‘Buko’ Juice Being Pushed as PHL National Drink

With so many energy drinks, sodas and bottled mineral water in the local market, not one of it can be considered as the country’s national drink.

With this, AGHAM Party-list Rep. Angelo Palmones recommends coconut water or “buko” juice as the national drink for Filipinos.

In House Resolution 1887, Palmones said the Philippines has already a number of national symbols, which include among others, narra as national tree, sampaguita as national flower, mango as national fruit, milkfish as national fish, and lechon as national dish.

“We don’t have yet a national drink,” Palmones said. “Other countries have already named their own national drinks like Japan has sake, Indian has tea, and Vietnam has Mekong whiskey as its national drink.”

Palmones said that 1/3 of the country’s arable agricultural land or 3.4 million hectares is planted to coconut. The Philippines has been reported to be one of the top producers of coconut products in the world. In 2010, the country exported about $1.62 billion worth of coconut products.

Palmones said in his resolution that President Benigno Aquino III in his recent trip to the United States announced that a US company is investing $15 million in the Philippine coconut industry for the production of coconut water.

He said, “There is a growing global demand for coconut water as a health drink. The young coconut water has been dubbed as the ‘liquid of life’ and ‘functional food’ because of its many health benefits.”

He said coconut water is naturally low in carbohydrates and sugar and almost fat free. It contains organic compounds reported to help keep proper body temperature, raise body metabolism, boost the immune system, cleanse the digestive tract, promote weight loss, and help reduce wrinkles and sagging skin. In addition, research has shown that coconut water increases good cholesterol by 46.2 percent, reduces liver cholesterol by 26.3 percent, and decreases the risk of hardening of the arteries by 41.1 percent.

Continue reading at Business Mirror

Tagged AGHAM Party-list, Angelo Palmones, coconut water, ‘Buko’ Juice