SINCE 2019, Alexis Dela Cuesta, a certified public accountant, ventured into beekeeping and hasn’t looked back. He began it as a hobby but eventually saw the numerous economic and environmental benefits of beekeeping and decided to intensify his efforts.
He began with two colonies, which he placed on the rooftop of their house in Santa Ana, Manila. He focused on raising Western honeybees (Apis mellifera), the most widely distributed and domesticated bee species known for its honey production abilities.
Thanks to his due diligence and determination by checking up on his colonies frequently, feeding them sugar water during the rainy season, and keeping pests away, Dela Cuesta managed to harvest 58 kilograms from the two colonies he began with. But that was four years ago.
From two colonies, he grew his count to eight and ventured beyond the comforts of their home to other developed areas in the metro, including Raffles Makati.
Raffles Makati, a 30-story hotel and architectural masterpiece set in the heart of the financial district, started its bee farm a year and a half ago in its outdoor herb garden at the hotel’s second level. It’s how the hotel manages its resources to promote sustainability and environment-friendly practices.
“Bees promote sustainability and balance the ecosystem because they pollinate nearby plants and crops, allowing them to grow and be productive,” Dela Cuesta said.
On the other hand, Dela Cuesta also cares for some colonies in a space he rents at Asilo de San Vicente de Paul at United Nations, Manila.
Turning honey into money
Some people often regard honey as “liquid gold” because of its money-making potential. With eight colonies across Metro Manila, Dela Cuesta harvests 32 kilograms from each and reaps its benefits.
He and his wife, Sheila, started a brand called HoNea (named after their daughter) around the same time Dela Cuesta began beekeeping. While Dela Cuesta deals with the care and maintenance of the colonies, his wife formulates various products made with honey and beeswax, including shampoos, conditioners, lotions, and candles, among other items.
They also dabble in edible products, like pure honey and honey-infused vegan ice cream.
Research shows that honey has antimicrobial properties, while raw honey is a viable source of antioxidants. In the meantime, Sheila uses other organic ingredients like goat’s milk, coffee, and herbal extracts, which she sources locally, to augment the honey and beeswax’s natural benefits.
“We try to be plastic-free and sustainable as possible, hence why our beauty products are in bar form, and we don’t use plastics in our packaging,” the part-time beekeeper said.
Dela Cuesta also offers training to aspiring beekeepers to unlock the potential of bee colonies within and outside urbanized areas. He even promotes World Bee Day, held every May 20, in the country by holding online seminars and discussions with other seasoned beekeepers who are a treasure trove of knowledge.
His other initiative includes the SaBeedo Nights, an online talk show on YouTube that features other beekeepers as guests to continue raising awareness about the nuances of beekeeping and the relevance of bees in an ecosystem.
Although just a part-time beekeeper, Dela Cuesta is passionate about his venture and willingly shares his knowledge about bee farming with interested Filipinos so more people can appreciate bees in the ecosystem.