Think You Know Coconut? Discover 5 Ideas That May Surprise You

From Gen Z innovation to zero-waste businesses, Filipino coco-preneurs are taking coconut somewhere new.

A coconut may be familiar, but what Filipino entrepreneurs are doing with it is anything but. A college feasibility study has become a Gen Z-run coconut milk business. Surplus coconut shells are being transformed into handcrafted bags while helping provide livelihood to more than 100 workers. And one entrepreneur has developed around 40 products by finding new uses for virtually every part of the coconut.

Around 300 Filipino coco-preneurs are transforming the country’s “tree of life” into fresh ideas, innovative products, and businesses ready to grow.

These are among the ideas and founder stories waiting to be discovered at the DTI-Bagong Pilipinas COCONUTPhilippines Trade Fair 2026, now underway at SMX Convention Center Manila until August 30.

“Over the next five days, we bring our coco-preneurs, our buyers, shoppers and partners together under one roof here in SMX as we celebrate National Coconut Week,” said DTI Assistant Secretary Nylah Rizza Bautista during the opening ceremony. 

Araneta City serves up weekday dining deals with Lunch Festival

Lunch breaks get more exciting at the City of Firsts with the launch of the Araneta City Lunch Festival, a city-wide dining treat that brings more than 60 restaurants to offer specially curated lunch set menus starting at just Php399.

Starting September 1, the Lunch Festival is available Mondays to Fridays, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., giving office workers, students, residents, shoppers, and commuters more reasons to enjoy a satisfying midday meal at Araneta City.

For as low as Php399, diners can enjoy a complete lunch set that includes an appetizer and a main course from top restaurants across Araneta City's malls. Participating establishments include a diverse mix of well-known food brands, along with Le Bistro at ibis Styles Manila Araneta City and food concepts at World Kitchens, all offering a wide range of flavors and dining experiences in one destination. This offer is exclusive to dine-in guests.

Jollibee Group Foundation and UPLB Partner to Strengthen Support for Farmer Leaders

A key focus of the partnership is the continued development of JGF’s Agri-Tech Facilitators Program, which brings together farmer leaders and community-based agricultural extension workers who help fellow farmers identify, test, understand, and adopt technologies and farming practices that are relevant to their local conditions.

Jollibee Group Foundation (JGF) and the University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB) have formalized a partnership to combine their expertise in research, innovation, and agricultural development in support of smallholder farmers.

Through a Memorandum of Understanding, the two institutions will collaborate on farmer training, knowledge sharing, technology transfer, and capacity-building initiatives that aim to help farmers improve productivity, strengthen their enterprises, and adopt more sustainable farming practices.