Do you know that the coconut tree is one of the most beautiful trees in the world? Its stem is pole-like, and stands straight with placid confidence. Its leaves resemble a magnificent crown, plum-like, glossy and thick-cuticled. It produces fruits in the axil found at the base of the crown. From root to fruit, from flowers to stem, the coconut tree finds no competition to a man's world. No wonder, it is bestowed the designation of the "Tree of Life".

      The coconut tree is called the "Tree of Life" because of the many products and by products derived from all its component parts --- from roots to fruits, from flowers to stem. It is considered a major dollar-earner and it is a source of livelihood to one third of the country's population. Here are the parts of the Coconut Tree:

1. The Trunk --- The hard and durable characteristics of the coconut trunk makes it a good construction material, for making benches, tables, carvings, tool boxes, and executive tables. A pulp could also be extracted from the woody part for making paper. The roots are used for making beverages (rootbeer), medicine and dye stuff.
2. The Leaves --- The leaves of the coconut tree are also used for paper making, brooms, hats, mats, trays, baskets, fans, wall decors, lamp shades, placemats, bags and utility materials.
3. The Pith --- The pith, also known as the heart or core of the coconut tree, is used for different delicacies such as coco pickles and the popular lumpiang ubod.
   
4. The Inflorescence --- Have you heard of an alcoholic drink called lambanog? It is fermented from the inflorescence of the coconut tree. Aside from the alcoholic drink, the fermented tuba or toddy is also used as fresh beverage, for the production of vinegar and sugar, and as a source of yeast for bread making. It is also used for making candy trays, Christmas and wall decors.
5. Coconut Husk --- The coconut husk is made of 10% bristle fiber, 20% mattress, 70% coir dust or wastes. The fiber is utilized for making brushes, doormats, carpets, bags, ropes, yarn fishing nets, mattresses and other similar products. The coir fiber is utilized as substitute for jute in making bags for rice, copra, sugar, coffee and sandbags. It is also used for making paper. Dust or coir fiber is very good for manufacturing wall board because it does not need any binding material because lignin (cementing material) is present. It is also termite-proof because of the presence of creosote (brownish oil liquid used as wood preservative). The wall board produced resembles that of Narra or Masonite in quality.
6. Meat --- The coco meat  is used for many preparations such as coco flour, dessicated coconut, coconut milk, coconut chips, candies, copra, and animal feeds. The coco milk, extracted from the grated meat, is a very good source of protein. A whole coco milk contains approximately 22% oil which accounts for its laxative (cleansing) property.
7. Water --- Coco water is utilized in making vinegar, wine and nata de coco. It is also used as growth factor and substitute for dextrose. Have you heard of the term "Bukolysis"? It is a medical process used in reducing or dissolving urinary stone that may develop in the urinary tract system, utilizing buko water from a seven-to nine month-old coconut. This medical process was developed by Dr. Eufemio Macalalag,Jr., a eurologist. According to experts, water from one mature coconut drank daily prevents the formation of stones in the urinary tract. It has also been proven to be an inexpensive and effective cure for people who already have the illness. Buko water is now commercially prepared and sold as thirst quencher and hunger satisfier.
8. Buko --- Buko, or the young coconut, is classified into three according to consistency: a) like boiled rice; b) like a mucus and ready to eat; and c) like leather. The "like boiled rice" is used for salad and pie preparations, while the "like leather" is used for making sweets and special dishes.
9. Coco Oil --- Coconut oil is the most readily digested of all fats of general use. It provides 9,500 calories of energy per kilogram. It retards aging, easy to digest and counteracts heart, colon, pancreatic and liver tumor inducers. It is also used for making soap, lard, coco chemicals, crude oil, pomade, shampoo, margarine, butter and cooking oil.
10. Shell --- Coco shells are widely used for making profitable and functional items for cottage industries. These are shell necklaces, shell bags, cigarette boxes, shell ladles, buttons, lamp shades, fruit and ash trays, guitars, placemats, coffee pots, cups, windchimes, "coco banks", briquetted charcoal and activated carbon. Activated carbon, which is produced from its charcoal, is useful in air purification systems such as cooker hoods, air conditioning and many other similar systems.