The City of San Pablo has officially set a Guinness World Record for the most people planting coconut trees simultaneously across multiple venues. With 2,100 participants across 11 barangays and 5 venues, the attempt took place on August 29 in celebration of the National Coconut Week. A Guinness World Records adjudicator was present to verify and certify the record-breaking activity, marking a proud and memorable moment for the city.
Among the thousands of participants were employees from Franklin Baker’s San Pablo Plant (Sapphire Plant), a key player in the city’s coconut industry since its establishment in 1926. Franklin Baker’s participation highlights the company’s deep-rooted connection to San Pablo and its longstanding commitment to supporting the development of its local communities.
More than just a record-breaking achievement, the event served as a response to the national call for agricultural rehabilitation, with approximately 10,000 coconut seedlings planted. The large-scale planting aims to address the challenges posed by the city’s aging coconut trees, which, as noted by San Pablo City Mayor Najie Gapangada Jr., require immediate replacement to sustain long-term productivity. The effort also supports San Pablo’s goal of reclaiming its title as the top coconut-producing city in the Philippines.
Located in San Pablo, Laguna, Franklin Baker’s Sapphire Plant is the company’s first facility in the Philippines and continues to support programs that help uplift the livelihood of Filipino coconut farmers for a more sustainable coconut industry.
