Monday, March 17, 2008

Finally Shop/Resto for Coco Lovers

By Cory Quirino
Philippine Daily InquirerFirst Posted 20:38:00 03/17/2008

MANILA, Philippines—There was a time when all one needed to do was to walk in a garden and pick an herb or harvest vegetables. Today, cheaper and mass-produced foods have flooded the market.

Beware

It's called convenience foods. They are processed, tasty and filling. Stop for a moment. Many if not most of these foods contain hydrogenated oils. Polished rice is grown with chemical fertilizers. Certain softdrinks and beverages are loaded with refined sugars and chemicals.

The patient is out

Because of the alarming rate of increase in the incidence of cancer, diabetes and heart disease, the medical community is looking into the more serious role that lifestyle plays in the health of an individual. Just the word patient alone already connotes illness. So, let's not get into the mindset of becoming a patient. It's time to try a gentle, yet natural way to better health.

Natural life

It's all about embracing what Mother Nature continues to give us—a beautiful harvest of goodness from the earth. And the best gift is the coconut.

A dietary staple in the tropics, the coconut or buko is local fare. Because it grows in abundance in the Philippines, many Filipinos ignore its wondrous benefits. Before World War II, lifestyle diseases that plagued the Western World were unheard of in this country. Then, the native diet included the use of coconut oil and other coconut ingredients. Sadly, this traditional way of living is dying except for certain regions like Bicol.

The coconut as staple food is fast losing its popular place on the dining table.

With the entry of the Western diet/foods that have saturated the market, a host of diseases have cropped up.

The coconut contains MCT's—medium chain triglycerides which burn up quickly in the body. It promotes energy and weight loss because it is transported directly to the liver where it is converted into energy. It increases the rate at which the body burns fat, thus earning its nickname—diet oil.

As an antibacterial/fungal/microbial, there have been testimonials by patients with herpes (who have not had a breakout for one year after taking three to five tablespoons daily in the morning on an empty stomach).

Obesity (a lady lost 10 lbs in six weeks by consuming three tablespoons daily mixed with her oatmeal).

Diabetes (a man's blood sugar stabilized after taking three tablespoons for three weeks).
Depression (a patient's mood levels improved via two tablespoons daily mixed with juice within one week).

Coconut house

Finally, a home for coconut producers/traders and coco lovers. The Coconut House is found in Xavierville Village along Esteban Abada Street. Organized by COVCOP (Cooperative of Philippine Organic Virgin Coconut Oil and Allied Products Manufacturers and Traders), the showroom/shop and resto serves every imaginable coconut product—cosmetics, fashion accessories and food items with VCO as the star of the store. Good news for diabetics. If white sugar rates 100 percent on the glycemic index, coco sugar is only 35 percent. Thus, it is safe for those with diabetes.

At the resto can be found an ice cream bar whose main attractions are the popular smoother than silk coconut ice cream in ube, corn and regular flavors as well as the skimmed coco milk whose light nutty flavor is undeniably refreshing. It is the best non-daily milk in the world. You may want to try pancit buko and buko-okoy, its bestsellers. Call 4893166.

Skin luster

Left-over grated coconut meat can be scrubbed all over the face and body for a smoother, softer skin. Try it!

Holy Week fast

If you want a healthy energizing fasting regimen, take one glass coconut water every hour alternating with purified water. At day's end, drink three tablespoons of VCO.

Affirmation

"I am one with the heart of heaven."

Love and light!

Monday, March 3, 2008

Have a Coco-filled Happy Life: Try Coconut House

The Coconut House Smiles: The Cook, The Cashier, Philip the Coconuter, Nanette the Pastrywoman, Dan the Chef, Dakila the Manager, and Bernie Aquino the Partner-Owner.

Father Archie Casey of the Xaverian Missionaries and Rodne Galicha of Sibuyan ISLE were just on their usual walk going home from a meeting at the PhilDHRRA office in Loyola Heights when suddenly a woman approached them. After moments of reminding each others' names, she invited us to a newly renovated house (Fr. Archie and Rodne actually noticed the renovation since last year).

Fr. Archie and Ms. Bernie chatting over bottles of Buko Juice after eating a plate of Pansit Buko


The woman was Ms. Bernie Aquino, a former political detainee, wife of the slain Aglipayan priest Fr. Jerry Aquino, a program assistant at Peace for Life, an international interfaith organization, and one of the people behind the establishment of the Bantayog ng mga Bayani Museum.

Ms. Bernadette 'Bernie' T. Aquino

Bernie is now engaged in business. The house is what she calls now as the 'Coconut House'. This coconut house business is not just a usual business for a usual businessman who wants to make money and live a better life out of it. In contrast, such is a business that shall make the lives of those who make a living out of coconuts: the indigenous and the rural peoples.

The Coco Store of COVCOP inside the Coconut House

The establishment aims to promote the primary indigenous industry the Philippines has: the coconut industry. Coconut House is a two storey multi-purpose establishment. It has a store (ground floor) with varieties of coconut products: from virgin coconut oils, lipsticks made with organic coconut elements, deodorant, coconut vodkas, soaps, non-dairy cream/milk, coconut sugar, and decors made of coconut, among others.

A warm smile from Philip the Coconuter.

It has also a restaurant with a menu of coco recipes. The second floor is where the office and multi-purpose hall are located.

The Coconut House shall be the future haven of lovers.

Coconut House opened its doors last March 1, 2008 with TV celebrity Cory Quirino. Ms. Bernie says that the establishment is open to everyone especially those who still believe that the Philippines can still make a difference out of our coconut industry.

The intriguing coconut lipstick.

Special events can be accommodated such as press conferences, symposia, fora, book launchings, mini-concerts, and parties, among others. The multi-purpose hall can accommodate 30-40 people. The whole second floor can accommodate even a hundred people. The ground floor where the store and restaurant are located can fit in 50-60 people.

Go organic: eat nutritious coco food at the Coco Restaurant.

Indeed, when someone visits Coconut House, he or she will truly realize why we call coconut as the 'Tree of Life'. It is located at the corner of Esteban Abada Sreet and Xavierville Avenue in Loyola Heights, Quezon City, a street away from Ateneo de Manila University and Miriam College. It is owned by the Castillo and Aquino families.

The cozy Coconut House. The next civil society's rendezvous.

For details, please visit or call Bernie Aquino or Dakila Aquino:









Coconut House

27 Esteban Abada St. corner Xavierville Avenue,
Brgy. Loyola Heights, Quezon City
Telephone No. 489-3166
Cell Nos. 0918-9429691 or 0922-5043294

E-mail us your Coco Experience (you may include pictures) and we will post your comments on this blog. You may send them to bernie_aquino1@yahoo.com and kalikasan101@gmail.com