Known as the Tree of Life, the coconut is a tree which grows abundantly in the Philippines. With a scientific name of cocos nucifera, all of the parts of this tree is serves various purposes. Its fruit, or buko to the Filipinos, is its seed which, when opened, consist of a meat for eating and water for drinking, among other uses. The coconut tree’s products and by-products are highly valued by the Filipinos.
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When is the Coconut Festival in 2016?
The Coconut Festival is on January 15, 2016, a Friday.
The weeklong Coconut Festival is always culminated on the 15th day of January each year.
Origin of the Filipino Festival:
The Philippines is an archipelagic country consisting of 7,101 islands. In general, Filipinos have a happy disposition and celebrates festivals in honour of their patron saint annually. This is a result of the Spanish influence who introduced Christianity to the once pagan country.
This festivity is called a fiesta and, as each locality has its own patron saint, there is always a merry town monthly in the Philippines. Consequently, the country had been known as the Fiestas Islands and the Philippine calendar showing the saint of each day.
History of the Coconut Festival:
The Coconut Festival is also known as the Coco Fest. It is a one week fiesta that culminates on the 15th of January in San Pablo City located in Laguna, Philippines. This event officially started in 1996 honouring the city’s patron, St. Paul, the Hermit. It also is a thanksgiving jubilee for the main crop of the locality, the coconut.
The Coconut Festival had been awarded the Best Tourism Event for Festival category in the city level for three consecutive years, 2010 until 2012. This was given by the Association of Tourism officers Of the Philippines (ATOP) and the Department of Tourism (DOT). Due to this, San Pablo City became a tourist destination in the Philippines.
The Coconut Festival celebration:
Common to all Filipino fiestas, the festivities start with a parade of the statue of the patron saint in the main streets of the city. It is followed by competing floats and participants of the street dancing coming from the elementary, secondary and college schools. Nightly programs are held until the final evening when the Mutya (Queen) and Lakan (King) of San Pablo is chosen.
The announcement of the winners for the Best in Street Dancing in each category marks the climax of the year’s fiesta. Special awards are also given for the Best in Costume, Choreography, Float and sports competitions during the week. The guests of honour for the final evening event usually consist of politicians in the region.
When is the Coconut Festival in 2017?
The Coconut Festival is on January 15, 2017, a Thursday.