Paper short abstract:

Honey and almaciga are targeted via market-based interventions to provide sustainable livelihoods. Yet the materiality of honey and almaciga give rise to vastly different political ecologies perpetuated through the broader patron-client relations and governance of the forest product trade.

Paper long abstract:

Honey and almaciga resin are substances targeted in market-based interventions to provide sustainable livelihoods for indigenous people on Palawan Island. Yet these promotions of potentiality rarely acknowledge the multitude of material disparities between these sticky, flowing, fragrant substances. Focusing on the material qualities honey is valued for, this paper examines how value is created through selling and not selling honey, both of which are partial in making a living. Making a living in this context does not refer to a singular, comprehensive livelihood, rather the use of terms such as livelihood (in English) and kabuhayan or hanapbuhay (in Tagalog) refer to a shifting range of activities and opportunities that are seen to be possible, desirable, permitted, banned, challenging, unappealing, difficult or unattainable by different Tagbanua at different times. Honey flows are seasonal and ebb and flow over multi-year cycles, and these dynamics contribute to the frequent absence of honey from Tagbanua homes and livelihoods. Yet honey has a kind of ongoing presence established through its discussion in terms of sustaining provision. These descriptions provide a stark comparison to livelihood activities more regularly conducted but also considered much less desirable such as almaciga harvesting. While the latter is often used to obtain household necessities, the materiality of honey and resin give rise to vastly different political ecologies perpetuated through the broader patron-client relations and governance of the forest product trade. Something is sustained through almaciga harvesting, but almaciga does not provide Tagbanua with the sustenance that honey can, partially, provide.