‘Amazing banana’ sets backyard trend

By Liezle Basa Inigo

CALASIAO, Pangasinan – Residents here are indulging themselves in planting more of the so-called “amazing banana,” which grows fruit bunches as long as nearly six feet.

Trinidad Gutierez, a retired public school teacher, said she loves plants and when she was able to grow an amazing banana, she was then inspired to plant more.

“We started to get interested in the amazing banana when we read about it in the newspaper and saw the picture of its fruit bunch extending to the ground,” Gutierez said.

Local resident 78-year-old Simeon Idos was featured in newspapers last July with photos of his six-foot long banana bunch.”

He has since received visitors inquiring about the banana variety and asking for seedlings they can plant in their backyards.

In other provinces, the amazing banana is not much appreciated, but residents here believe the abundance of fruit that comes from it is a blessing from God.

“We lead a simple life,” Gutierez said. “Senior citizens here are made very happy by these blessings from God,” she added referring to the amazing banana.