The Coconut Festival is a week-long celebration in San Pablo, Laguna, Philippines, in honor of their patron Saint Paul the Hermit. It is held every first to second week of January. It is a celebration started in 1996. The festival consists of Street dancing, float parade, street concerts, nightly programs before the city fiesta and some other important events like the yearly "Mutya at Lakan ng San Pablo".

San Pablo City's Coconut Festival also known as Coco Fest gives more colors to the city fiesta which is held every 15 January. It attracts people nearby towns and foreigners as well as local and national media. This boosts the culture and traditions of San Pablenos. The festival also earned citation from the Association of tourism Officers of the Philippines (ATOP) and the Department of Tourism (DOT) as the best tourism Event for Festival Category City Level for Calendar Year 2010-2011-2012-2013 (PIA) which placed San Pablo City, a tourist destination.

The city's "Coconut Festival" garnered 2013's "Pearl Award" as Hall of Famer during the 14th National Convention of the Department of Tourism (DOT)–Association of Tourism Officers of the Philippines (ATOP) held in Legazpi City, Albay.[1]

Street Dancing

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The Coconut Festival Street Dancing is a competition among schools within San Pablo City. The competition is divided in three divisions: Elementary, Secondary and the College Divisions. During the early festivals, costumes were 90% made from coconut trees. But later on, it was decided that costumes may not be much from coconut. Also, music used in the early festivals is different. It is more on a tribal beat. Some of the used music/songs in the street dancing were: "Follow the Leader" in 1998; "Da Coconut Nut" in 2000-2002 and some remix songs on 2003–2008. But in 2009 and until now, San Pablo City Coconut Festival street dancing is using "Mabuhay ang San Pablo" (Long live the city) song and its remix versions.

Street Dancing Winners

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Street Dancing Results
2024 1st 2nd 3rd
Elementary Level Fule Almeda District Dapdapan District Lakeside District
Secondary Level San Pablo City Integrated High School Col. Lauro Dizon Memorial Integrated High School San Jose Integrated High School
College Level
2020 1st 2nd 3rd
Elementary Level Lakeside District Santo Angel District Del Remedio District
Secondary Level San Pablo City Integrated High School Prudencia D. Fule Memorial National High School Santisimo Rosario National High School
College Level Laguna State Polytechnic University Dalubhasaan ng Lungsod ng San Pablo
2017 1st 2nd 3rd
Elementary Level Dapdapan District Lakeside District Santo Angel District
Secondary Level Santisimo Rosario National High School San Isidro National High School San Jose National High School
College Level Dalubhasaan ng Lunsod ng San Pablo
2016 1st 2nd 3rd
Elementary Level Lakeside District Sto. Angel District Del Remedio District
Secondary Level San Bartolome National High School San Vicente National High School Prudencia Fule Memorial National High School
College Level Laguna State Polytechnic University Dalubhasaan ng Lunsod ng San Pablo Laguna College
2015 1st 2nd 3rd
Elementary Level Lakeside District Dapdapan District Del Remedio District
Secondary Level Santisimo Rosario National High School Col. Lauro D. Dizon Memorial National High School San Jose National High School
College Level Dalubhasaan ng Lunsod ng San Pablo
2014 1st 2nd 3rd
Elementary Level Lakeside District Dapdapan District Canossa College
Secondary Level San Vicente National High School 3 San Pablo City National High School Prudencia Fule Memorial National High School
College Level Dalubhasaan ng Lunsod ng San Pablo Laguna State Polytechnic University San Pablo Colleges
2013 2 1st 2nd 3rd
Elementary Level Lakeside District Sto. Angel District Ambray District
Secondary Level Col. Lauro D. Dizon Memorial National High School Del Remedio National High School Santisimo Rosario National High School
College Level Dalubhasaan ng Lunsod ng San Pablo Not Applicable Not Applicable
2012 1st 2nd 3rd
Elementary Level Dapdapan District San Francisco District Fule Almeda District
Secondary Level San Pablo City National High School San Bartolome National High School San Jose National High School
College Level Dalubhasaan ng Lunsod ng San Pablo San Pablo Colleges Laguna State Polytechnic University
2011 1st 2nd 3rd
Elementary Level Lakeside District Dapdapan District San Francisco District
Secondary Level Laguna College 1 Col. Lauro D. Dizon Memorial National High School St. Joseph School
College Level Laguna State Polytechnic University San Pablo Colleges Dalubhasaan ng Lunsod ng San Pablo
2010 1st 2nd 3rd
Elementary Level Lakeside District Canossa College Sto. Angel District
Secondary Level San Pablo City National High School St. Joseph School Canossa College
College Level Laguna State Polytechnic University San Pablo Colleges Dalubhasaan ng Lunsod ng San Pablo
2009 1st 2nd 3rd
Elementary Level Liceo De San Pablo Lakeside District San Francisco District
Secondary Level Col. Lauro D. Dizon Memorial National High School Liceo De San Pablo
2008 1st 2nd 3rd
College Level San Pablo Colleges Laguna State Polytechnic University Canossa College
2007 1st 2nd 3rd
College Level Canossa College Laguna State Polytechnic University
Secondary Level San Isidro National High School Col. Lauro D. Dizon Memorial National High School
Elementary Level Ambray District
2006 1st 2nd 3rd
College Level Canossa College Laguna State Polytechnic University
2001 1st 2nd 3rd
Secondary Level Canossa College Liceo De San Pablo
2000 1st 2nd 3rd
Secondary Level Laguna College Canossa College San Pablo Colleges
1999 1st 2nd 3rd
Elementary Level Lakeside District
1998 1st 2nd 3rd
Elementary Level Lakeside District
Secondary Level Canossa College Laguna College Col. Lauro D. Dizon Memorial National High School
1997 1st 2nd 3rd
Elementary Level Lakeside District Ambray District
Secondary Level CC Technical Institute Canossa College Col. Lauro D. Dizon Memorial National High School
1996 1st 2nd 3rd
Elementary Level St. Joseph School
Secondary Level Canossa College Laguna College
College Level SPC National School of Arts and Trades Laguna College

- In 2024, there is no College/University Division.

1 - Representative to the 1st La Laguna Festival Street Dancing Competition. Laguna is the province where San Pablo City belongs.
2 - Only one delegation participated in the College/University Division
3 - Invited to perform at the SMX Travel Tour Expo to be held on 14 to 16 February 2014.

Street Dancing Special Awards

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Awards
2024 Best in Costume Best Choreography Liveliest Group
Elementary Level Lakeside District Fule Almeda District Lakeside District
Secondary Level Felix Amante Senior High School San Pablo City Integrated High School San Pablo City Integrated High School
College Level
2020 Best in Costume Best Choreography Liveliest Group
Elementary Level Lakeside District Lakeside District Lakeside District
Secondary Level San Pablo City Integrated High School San Pablo City Integrated High School San Pablo City Integrated High School
College Level Dalubhasaan ng Lunsod ng San Pablo Laguna State Polytechnic University Laguna State Polytechnic University
2017 Best in Costume Best Choreography Liveliest Group
Elementary Level Lakeside District Dapdapan District Santo Angel District
Secondary Level Santisimo Rosario National High School Santisimo Rosario National High School Santisimo Rosario National High School
College Level Dalubhasaan ng Lunsod ng San Pablo Dalubhasaan ng Lunsod ng San Pablo Dalubhasaan ng Lunsod ng San Pablo
2016 Best in Costume Best Choreography Liveliest Group
Elementary Level Lakeside District Del Remedio District Del Remedio District
Secondary Level Prudencia Fule Memorial National High School San Bartolome National High School San Bartolome National High School
College Level Laguna College Dalubhasan ng Lungsod ng San Pablo Dalubhasan ng Lungsod ng San Pablo
2015 Best in Costume Best Choreography Liveliest Group
Elementary Level Lakeside District Dapdapan District Dapdapan District
Secondary Level Col. Lauro E. Dizon National High School Santisimo Rosario National High School Santisimo Rosario National High School
College Level Dalubhasan ng Lungsod ng San Pablo Dalubhasan ng Lungsod ng San Pablo Dalubhasan ng Lungsod ng San Pablo
2014 Best in Costume Best Choreography
Elementary Level Canossa College Dapdapan District
Secondary Level San Vicente National High School San Pablo City National High School
College Level Dalubhasan ng Lungsod ng San Pablo Dalubhasan ng Lungsod ng San Pablo
2013 Best in Costume Best Choreography
Elementary Level Lakeside District Sto. Angel District
Secondary Level Col. Lauro E. Dizon National High School Del Remedio National High School
College Level Not Awarded Not Awarded
2012 Best in Costume Best Choreography
Elementary Level Dapdapan District Dapdapan District
Secondary Level Laguna College San Pablo City National High School
College Level Laguna State Polytechnic University Dalubhasaan ng Lunsod ng San Pablo
2011 Best in Costume Best Choreography
Elementary Level Lakeside District Lakeside District
Secondary Level Laguna College Laguna College
College Level Laguna State Polytechnic University Laguna State Polytechnic University
2010 Best in Costume Best Choreography
Elementary Level Lakeside District Lakeside District
Secondary Level San Pablo City National High School San Pablo City National High School
College Level San Pablo Colleges Laguna State Polytechnic University

- In 2013 and 2017, only one delegate participated in the College/University Division. - In 2024, there is no College/University Division.

Binibining San Pablo

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Placements
2024
Binibining San Pablo 2024 IV-A — Louise Emma Charlotte Dolk
1st Runner-Up San Gabriel — Florianne Jerick Lajara
2nd Runner-Up San Gregorio — Tara Izzy Austria
Major Awards
2024
Best in Talent Florainne Jerick Lajara
Miss Photogenic Florainne Jerick Lajara
Best in Long Gown Florainne Jerick Lajara
Special Awards
2024
PLDT Award Louise Emma Charlotte Dolk
Golden State College Choice Award Louise Emma Charlotte Dolk
Miss Pretty Lashes Florainne Jerick Lajara
Face of Joan Voyage Travel and Tours Maria Elisha Manicad
Beckcare Award Gwyneth Albite

Float Parade

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The street dancing competition is preceded by the float parade. It was first held in 1996. It is also a competition open to local and private sectors including schools and organizations. During the 90's, Coconut Festival float parade was held a day before the street dancing competition. It was a separate event but due to the growing number of events and programs during the long-week festival, organizers joint the float parade and the street dancing competition in a one big spectacular day usually held on 13 January.

Float Winners
Date 1st 2nd 3rd
2016 SM City - San Pablo Scuola dei Bambini di Sta. Teresita Academia de San Ignacio de Loyola
2015 SM City - San Pablo South Lakes Integrated School
2014 SM City - San Pablo Holy Dream Kiddie Learning Center Academia de San Ignacio de Loyola
2013 Scuola dei Bambini di Sta. Teresita SM City - San Pablo Laguna State Polytechnic University
2012 SM City - San Pablo Scuola dei Bambini di Sta. Teresita Ramirez Kiddie Learning Center
2011 Scuola dei Bambini di Sta. Teresita

Coco Art Festival

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diverse range of human activities in creating visual, auditory or performing artifacts (artworks), expressing the author's imaginative or technical skill, intended to be appreciated for their beauty or emotional power.

Coco Carnival Queen

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The Coco Carnival Queen during the Coco Fest also takes the limelight of the festival. The event showcases the creativity of San Pablo by making festive gowns and costumes purely made from the coconut tree. In the early Coco Festivals, this was not a competition. And as time lapses, costumes for the Coco Carnival Queen become bigger, bolder and impressive.

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References

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  1. ^ "San Pablo City stages tourism hall of famer '19th Coconut Festival'". 8 January 2014.