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Philippines

National Coconut Week

National Coconut Week is a celebration of coconut, a crop that is called the tree of life, in the Philippines from August 24 to 30 every year.

The Philippines is one of the world’s major producers of coconut and its derived products, coming in at second place next to Indonesia. It sent 70% of its output overseas, providing about 3.6% gross-value added to agriculture of the country. Coconut is also regarded part of the list of important crops that included banana, corn, and rice according to FFTC in 2019.

Its export generates over a billion dollars in revenue annually according to Philippine Coconut Authority in 2019 and the industry employed 3.5 million farmers. A quarter of the agricultural land in the country is dedicated to its cultivation. The top producing areas are the Davao region, Zamboanga peninsula, and Northern Mindanao.

Coconut industry in the Philippines

Farming of coconut (cocos nucifera) began in the basins of the Pacific (Indonesia and Malaysia) and the Indian ocean (Sri Lanka and Maldives). The Pacific variety was thought to have been brought along with the migration of Austronesians thousands of years ago.

In the age of exploration, the Portuguese brought the crop from the Indian basin to the Africa’s west coast while the Spaniards did the same for the Pacific variety to Mexico in the Manila-Alcapulco trading route.

During Spanish colonial era, each chieftain was required to plant two hundred coconut trees by the orders of Governor Sebastian Huradto de Corcuera in 1642. The tree thus was not only found in areas along the coastlines but spread towards the interior lands as a result.

The edict was passed down to keep hunger at bay that might fuel uprisings and as precious cargo in trading galleons where its water and meat provide nourishment for sailors. Parts of the tree and its fruit were also used to make fiber ropes and as ships’ caulking materials.

In 1668, Jesuit priest Francisco Ignacio Alzina wrote one of the earliest accounts of coconut cultivation in the country while he was assigned in the Visayas region for over three decades. He noted fruits with water contents of about two liters, one that is commonplace in the present day but could be inferred to have been scarce in his time.

Likewise, he wrote about small islands with coconut trees that grew so plentifully they inhibited the growth of other plants.

By the 18th century, the Spanish colonial government expanded the policy requiring the cultivation of other crops such as cacao and abaca that were products shipped in the galleon trade.

Towards the end of the Spanish rule, the country exported coconut to Europe for the production of soap and margarine, and its exports continued into the years of American occupation when the country supplied the US demand for desiccated coconut.

Post-war years saw the industry expanded to address demand for copra (dried coconut meat) and oil. The government also established agencies for the coconut industry, National Coconut Corporation (through Commonwealth Act No. 518 approved on May 7, 1940) to Philippine Coconut Administration (through Republic Act No. 1145 approved on June 17, 1954). In the 1960s there were multiple government agencies conducting coconut researches.

By the approval of Republic Act No. 4059 on June 18, 1964, Philippine Coconut Research Institute or PHILCORIN was established. In 1971, the Coconut Coordinating Council was established that replaced PHILCORIN through Executive Order No. 334 signed on August 30, 1971.

Finally, the Philippine Coconut Authority was created by virtue of Presidential Decree No. 232 that was signed on June 30, 1973. It is an arm of the Department of Agriculture and the only government agency that works for the development and promotion of the coconut industry.

History of National Coconut Week

The celebration of National Coconut Week started through Proclamation No. 142 that was signed by Corazon Aguino on .

It recognized the importance of the crop to the national economy, acknowledged the contribution of agricultural workers in the industry, and established a means of celebration in the month of August which is the peak season for coconut.

This annual event is spearheaded by the Philippine Coconut Authority.

Its activities include trade fair, exhibits, promotion of coconut products, updates of the industry, investment meetings, conferences, and localized activities. In 2020 to 2022, activities were held virtually due to coronavirus pandemic.

Philippine coconut festivals

Below is the list of coconut festivals in the Philippines.

FestivalLocationDate
Coco FestivalSan Teodoro, Oriental MindoroDecember 8
Coconut FestivalSan Pablo, LagunaSecond week of January
Cocowayan FestivalIsabela City, BasilanApril 25
Hudyaka Sa Lubi FestivalLinamon, Lanao del NorteJanuary 23
Gata FestivalMasalong, Labo, Camarines NorteAugust 10 – August 16
Kalubihan FestivalGuimarasFourth week of August
Kanidugan FestivalOdiongan, RomblonApril
Kuyamis FestivalMisamis OrientalSecond week of January
Lubi FestivalMaria, SiquijorMay
Lubi FestivalGamay, Northern SamarMarch 3
Lubi FestivalLiberty, Palompon, LeyteFourth week of May
Lubi Lubi FestivalCalubian, LeyteAugust 15
Lubi Lubi FestivalBacuag, Surigao Del NorteOctober 8
Lubi Lubi FestivalLas Nieves, Agusan del NorteJune 25
Lubi-Lubi FestivalGingoog City, Misamis OrientalMay 22
Lubi-Lubi FestivalGlan, SarangganiOctober
Magayon FestivalLegaspi City, AlbayMay
Mahaguyog FestivalSto. Tomas, BatangasFebruary 27 – March 7
Makalanyog FestivalLipa, BatangasJanuary 21
Niyog FestivalBaganga, Davao OrientalOctober 26 to 29
Niyog Isdaan FestivalSanta Maria, RomblonSeptember 1 to 13
Niyogan FestivalMagsaysay, Lanao del NorteMay 23
Niyugyogan FestivalQuezonAugust
Padayog FestivalSta. Elena, Camarines NorteJune 21
Palanyog FestivalPalapas, Ligao City, AlbaySecond Saturday of October
Puto Latik FestivalBinan, LagunaFirst week of February
Rahugan FestivalBasud, Camarines NorteOctober 18 – 24
Saginyogan FestivalAlcantara, RomblonMarch 21
Saludan FestivalTigbauan, IloiloMarch / October
Sulyog FestivalBongabong, Oriental MindoroMarch 15
Tikanlu FestivalTagudin, Ilocos SurMay 1 to 5
Tupig FestivalLaoac, PangasinanFebruary 26
Coconut festivals in the Philippines

References

National Coconut Week Summary

NameNational Coconut Week
CelebrationAgriculture, Coconut, Food
Contact289284501
CountryPhilippines
DateAugust 24 to 30
Duration1 week
Emailmrpd.pca@gmail.com
EstablishedAugust 19, 1987
Facebookwww.facebook.com
FounderCorazon Aquino
Instagramwww.instagram.com
OrganizerPhilippine Coconut Authority
Websitepca.gov.ph