John Hay Management Corporation (JHMC) and the Banana Girls formally entered into a one-year lease agreement today, September 24, 2025. The contract was signed by JHMC President and CEO Manjit Singh Reandi, alongside Aurora A. Dangpa, Maria Nieves L. Denesia, and Jenny O. Lapastora, representing the Banana Girls.
The lease provisions reflect shared values of stewardship and community empowerment, including commitments to uphold environmental compliance and ensure responsible care of the leased premises.
The name “Banana Girls” is steeped in heritage, tracing its roots back to the American period at Camp John Hay. During this time, the mothers and grandmothers of today’s lessees sold boiled bananas, harvested from their own farms and backyards, to American soldiers stationed at the camp. At other times, these humble offerings were exchanged for bread from the American bakeshop, forging a quiet but powerful bond of sustenance and shared humanity.
The soldiers began calling them “Banana Girls,” a name that, decades later, still lives on. More than a label, it has become a badge of honor: a tribute to their entrepreneurial spirit, their deep-rooted connection to the land, and the legacy of resilience passed down through generations.
