Wazzup Pilipinas!?
In a world where culinary traditions often fade into obscurity, one Filipino chef is orchestrating a remarkable revival—not just of recipes, but of an entire cultural legacy. Ninang Riza Matibag Muyot, known affectionately as the "Coconut Chef," has dedicated her life to a mission that transcends mere cooking: she's preserving, celebrating, and reimagining the Philippines' coconut heritage as a form of living art.
A Steward of Culture Rising
Against the backdrop of Silang, Cavite's lush landscapes, Chef Ninang Riza has built something extraordinary—Shambala Silang Center for the Arts, Culture, and Ecology. This 2-hectare eco-tourist village isn't just a destination; it's a living testament to what happens when passion meets purpose. Here, traditional Filipino arts, coconut-based cuisine, and environmental consciousness converge in a harmony that speaks to both history and innovation.
But Riza's journey goes far beyond a single location. Through her multifaceted brand—encompassing CocoKusina (The Philippine Coconut Kitchen), Coconut Channel, Mana Kitchen, and her signature Mana Pulutan concept—she has created an ecosystem dedicated entirely to elevating the humble coconut from agricultural commodity to cultural icon.
The Philosophy: More Than Just Cooking
What sets Chef Ninang Riza apart isn't simply her culinary skill—it's her visionary approach to what food can represent. She has developed an entire lexicon of coconut-centered concepts that reveal the depth of her commitment:
Coconut Gastronomy represents her innovative fusion of traditional Filipino cuisine with modern creativity, transforming heritage food into works of art. Her signature Mana Pulutan concept serves heritage dishes in small plates, emphasizing the profound cultural significance of coconut-based cuisine—a presentation style that makes each bite a conversation about history, identity, and place.
But perhaps most compelling are her broader philosophies: Coconut Connection (CocoConnect) uses the coconut as a medium to bridge kitchens, communities, cultures, and traditions worldwide. Coconut Centric (CocoCentric) positions the coconut at the very core of gastronomy, cultural diplomacy, and agricultural innovation. These aren't mere marketing terms—they're frameworks for understanding food as a vehicle for cultural preservation and global connection.
Her terminology extends even further, encompassing concepts like Coconut Literacy (Cocolitracy), which educates communities about the coconut's health benefits and cultural significance; Coconut Stewards (Cocostewards or CocoAlaga), recognizing those committed to preserving coconut farming and heritage; and Coconut Empowerment (CocoPower), which focuses on empowering communities through coconut-based entrepreneurship.
From Local Stages to International Platforms
Chef Ninang Riza's influence has reached far beyond the Philippines. Her calendar of activities reads like a cultural ambassador's dream itinerary:
In May 2025, she showcased heritage coconut dishes at IFEX (International Food Exhibition) at Manila's World Trade Center, conducting live cooking demonstrations that captivated audiences. By August, she had traveled to Jordan, conducting a Coconut Food Tasting Workshop at the Philippine Embassy in Amman, where Jordanian and Filipino chefs, restaurant owners, and food enthusiasts gathered to learn about Filipino coconut heritage cuisine.
That same month, she brought Southern Luzon and Northeast Mindanao's heritage coconut dishes to life at the CARAGA Coconut Festival in Siargao Island. Come September, she was at the World Coconut Congress at the SMX Convention Center in SM Mall of Asia, demonstrating her culinary artistry to an international audience of coconut industry professionals and enthusiasts.
Her catering services have graced prestigious events, from the welcome cocktail dinner for International Buyers & Delegates of the World Coconut Congress at Ascott Hotel Makati to the cocktail dinner for the Maningning Miclat Poetry Awards and Mario Miclat Book Launching at UP Asian Center.
Making History: Food as Art
Perhaps nothing captures Chef Ninang Riza's groundbreaking vision more than her upcoming participation in ManilArt 2025. The 17th edition of this prestigious art festival, themed "Across Forms, Beyond Borders," will witness something unprecedented: Chef Ninang Riza will become the first artist to present or exhibit real food as an art form at the festival.
Scheduled for October 15, 2025, her exhibition represents a bold statement about the nature of art itself. In collaboration with renowned artists Ugu Bigyan, Agi Pagkatipunan, and Danny Rayos Del Sol, she will showcase heritage coconut dishes not merely as consumables, but as legitimate artistic expressions—works that engage all the senses, carry deep cultural meaning, and challenge conventional boundaries between culinary arts and fine arts.
This Coconut Creatives (CocoArt or CocoSining) initiative transforms coconut dishes and crafts into art forms, positioning Filipino culinary heritage within the context of contemporary artistic discourse.
The Heart of It All: Shambala Silang
At the center of Chef Ninang Riza's coconut universe sits Shambala Silang, a destination that defies simple categorization. The center encompasses a vibrant array of projects that tell the complete story of Filipino coconut culture:
Mana Kitchen serves as both restaurant and catering service, offering coconut heritage dishes created by CocoKusina. CocoKusina (Philippine Coconut Kitchen) itself functions as a research and test laboratory dedicated to exploring culinary applications of coconut products—a space where tradition meets innovation.
The Coconut Channel provides a platform for documenting and promoting the coconut's multifaceted uses, health benefits, cultural significance, and historical importance. The Tawid Art Museum & Gallery showcases Filipino art and culture, while the Lunas Etnobotanical Arboretum features a botanical garden with native and endemic trees, plants, herbs, and flowers—a living library of biodiversity.
Visitors to Shambala Silang don't just eat; they immerse themselves in a comprehensive cultural experience. The site map reveals an ambitious layout spanning 30 distinct areas, from multiple gardens (Akasya, Intramuros, Mana, Binhi, Tagpo, Sapa, Narra, Kakawate, and Araro Gardens) to cultural spaces like the Ifugao Huts, Cordillera Amphitheater, and Tam-Awan Falls. This is ecological tourism with educational depth—a place where every corner tells a story about Philippine heritage, sustainable practices, and the centrality of the coconut to Filipino identity.
Advocacy With Impact
Through Shambala Silang and her various initiatives, Chef Ninang Riza pursues clear advocacy goals that extend far beyond personal achievement:
Promoting the cultural significance and culinary potential of coconut products
Supporting sustainable coconut farming and entrepreneurship
Educating communities on the health benefits and diverse uses of coconut
Fostering innovation and creativity in coconut-based cuisine and products
By developing Shambala Silang, she has created a vibrant hub for arts, culture, and ecology—inspiring a new generation to appreciate and preserve Filipino heritage. Her dedication to promoting coconut innovation and arts has made a lasting impact on the culinary world, showcasing the versatility and richness of coconut in various aspects of Filipino culture.
Cultural Diplomacy Through Coconut
Chef Ninang Riza's work in Coconut Cultural Diplomacy demonstrates how food can serve as a bridge between nations and cultures. All her coconut expositions and food tasting workshops—whether at IFEX, the Philippine Embassy, the Ambassador's residence, or international festivals—serve a diplomatic function, introducing global audiences to Filipino culinary heritage while fostering cross-cultural understanding.
Her Coconut Literacy initiatives go beyond simple cooking demonstrations. At the Jordan International Food Festival, she taught students at Jordan Royal Academy to cook "Buko Pancit," a Filipino coconut heritage dish. She mentors culinary students in coconut-based cuisine, ensuring that the next generation possesses both the technical skills and cultural understanding necessary to carry these traditions forward.
A Vision for the Future
What makes Chef Ninang Riza's work so compelling isn't just what she's accomplished—it's the comprehensive vision she's articulated for what the coconut can represent. Her 16 distinct coconut terminologies, from CocoKusina to Coconut Entrepreneur (CocoEntrep or Cocopreneur), paint a picture of an integrated ecosystem where agriculture, culture, commerce, education, and art intersect.
Her concepts of Coconut Enterprises (CocoBisnes)—fostering business initiatives promoting coconut-based products and services—and Coconut Core Culinary Ingredients (CocoCore)—identifying key coconut ingredients for various culinary applications—demonstrate a systems-thinking approach that recognizes the coconut's potential to drive sustainable economic development while preserving cultural identity.
The Coconut Expositions (CocoExpo) concept showcases coconut applications in fairs, festivals, and events, creating public awareness and market opportunities. Meanwhile, Coconut Culture (Cocultura) works to promote the coconut's cultural significance and heritage at the most fundamental level—ensuring that Filipinos themselves don't lose touch with this central element of their identity.
The Artist at Work
In her coral-patterned traditional attire and signature Coco Kusina apron, Chef Ninang Riza embodies the bridge between past and future. Whether she's stirring a pot of coconut-based heritage dishes at a live cooking demonstration, giving tours through Shambala Silang's botanical gardens, or preparing delicate Mana Pulutan presentations for an embassy dinner, she moves with the confidence of someone who knows exactly what she's fighting for.
The images from her various events tell a consistent story: crowds gathered around her cooking stations, eager to learn; tables laden with artfully arranged coconut dishes that look too beautiful to eat; Chef Riza surrounded by students, chefs, and cultural enthusiasts from around the world—all united by curiosity about this ancient ingredient and its modern possibilities.
A Legacy in the Making
As Chef Ninang Riza prepares for her historic ManilArt 2025 exhibition, one thing becomes clear: her work represents something far more significant than culinary innovation. She is engaged in active cultural preservation—taking ingredients, techniques, and traditions that might otherwise be forgotten and repositioning them at the center of contemporary Filipino identity.
In an era of globalization that often threatens to homogenize culture, Chef Ninang Riza offers a different path: deep rootedness in place and tradition as a source of innovation, creativity, and global connection. The coconut, in her hands, becomes a lens through which we can examine questions of sustainability, cultural identity, agricultural economics, artistic expression, and international diplomacy.
Her message is ultimately one of empowerment: that communities can build sustainable futures by honoring their past, that traditional ingredients can become vehicles for cutting-edge creativity, and that something as simple as a coconut can carry the weight of an entire culture's story.
Visit, Taste, Experience
For those inspired by Chef Ninang Riza's vision, Shambala Silang Center for Arts, Culture, and Ecology awaits in Silang, Cavite. Contact information is available through their social media platforms (cocokusina, coconutchannel, manapulutan, and Shambala Silang on Facebook), or via email at shambalasilang2008@gmail.com, or by phone at 0927 594 0337 / 0968 400 6949.
Whether you're a culinary enthusiast, cultural advocate, environmental educator, or simply someone who appreciates the intersection of tradition and innovation, the story of Coconut Chef Ninang Riza Matibag Muyot offers inspiration. She proves that one person with a clear vision, deep commitment, and creative approach can indeed preserve a cultural legacy—and in doing so, create something entirely new.
As she prepares to present coconut gastronomy as fine art at ManilArt 2025, Chef Ninang Riza stands at the forefront of a movement that recognizes food not just as sustenance, but as heritage, art, diplomacy, and hope. The humble coconut, through her vision, has become nothing less than a symbol of Filipino resilience, creativity, and cultural pride—proving that sometimes, the most profound transformations begin with the simplest ingredients.
Ross is known as the Pambansang Blogger ng Pilipinas - An Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Professional by profession and a Social Media Evangelist by heart.
.jpg)
Post a Comment