San Pablo City, more popularly known as the City of Seven Lakes, is one of the 30 towns of Laguna Province. It lies 88 kilometers south  from Manila, travel time is approximately 2 hours by bus. But apart from its picturesque lakes, my hometown also has its vibrant annual feast called the Coconut Festival. The city hailed its festival from the coconut because it’s one of the main sources of livelihood of the locals. Copra making is a major industry in the city and coconut plantations are almost everywhere. Hence, San Pablo is a great place to have a taste of coconut delicacies such as buko pie, coconut jam and macapuno candies.

Every January 15th, San Pablo City celebrates its fiesta. And being a Filipino, the word fiesta means a big time celebration. It means endless eating, dancing and partying. Every night the streets in the plaza are closed and many tables and chairs are placed on the streets. Stages are built almost in every block where different bands perform. The locals drink and party up until dawn. 

Moreover, days before the fiesta the locals and tourists from neighboring towns gather on the street for the much awaited street dancing competition also known as the Mardi Gras. Students from different schools compete and  groove into the streets on their beautiful and colorful costumes.The Coco Festival is held to celebrate the City Fiesta and to better promote the city and its main produce, the coconut. In celebrating this Festival, you’ll see coconuts everywhere used as decorations, costumes, lanterns, street dancing parts and etc. Offices along the main avenues are decorated with coconut from leaves to barks and even shells and husks. It starts 1 week before the city fiesta which is on the 15th of January each year.

Events and activities for the week are all coconut related but the hightlight of the week long event is the Street Dancing Competition and Float Parade, which is joined by different Schools in different categories (Elementary and High School). Lots of tourists from different countries come every year to witness the beauty of the celebration and to celebrate with us. And one of the main reason why tourists from other Countries came here is to see and to witness the colorful Street Dancing Competition, which truly marks the Festival.

After the long week celebration, it will end up with a traditional fireworks display which is sponsored by the Local Government.

Below are the schedule of events and activities for our Coco Festival 2011 with a theme of : " Piyesta ng Niyog, Makulay, MakaKalikasan, Masagana at Masayang Selebrasyon ng Naiibang Kultura at Talino ng Lahing San Pablenyo".