Tree of life

"The two basic items necessary to sustain life
are sunshine and coconut milk."

~Dustin Hoffman, American actor

In the Philippines, the coconut tree (Cocos nucifera) is considered the tree of life. Sustenance and shelter are just the most basic needs that coconut trees can provide. The list of useful products and by-products that come from every part of coconut trees, though not endless, is very long. In fact, we have a government agency under the Department of Agriculture that focuses solely on the coconut industry: the Philippine Coconut Authority.

This is artist Impy Pilapil's tribute to the Philippine "Tree of Life." It is made of metal and glass, and stands in the atrium of the Eugenio Lopez Center in Antipolo City.