmeña who was Speaker of the National Assembly and Arsenio Climaco, the incumbent Governor of Cebu at that time.
Pablo Sr. was persuaded by Don Mariano Jesus Cuenco (who later became governor of Cebu in 1931) to run for mayor of Compostela with Eusebio Velasco as his vice mayor. Cabatingan and Velasco won in that election and served until 1935. It was during their term that the municipal hall was constructed.
Pablo Sr. married twice, first to Trinidad Sanchez and they had the following children: Porferia, Justina, Francisco, Arlenda. His second wife was Cipriana Perales, and they had the following children: Santiaga, Teofilo, Sadisita, Pablo Jr., Mario, Olympia and Eugenia.
Mayor Pablo S. Cabatingan Sr. was succeeded by his vice mayor Eusebio K. Velasco, the latter was succeeded by Gervasio Wagas. The son of Mayor Gervasio Wagas, Ranulfo became the vice mayor of Mayor Democrito M. Reynes who was elected mayor in 1959. Mayor Reynes died in 1978 and Ranulfo Wagas succeeded the former as Mayor of Compostela. Ranulfo Wagas vice mayor was Castro Bernade. Another Wagas by the name of Ritchie was also elected Mayor of Compostela. A member of the Wagas Clan, Niel Edwin Wagas continue to educate and preserve Compostela's great history with his writings.
Compostela was then a Barrio of Danao, later also as Barrio of Liloan and on January 17, 1919 thru the efforts of Speaker Sergio Suico Osmeña Sr. officially became a municipality.
The first appointed town officials of Compostela were Hilario Kanen as President, Juan Velasco as vice president, as councilors: Luis Yungco, Antonio Yungco, Valentin San Mateo, Juan Rosal, Rufino Acaso, Segundo Gesulga, Gregorio Canen and Mariano Castro.
A member of the Cabatingan Clan was elected mayor of Compostela in 2001, James Cabatingan, his vice mayor was Antonio Dangoy who also later became mayor. Francisco S. Cabatingan was appointed mayor of Compostela. Other great men of Compostela who served as its Chief Executive were Pedro V. Canen and Antonio K. Alfonso.
Compostela had its share as war theatre during the World War II. It was called "Battle of Guila-Guila" which happened on March 1943. The Japanese Imperial Army was ambushed by the forces led by Major Fabian Sanchez (later promoted to Colonel) of Cebu's guerilla forces. Fallen heroes of the war, among many others were Lt. Agapito Admana and Amado Castro. The Cebuano warriors inflicted heavy casualties to the foreign invaders. The Japanese retaliated by brutally killing hundreds of civilians along the national road from Barrio Magay to the Poblacion. The Legendary War Hero Col. Manuel F. Segura (Intelligence Officer of Col. James Cushing of the Cebu Area Command) to remind us of the courage and sacrifice of the people of Compostela has written in his book "Tabunan" the details of the battle.
In 1965, the following were the town's councilors: Aquilino Vergara, Feliciano Lupo, Leoncio Bucabuca, Prisco Saso, Felix L. Valencia and Marcelino Perales. The municipal secretary was Jose Cagaang, Felicisimo Arias was its Chief of Police, Dr. Honesto Gonzales was its health officer and Judge Elena R. Causin as municipal judge.
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