Peeking Bees Apiary

PAGASA has officially declared the start of the Southwest Monsoon, or Habagat, today, May 30, 2026. Habagat is described by PAGASA as warm, moist winds from the southwest that bring rains over the western part of the Philippines, usually from May to September.

For people, this means more cloudy days, sudden rains, strong winds, and higher humidity.

For bees, it means something deeper.

When rainy days become frequent, bees lose flight hours. Foragers cannot go out as often, nectar becomes diluted or washed away, and colonies begin to shift from expansion mode to survival mode.

This is also what we observed in the population graph we made.

As the rainy period progressed, the colony population showed a decrease. This does not always mean the colony is dying. In many cases, it means the colony is adjusting. With less predictable food outside and fewer safe flying hours, the colony becomes more conservative.

Brood rearing also slows down. Bees are less likely to rear many young when the environment cannot support the demand for food, warmth, and care. A colony will not raise brood just because space is available. It raises brood when the field condition says, “we can afford this.”

One interesting observation is the accumulation of pollen. At first glance, stored pollen may look like abundance. But during Habagat, it can also mean that pollen is coming in faster than the colony can convert it into brood. When the queen lays less, and nurse bee activity slows, pollen is stored instead of being immediately used for larval feeding.

So the graph tells a story:

Lower population.
Less brood rearing.
More pollen accumulation.
Reduced field activity.

That is not random. That is the colony reading the weather.

For beekeepers, Habagat is a reminder that management should change with the season. This is the time to protect colonies from leaks, ants, moisture buildup, strong winds, and sudden food shortage. It is also the time to observe more and disturb less.

The bees are not lazy during the rainy season.

They are calculating.

And sometimes, the best management is to understand when the colony is no longer trying to grow, but trying to survive the season.

Habagat has arrived.
Check the roof. Check the stand. Check the entrance. And most of all, check the rhythm of the bees.

One of the joys of beekeeping is seeing people experience what honey is supposed to taste like...

When customers tell me they notice the difference the flavor, aroma, and how different raw honey is from heavily processed ones it reminds me why I started this journey in the first place.
Beekeeping isn’t just about honey. Bees also give us other amazing products like propolis, which bees use to protect and seal their hive. That’s why I also love sharing small freebies like propolis cream so people can learn more about what bees can offer beyond honey.

Every bottle harvested takes months of waiting, hive checks, stings, worries during bad weather, and trusting the bees to do what they do best. So hearing stories about honey being mixed into tea, oats, or even being used while caring for beloved pets makes all the hard work worth it.

Thank you for supporting small beekeepers and local honey producers. Every purchase helps support not just my small business, but also the bees working hard behind the scenes

More people appreciating bees = more reasons to protect them.

3am...

Still packing orders today.

Sometimes seeing many bottles lined up can make it look like business is always booming, but the truth is beekeeping has good years and bad years too. There are seasons when harvests are plentiful, and there are times when the bees struggle because of weather, nectar flow, pests, or other challenges.

That’s why every bottle of honey means so much to me. Behind each one is months of waiting, checking hives, getting stung, worrying about the colonies, and most importantly, the hard work of the bees themselves.

So even if it may not look like much to others, I truly appreciate every order, every customer, and every hive that continues to thrive.

Thank you for supporting local beekeeping and the bees’ hard work.

Abstract Accepted for Presentation

Grateful to share that our abstract, “Managing Translocated Stingless Bee Species from Luzon to Visayas and Mindanao: Practical Farmer-Level Tools for Adaptive Meliponiculture,” has been accepted for presentation by the scientific committee at the 2026 International Symposium on Stingless Bees of the International Bee Research Association (IBRA).

This work comes from field experiences with stingless bees, farmer-level practices, and the realities of managing colonies that have been moved across islands. It is our small contribution to the continuing conversation on responsible meliponiculture, practical training, and the protection of local bee resources.

Thankful for the opportunity to bring these field-based lessons into a wider scientific and beekeeping community.

Pia’s Bee Farm
For the bees, the farmers, and responsible meliponiculture. 🐝

“Why did I become a beekeeper?”

People always expect some deep, magical answer like:

“To reconnect with nature…”
“To protect pollinators…”
“To live in harmony with the bees…”

Meanwhile me:
“Because I love honey.” (and a friend told me I can't get up early)
That’s it.

Just honey. Sweet, golden, delicious honey.
What I failed to realize is that bees apparently took this personally. I'm just a menace to their peaceful life.

No matter how careful or prepared I am, harvesting still ends the same way… I get stung. And I got stung 3 times on my face, arm and a leg. My reward is and pain.

is honestly just:
“I love honey enough to fight for it… and occasionally lose.

Still worth it though.

My dog Waldo is in his rebellious stage… again.

As the eldest of my three dogs, he sometimes gets into little fights and, unfortunately, he’s also not a fan of medicine.

One unexpected perk of being a beekeeper is that I’ve been carefully observing how my own propolis ointment works on minor situations at home. Of course, I did a patch test first to check for any reaction, and thankfully Waldo didn’t show signs of irritation.

With proper cleaning, close monitoring, and extra caution, his small wounds seemed to recover well with no obvious infection.

Just to be clear, every animal is different, and what works for one may not work for another serious wounds or health concerns should always be checked by a veterinarian.

Still, I’m relieved my stubborn old boy is doing better… even if he’s still as hardheaded as ever.

To all the mothers, grandmothers, stepmothers, fur moms, queen moms, and every woman who stepped up with the heart of a mother Happy Mother’s Day.

Just like in the hive, where the queen, worker bees, and nurturers each play their part in protecting and raising the colony, motherhood comes in many beautiful forms. It is not only about giving life, but also about giving love, guidance, sacrifice, and strength.

Tonight, before Mother’s Day ends, Peeking Bees Apiary honors every mother and every woman who became one through love, care, and choice. Thank you for being the quiet strength, the gentle hands, and the fierce protectors of your own hives.

May your hearts be as full as blooming flowers, and may your love continue to nourish generations just like bees help life flourish.

Happy Mother’s Day to all the amazing mothers around the world. From our hive to yours.