CULTIVATING FINANCIAL FREEDOM: UNLOCKING THE PASSIVE INCOME POTENTIAL OF ABACA FOR WOMEN, SENIOR CITIZENS, AND WORKING PROFESSIONALS

Abstract Women and older people are among the most vulnerable and marginalized groups, facing limited income opportunities, especially in agriculture. Given the current state of rising inflation, it is becoming increasingly challenging to earn enough income for a comfortable standard of living. Working on a farm combining abaca and coconut can be highly profitable. However, this type of farming requires a significant amount of labor that can restrict the involvement of women and seniors. Using interpretative phenomenological analysis, the study qualitatively describes the unique experiences of women, senior individuals, and working professionals in abaca farming. This study reveals that their engagement is primarily focused on less demanding responsibilities and mainly involves overseeing operations. As a result, they earn income through their indirect involvement in harvesting, which helps support various household needs, fulfill school obligations, and even enables them to provide funds to others.