Introduction: 6 Easy Steps on How to Make a DIY Superbowl Out of Coconut Shells

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About: I am an aspiring writer from the Philippines and it is my dream to publish a book---to bring light to my readers and to inspire many other aspirants through my works. I make crafts and share them here to enhan…

THE COCONUT SHELL: NATURE'S SUPERBOWL

Coconut Palm is a tropical tree that is abundant in our country the Philippines. It grows along beach shores, mountain sides, and residential areas where tree owners can easily harvest its fruits for consumption or for the production of coconut-related goods. The tree is visible in almost every part of our country.

The coconut tree has a wide array of use: the coconut trunk is used in constructing "nipa huts" ---traditional houses that are usually found in rural parts of the country. The coconut leaves are good materials in crafting decorations and their centermost fiber are sticks that can be extracted and bundled together to create raw stick brooms which is a common tool for backyard cleaning. The coconut white and its juice serve as a fragrant condiment for foods and are also used as the main ingredients for the production of palm oil. The shell that holds the fruit is most likely to be thrown after having the coconut white removed but in some parts of the country, they are burned in a fireplace to produce coals.

Unpopular to most Filipinos, the rampant use of coconut shells in our hometown Natonin (with coordinates: 17.1286°N, 121.2855°E), a municipality found in the eastern part of Mountain Province, began since time untraceable. The use of the old-fashioned bowl is influenced by our ancient cultures and traditions that are strongly connected to nature, which up until today, are alive in our veins.

The people are using the coconut shell as an alternative material for commercial bowls on occasions that require massive production of food for a number of people to be served. The coconut bowl which is called "fa'-a" in our native dialect is an indigenous product that serves as a receptacle for food and soup during gatherings like birthdays, weddings, and wake for the dead. It is also excellent in its original function as a cup for "tapuy": a type of wine that is made from fermented rice. "Tapuy" comprises of "epo" and cooked rice mixed together for preservation. The "tapuy" is left covered and kept for a time until the bitter-tasting liquid comes out.

The coconut bowl is rarely recognized as an eating tool in the more civilized regions especially in urban cities because of the changes in people's lifestyle. One would not care remodelling an organic material into a more functional product unless he/she knows the significance of the object to life. To us who grew up witnessing the uses of the coconut bowl in our celebrations, we would value the role it plays in our lives, but it does not mean we are not progressing in culture and in the way we approach life.

Supplies

• A healthy coconut fruit
• Cutting tools (bolo, knife, etc.)
• Pencil
•Sander

Step 1: PARTS OF a COCONUT FRUIT:

Here is an anatomy of the coconut fruit as your guide to understand the terms used in the succeeding paragraphs:

Step 2: PROCEDURES IN MAKING a DIY COCONUT BOWL

1. PICK A COCONUT FRUIT OR BUY FROM THE MARKET

Tip: It is always better to choose a mature fruit because the shell inside the fruit is much harder and it can last longer than the coat of a young fruit.

Step 3:

2. PEEL OFF THE GREEN COVER (EPICARP)

Remove the outer layer and the fiberous husk of the fruit until what is left is the embryo, which consists of the shell, coconut meat, and the juice.

Create a small hole on the upper part of the fruit where you can see the three small, dark circles on top of the fruit. Next, separate the juice in a clean container.

*Note: The coconut juice is good for drinking because it has several health benefits, so do not waste it.

Please read article:
"The Health Benefits of Coconut Water" https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/coconut-water-benefits

Step 4:

3. SHAPE A BOWL ON THE LOWER PART OF THE SHELL

Divide carefully the coconut embryo into two: the upper half and the lower half. Ensure that the lower portion is perfectly cut.

Tip: Draw a line first around the outer shell of the embryo before you cut it down slowly with the use of a sharp tool.

Step 5:

4. MAKE A BOWL

Get rid of the white flesh from the hard shell or otherwise known as the endocarp. Clean it thoroughly until all the meat is removed. Do not forget to remove as well the remaining husks attached on the outside skin of the shell.

Step 6:

5. POLISH

Now that the bowl is nearly functional, polish it finely in all angles using the sander.

Tip: It is best advisable if you wash it with clean water before preparing it for use.

Step 7:

6. USE THE FINISHED PRODUCT

Place your soup or any kind of food in the space the superbowl provides, after which, have a delightful consumption of your meal.

Step 8: ADVANTAGES OF THE COCONUT SUPERBOWL

1. It is nonpollutant.

Since the bowl is an organic matter, it has the ability to decompose and become a soil fertilizer when it is disposed. It is less likely to cause pollution to our environment.

2. It saves us money.

Most people would spend a considerable amount of money for their materials during important events, while people residing in the mountains save money by utilizing nature's help. It only takes a little effort to turn organic materials into useful instruments.

3. It is reusable.

The coconut bowl is not for a one-time use only but it can be washed, stored, and preserved to be utilized again in the future.

Step 9: DEFINITION OF TERMS:

1. "e-Natonin": They are the people residing in Natonin whether they are native inhabitants of the land or migrants from nearby provinces.

2. "epo": a fermenting agent used largely for the production of rice wine

3. "fa'-a": It is an indigenous food vessel of the e-Natonin. The term can vary from places to places depending on the dialect. It is commonly called as "bao" in other parts of the country.
: The use of "fa'-a" is a culture inherited from our forefathers.

4. "Filipinos": It refers to the people who are citizens of or native to the Philippines.

5. "Nipa Hut": It is a traditional house mostly established by native Filipinos who lived during the prehistoric times. It served as their dwelling place. The present nipa huts which are found in the Cordillera region stand as a cultural heritage which serve as tourists' attraction to both local citizens and visitors from foreign lands.

6. "tapuy": a type of wine that is made of rice which undergoes the process of fermentation. It is preserved for a time until the actual wine or the liquid component is produced.

Step 10: Reference/s:

1. da Silva Ledo, Ana, et al., 2019, Advances in Coconut Palm Propagation, illustrated by Fernando Cintra, Different Parts that Compose the Coconut Fruit, accessed 29 January, 2023, https://www.researchgate.net/figure/Different-parts-that-compose-the-coconut-fruit-Photo-Fernando-Cintra_fig1_332857216 [accessed 29 Jan, 2023]

Step 11: Special Thanks:

I would like to give my utmost gratitude to the residents of Tuboy, Banawel, Natonin, Mountain Province whom I spent my days with when I was documenting the process of making the coconut bowl. They were open for my activities by allowing me to take photos of the homegrown coconut tree and the carving of the rough shell into a polished bowl. I could not have written this content if not because of them. This project is dedicated to everyone who is willing to learn about our culture. Discover more by visiting our beloved hometown, Natonin. Welcome!