Banana leaves are versatile. While commonly used as an alternative to plates and as wrappers for kakanin or native snacks, it has other uses.

A man on a bicycle was stopped at a police checkpoint in Barangay Alinam, Cauayan City, Isabela, for covering his face with a banana leaf at the height of the Covid-19 lockdown in September 2020. The man told police he could not afford to buy a mask, so the police gave him masks for free.

A class at Visayas State University, Calinog Campus, in Iloilo, took their agriculture exam in November using banana leaves provided by their teacher as answer sheets.

On Igat Island, Zamboanga del Sur, the grandmother of 6-year-old Jayvie Galolo packed her grandson's school lunch in a banana leaf when his lunch box got lost. The boy balked at the wrapper, so Lola used an alternative.

At Igat Elementary School, Jayvie's teacher, Sharon Caraecle, noticed his unusual food container when he offered to share his lunch of fried egg and rice with her and his classmates, who needed food.

Caraecle took a photo of Jayvie's lunch box and posted it on social media. The photo of the lunch box went viral with so many "heart" reactions from viewers.

It surprised the teacher when netizens touched by Jayvie's humble lunch box began reaching out to her with donations for the boy. Caraecle personally delivered the donated new lunch boxes as well as groceries to the home of Jayvie, who lives with his father and grandmother.

Jayvie was too young to understand the reactions to his use of a dishwashing paste container as a lunch box, the teacher said, according to a report on "Good News."

His jobless father, Vince, and Lola Manuela were thankful to all the donors who helped the poor family. Of course, the cheerful Jayvie was also happy for his new lunch boxes, bag, shoes, and lots of baon.