Now…health and beauty from the coco

There are tales told of the mythical land of "Lemuria" (a pacific counterpart of Atlantis, perhaps?) which corresponds roughly to the archipelago geography of - you guessed it - the Philippine islands. And there grew in this botanical Eden, the Tree of Life. Is there a resonant chord that this Tree of Life just might be our very own coconut tree?

Many tales have also been told of the coconut tree. Its fruit and water as food and drink; its wood and leaves as shelter. It's almost a movie inside-joke that the classic castaway on a south sea isle is saved by discovering the fruit-nut and he soon fashions a passable domicile from the palm fronds and fallen tree trunks. Fast forward to the millennium and the coconut has truly come into its own. It has just survived the bad-fatty-acid vegetable oils wars and respected scientists and researchers like Bruce Fife, N.D. and Dr. Conrado Dayrit have finally brought to the forefront the super healthy attributes of lauric acid. Everyone is raving about VIRGIN COCONUT OIL and producers are scrambling (great for our tens of thousands of poor coco farmers) to meet the demand for everything from the health drink supplement, hair and body treatments, shampoos and massage lotions.

Yes, folks, good-smelling VCO - healthy, lugubrious applications for anything you desire, compliments of today's technological advances in processing quality products for a healthy lifestyle. Then comes an enterprising lady from Cavite who raises the bar still higher. What about VCO for health and beauty, too? Banking on her long experience at the National Science Development Board (now DOST) for fifteen years and business successes in agriculture and real estate, Cecille V. Romera has enriched the highest quality VCO with essential oil blends from Paris, France, and has given us a luxurious line of scented oils, lotions and potions and soaps to pamper and awaken our sensual fantasies.

Yes, the Tree of Life has made good its promise from the lowly copra and oleochemicals of yore to a Miracle Fruit to be enjoyed by the whole world, but especially by our own domestic consumers. Its potential for healing as an enhancer of the immune system and powers as an anti-oxidant are already known to us. Researchers claim it is a powerful force against a whole host of degenerative diseases.

So, Cecille's launching recently at the Philippine Plaza hotel on Roxas Boulevard was truly icing on the cake. Very delicious and invigorating icing, mind you! Many dignitaries, patrons of society and enthusiasts were on hand for a first taste. After all, VCO is good for all and Cecille's specialties will be available for the foreign and domestic market. Scents of rose, lavender, lime and magnolia…life never smelled or felt do good! Thanks to the coconut, our miracle fruit.