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



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