Coconut Palace facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Coconut Palace |
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Tahanang Pilipino
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The Coconut Palace
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| General information | |
| Architectural style | Filipino vernacular architecture |
| Address | F. Ma. Guerrero Street |
| Town or city | Manila |
| Country | Philippines |
| Coordinates | 14°33′19″N 120°58′48″E / 14.55522°N 120.980013°E |
| Completed | 1978 |
| Renovated | 2010 |
| Design and construction | |
| Architect | Francisco Mañosa |
The Coconut Palace, also known as Tahanang Pilipino (meaning Filipino Home), is a special government building. It is located in the Cultural Center of the Philippines Complex in Manila, Philippines. For a time, it was the official home and office of the Vice President of the Philippines.
The palace was built in 1978. It was ordered by the First Lady, Imelda Marcos. She wanted it to be a guesthouse for important visitors. In 1981, it was offered to Pope John Paul II during his visit. However, the Pope chose not to stay there. He felt it was too fancy given the poverty in the Philippines.
The Coconut Palace cost about ₱37 million to build. Part of the money came from a fund meant to help coconut farmers. The building is now owned by the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS).
Contents
About the Coconut Palace
The Coconut Palace is a unique building. It celebrates the coconut, which is often called the "Tree of Life" in the Philippines. Every part of the coconut tree, from its roots to its fruit, is used in the palace's design.
Building Materials and Design
The palace is made from many types of Philippine hardwood. It also uses coconut shells and a special kind of coconut wood. This wood is sometimes called Imelda Madera.
The building itself is shaped like an octagon. This shape is like a coconut before it is served. The roof looks like a traditional Filipino salakot, which is a wide hat. Inside, you can see amazing features. There is a huge chandelier made from 101 coconut shells. The dining table is also special, made from 40,000 tiny pieces of inlaid coconut shells.
Each of the seven guest rooms on the second floor is named after a different region or province in the Philippines. These rooms show off handicrafts from those areas.
Famous Visitors and TV Shows
The Coconut Palace has hosted many important guests. These include the former Libyan leader Muammar al-Gaddafi, and actors Brooke Shields and George Hamilton.
The palace has also been featured on television. It was a "Pit Stop" on the reality show The Amazing Race 5. Contestants visited the palace when they were in Manila. It was also used as a filming location for the TV series Tanging Yaman. In the show, it pretended to be the official residence of the First Family.
Official Residence of the Vice President
The Coconut Palace went through big renovations in 2010. This was because it was being considered as the official office and home for the Vice President of the Philippines. On February 11, 2011, it was officially given to Vice President Jejomar Binay. He signed a lease agreement with the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS). The monthly rent was ₱400,000.
The Coconut Palace is now being considered as the permanent home and office for future Philippine vice presidents, including Vice President Sara Duterte.
Guest Rooms
The palace has seven special guest rooms. Each room is named after a Philippine province:
- Zamboanga Room: This was said to be George Hamilton's favorite room.
- Pampanga Room: This room displays art from Pampanga. It includes statues made from lahar, which is volcanic mud from Mount Pinatubo.
- Marawi Room: This room shows off Muslim art and culture from Mindanao.
- Bicol Room: This was Imelda Marcos' favorite room.
- Mountain Province Room: This room contains many tribal artifacts from the Cordillera mountains.
- Iloilo Room
- Pangasinan Room: This was Ferdinand Marcos' room.
See also
In Spanish: Palacio del Coco para niños
