Coconut Palace

Get Shareaholic

Hollywood actors Brooke Shields and George Hamilton are among the many guests who have stayed in the Coconut Palace or Tahanang Pilipino (Filipino Home), a palace originally built for Pope John Paul II’s 1981 visit. Although the pope declined to stay in the palace given the country’s poverty, it is considered as one of the crown jewels of Manila. The palace was also featured on the fifth season of the Amazing Race.

The Coconut Palace façade (Photo by Paul Shaffner)

Highlights

Commissioned by former First Lady Imelda Marcos, the Php37-million structure was built in 1978 and was designed by national artist and architect Francisco Mañosa, using the various parts of the coconut to celebrate the coconut as a “tree of life” or its versatility and viability for export. The palace’s 101 chandeliers are made of coconut, while its dining table is inlaid with 40,000 pieces of coconut shells.

Apart from coconut, the palace showcases the different native products of the Philippines. Its roof is shaped like the traditional salakot or hat, while each of its suites is designed after a region in the country, with the regions’ traditional handicrafts as decors.

Coconut Palace boasts its world-class interiors (Photo from Google images)

Now a museum, the palace also boasts of an orchidarium and a butterfly garden. Its vast swimming pool and grassed lawn faces the Manila Bay, making it a picturesque venue for parties and weddings.

How to get there

The palace is on Eduardo A. Makabenta Sr. Street, Cultural Center of the Philippines Complex, between Sofitel Philippine Plaza and Folk Arts Theater. Any taxi (flag down rate: Php30) from anywhere in Manila can get you there. You may also ride the LRT Line-1 (ticket: Php15), get off in Vito Cruz Station, ask where orange jeepneys are, and ride one going to CCP Complex (Php7, one way). Ask the driver to drop you off in the palace. If you have a car, you might be allowed to enter the palace and park inside the compound or will be asked to park anywhere in the spacious parking space in front the palace.

To get out, wait for a taxi or for an orange jeepney to travel en route the palace from Sofitel.

Fees and opening hours

The palace is supposedly open from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Tuesday to Sunday, but go there before 4 p.m. as the guards sometimes no longer allow guests to enter beyond 4 p.m. Guests may use the facilities but are not allowed to stay overnight. The entrance fee is Php100 per person, tour guide included.

The Coconut Palace at night (Photo by Simon Schoeters)

Warnings

Urban legend has it that many ghosts lurk in the palace. Photography is also strictly forbidden. You might be asked to deposit your camera to the guards or to turn it off and keep it in your bag. Your guide might get fired if you try to break the rules.