CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, Misamis Oriental (PIA) – The versatility of the coconut through a showcase of various food and non-food products and by-products will highlight the celebration of the 25th National Coconut Week and 10th National Coconut Festival from August 25 to 28, this year.

This was disclosed by Region 10 office of the Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA-10) Manager Luis G. Cruz.

He said the showcase will be conducted by traders nationwide at the trade fair and exhibit at the Mega Trade Hall I, Building B, SM Megamall in Mandaluyong City.

Cruz said PCA will spearhead the celebration which will pay tribute to the coconut as the “Tree of Life” as mandated by Presidential Proclamation No. 142 signed by former President Corazon C. Aquino in 1987.

He said this is in partnership with the private sector, government agencies, and the PCA-Employees Multi-Purpose Cooperative (PCA-EMPC).

Cruz said the celebration will provide a venue for information sharing, trading, and market matching activities which will promote business opportunities from the coconut to attest that indeed coconut is the “Tree of Life.”

He said among the activities of the celebration include free lectures on the latest coconut technology and product updates, photo contests, fashion shows, coco fun run, cooking contest and demonstrations.

Meanwhile, the Web site Wikipedia said the coconut palm, Cocos nucifera, is a member of the family Arecaceae or palm family.

Wikipedia said it is the only accepted species in the genus Cocos.

The term coconut can refer to the entire coconut palm, the seed, or the fruit, which is not a botanical nut.

Found across much of the tropics, the coconut is known for its great versatility as seen in the many domestic, commercial, and industrial uses of its different parts, it added.

The oil and milk derived from coconut are commonly used in cooking and frying, and coconut oil is also widely used in soaps and cosmetics.

While the clear liquid coconut water within is a refreshing drink and can be processed to create alcohol.

The husks and leaves can be used as material to make a variety of products for furnishing and decorating. It also has cultural and religious significance in many societies that use it.

Wikipedia also said that botanically, the coconut fruit is a drupe, not a true nut.

In the Philippines, rice is wrapped in coconut leaves for cooking and subsequent storage, these packets are called “puso.”

Coconut milk, known as gata, and grated coconut flakes are used in the preparation of dishes like laing, ginataan, bibingka, ube halaya, pitsi-pitsi, palitaw, buko pie and more.