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COCONUT FESTIVAL ON JANUARY 7 – 15, 2008

SAN PABLO CITY - The 13th Coconut Festival and Fair will be held on January 7 – 15, 2008 according to City Administrator Loreto S. Amante, Chairman of the City Coconut Festival Committee. It will feature the Mardi Gras or Street Dancing Contest, an activities which place San Pablo City as a tourist destination under the Programs of the Department of Tourism, and accredited or recognized by the National Historical Institute.

To coincide with the weeklong commemoration of the 412th Anniversary of the Founding of the Parish of Saint Paul, The First Hermit, which is now the seat of the Diocese of San Pablo, Inc., the other activities are the nightly cultural presentation and musical extravaganza, and beer plaza to be sponsored by various commercial corporations, as well as by the Office of the Provincial Governor, Amante reported.

The annual Mardi Gras is consider as the city’s largest public festival participated by students and special groups donned in attire made from parts of coconut tree, that after the street dancing activities, visitors can retire at the beer plaza to join the lively celebration by eating, drinking, and dancing to the tune being played by various bands and musical groups.

Besides overflowing malt beer, San Pablo being referred to before World War II as the “Coconut Queen City of the Philippines,” one could taste scrumptious coconut pies, and shop for coconut-inspired crafts.

Seven Lakes International, a federation of associations of San Pableños in the United States, Canada, and Europe, headed by Canada-based Businessman Leo Cunanan, who will be holding their 6th Biennial Convention in this city, is expected to have their own float and will participate in the Mardi Gras.

According to Vice President Sandy Belarmino of the Seven Lakes Press Corps, chairman of the public relations committee, exhibits and sponsorship of shows and other activities will be open to all, and lock-out sponsorship will not be allowed, since the festival and fair is a revival of the cultural activities prevalent in this city before World War II where every body must be welcome.(RET)

Comments

  1. "Lest We Forget". The creation of Coco Fest was a truly Filipino arts & culture vision of one man; Vergel Cosico. He brought the world's attention to the people of San Pablo, he gave them pride, respect and distinction the San Pablenyos well deserved.Without a doubt the committee members are all hard at work, respected and distinguished organizers,but let's give Vergel a thumbs up, he loved San Pablo like we do with a passion. Cheers, Jed Gallego

    ReplyDelete
  2. Hi Jed,

    Thanks for remembering Vergel Cosico. As a co-founder of the Coco Fest, I am proud to be associated with Vergel. The other co-founders are Sylvia Inciong, Lito Merin, Willy Tan and Raquel Tan.

    Sad to say, some politicians are claiming that they started the Coco Fest. In due time, and with permission from Mr Benny Taningco who manages this website, I will write about how the Cocofest was conceived.

    I congratulate the current and past organizing committees who kept the festival going.

    Past Coco Fests under Vergel's team did not earn any single centavo from managing the event. We all volunteered to keep our city happy.

    I hope that the present committee headed by City Administrator Amben Amante can make this a truly cultural event, not a venture for profit endeavor.

    By the way, there is nothing wrong with earning profits as long as money is plowed back to the festival as reserve fund or as prizes.

    Cheers for Coco Fest 2008.

    Rolly Inciong
    Co-Founder, Coco Fest

    ReplyDelete
  3. Hi Jed,

    Thanks for remembering Vergel Cosico. Your sense of history and gratitude makes you rise above other culturally-minded San Pablenos.

    As co-founder of the San Pablo City Cocofest, I am proud to be associated with Vergel. Our co-founders include Lito Merin, Willy Tan, Sylvia Inciong and Raquel Tan.

    But sad to say, some people have misled our city by claiming that the Cocofest was a brainchild of certain politicians.

    In due time and if Benny Taningco who manages this well-read website permits me, I will write the real history of our Cocofest.

    I congratulate the past and current organizing committees for keeping the festival alive after our group turned over the management of the festival to the City Government.

    I trust that the current chairman, Amben Amante, will focus on the cultural side of the event, rather on crass commercialism.

    Cheers for the Cocofest!

    Rolly Inciong
    Co-Founder, San Pablo City Cocofest
    rollyinciong@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete

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