SANTIAGO CITY—Captivated by the photo of a heavy-laden banana that landed in the front page of the Oct. 13, 2011 issue of the BusinessMirror, Santiago City Mayor Amelita Navarro personally visited the wonder plant Tuesday at barangay Cabulay in the city.

“It was my husband Dr. Jose Navarro who showed me a copy of the business paper where farmer Antonio Lanuza and his wonder banana plant were featured,” said the lady mayor.

Reports had it that many visitors from as far away as Metro Manila went to the vegetable-growing village just to see for themselves the real plant which surprisingly survived a series of weather disturbances.

After devastating typhoons Pedring and Quiel ravaged the roof of the city convention center, school buildings and generally all banana plantations in the city, the wonder banana photographed before the two storms has miraculously survived the two devastating typhoons.

“It was unbelievable because even assuming that I had to put a bamboo pole as support, the weight of the long bunch and clusters of fruits could have easily triggered its downfall considering that the two consecutive typhoons have destroyed a number of more durable infrastructures in the city including other banana farms,” said the 73-year old Lanuza.

To prove his claim Lanuza invited BusinessMirror to visit the amazing banana and posed for documentation showing a copy of the business paper where his photo landed on the front page of the paper’s Oct. 13, 2011 issue. 

Going around the village where bananas of the same variety are grown, BusinessMirror found the fruit-bearing ones with their blossoms also withstood the devastating typhoons.

In addition to its naturally prolific qualities, its sturdy trunk, disease-resistance, and endurance against strong winds have encouraged more local farmers here to engage in the commercial production of both fruits and planting materials.

The farming mayor immediately ordered 10 suckers for her lot.

Banana farmer David Baldoz of barangay Batal who shifted to coconut farming after Typhoon Juaning virtually erased his banana orchard in the village indicated interest in reviving his plot for the love of bananas.

“When I learned about the typhoon-resistant banana, my interest on my favorite fruit was revived,” said Baldoz.

Earlier, Santiago City administrator Perla Buencamino expressed interest in the mass propagation of the wonder banana not only for food but for aesthetics as well.