Its October time... Christmas is coming.."ber" is in the air

[Completely 3]

The Anatomy of a Balikbayan Box

by Cynthia de Castro - The “ber” months have started and with September comes that special holiday feeling. In the Philippines, which is known to have the longest celebration of Christmas, malls and department stores have already started playing Christmas songs and selling holiday decors and gifts. In the countries where millions of Filipinos have immigrated or are working, the demand for balikbayan boxes has started to increase as families begin shopping for their holiday gifts to be sent back to relatives and friends in the homeland.

For Filipinos in the US, sending balikbayan boxes to families back in the Philippines has become a major part of our lifestyle. Those who have children, parents or siblings left in the Philippines send boxes regularly, either on a monthly or quarterly basis. But, at Christmas time, many FilAms double their usual padala, adding special gifts and holiday treats to the usual staple items.

One Filipina nurse, Nany, who sends boxes to her parents and siblings in Quezon City at least every 2 months, said she’s always on the look-out for special sale items when she goes malling. “I always have a balikbayan box in the house where I store things to send back home. I love going to malls and stores when it’s sale season to look for things I can send to my family in Manila. Whether it’s just in the regular supermarket nearby, in Costco or in the outlet stores in Camarillo or Ontario, I enjoy hunting for clothes, shoes, bags or food items that are on sale. I then keep them in the box until it’s full. Once I send it home, I have a new box to fill up. Ang sarap ng feeling pag nakapagpadala ka ng box,” Nany said.

So, what’s in those balikbayan boxes? What are the most popular items that get sent back home to excited family members? What are the most requested items?

“We usually send the basic items which our children need such as canned goods and bath items,” admitted Yoly, a caregiver in Orange County. “Kasi, ang mamahal na din ng mga grocery items sa Pinas kaya I make sure I send them these things monthly. Para yung padala kong pera, sa mga household bills na lang,” she added.

After asking quite a number of Pinoys who regularly send boxes, we discovered that the anatomy of a balikbayan box is very similar in content. The top 15 items that Pinoys usually send back home are: 1) Spam, 2) Hereford Corned Beef, 3) Centrum Multi-vitamins, 4) Chocolates (top on everyone’s list: Hershey’s, Kisses, Ferrero Rocher, M&Ms, Nestle Crunch, Cadbury & Toblerone), 5. Bath soaps (Dove, Ivory, & Irish Spring are the preferred brands), 6. Shampoo & Conditioner (Pantene, followed by Head & Shoulders, Neutrogena, & Kirkland ), 7) Colgate toothpaste, 8) Coffee (Folgers,Taster’s Choice and Maxwell are favorite brands) and hot chocolate drinks (Swiss Miss and Nestle), 9) Quaker Oatmeal and Breakfast Cereals (Corn Flakes, Frosted Flakes and Choco Puffs), 10. Cookies (Famous Amos, Oreos, and Chips Ahoy), and Chips (Pringles, Doritos and Nachos), 11) T-shirts (Old Navy and Gap are favorites), 12) Towels, 13) Bath and Body Works and Victoria Secret products, 14) Rubber Shoes (Nike is the preferred brand), and 15) Sugar substitutes such as Splenda and Sweet N’ Low.

Other items that didn’t make it to the top 15 items but are still in a lot of balikbayan boxes are colognes, pants, sandals, flip-flops, shoes, bags, wallets, and magazines. Favorite shopping places for balikbayan box items are Wal-Mart, Target, 99 Cents, Ross and Costco.

For the holiday seasons, our kababayans usually add another box to complement the usual regular items. Inside the holiday gift boxes are clothes, shoes and accessories bought from outlet stores and malls such as Forever 21, Banana Republic, Abercrombie & Fitch, Old Navy, Nike, Adidas, Gap and Hollister.

“I make sure I get a gift for everyone in the family –sa lahat ng pamangkin, pinsan, katulong etc.,” said Rita who works in the garment district in downtown. “I know that it’s not really just the gift that they treasure, it’s the thought that you remembered them and took the time to shop and send Christmas gifts to them. That’s what really counts,” she said.

Yes, balikbayan boxes are not just filled with goods, they’re filled with love, affection and devotion. And for Filipinos abroad, they can’t seem to send too much of those back home.

[Gumbolette 58]

Oh yeah, Christmas is fast approaching, as if it was just yesterday. People around the world will be celebrating love unitedly again. I so love Christmas time... Do you have something in mind now what you'll wrap up this Christmas for your love ones?...hehe. Hay soon enough may mga carolers na. Ang saya saya... Can't wait too coz My hubby will be coming home. :dance:

How bout Vj family Philippines? I hope there would be one beer who can possibly organize a Christmas meeting., yay! Ang saya siguro nun....

[Completely 3]

Oh yeah, Christmas is fast approaching, as if it was just yesterday. People around the world will be celebrating love unitedly again. I so love Christmas time... Do you have something in mind now what you'll wrap up this Christmas for your love ones?...hehe. Hay soon enough may mga carolers na. Ang saya saya... Can't wait too coz My hubby will be coming home. :dance:

How bout Vj family Philippines? I hope there would be one beer who can possibly organize a Christmas meeting., yay! Ang saya siguro nun....

I used to send packages every year to my family but it was way too expensive to send it by air here in the Middle East... What I am planning to do is just send them money, so they can buy anything they want. There is nothing much here, unlike in the US that you can find something and it really cheap, when they have sale, sale talaga, 50%, 75% enjoy ka mamili.. I did buy a lot of stuff when we went to visit my inlaws in thanksgiving, May sale madness sila that time, DKNY, and other brand clothing that i bought was only 10-12$.. Isnt that amazing, Lalo na it petite ka mas madali kumuha ng available size na murang mura.

[ryandgracey 2]

My hubby and I spent our first Christmas together here last year and it was very magical, being just 4 days before the day we were married. Add to that our little girl's 5th birthday which we celebrated during christmas dinner. Then the revelry of New Year's Eve that he really enjoyed whilst lighting a box of "piccolo". It has been the best Christmas I had so far. Of course, he could not bring a lot of stuff, save for those reserved for his precious little girl. He had me get presents here before he arrived.

This year will be different. He will be spending Christmas alone in OH, which saddens me. He works Christmas Day and New Year's Eve. I don't know really if I like to look forward to that. On the other hand, it will be our princess' 6th birthday, and will probably be the last she would ever celebrate here in the Philippines, along with Christmas, of course. An approved Immigrant Visa for both myself and for her would be the best present we could ever receive .

Meanwhile, I am busying myself with work, preparing for the medical and interview, and keeping my eyes open for good bargains for the big kids. My husband has a box en route filled with goodies for the little kids and some of the adults....and surprises for his lovely ladies, of course. Oh...and a box of Halloween goodies for our little girl is on its way too!

[Gumbolette 58]

Oh yeah, Christmas is fast approaching, as if it was just yesterday. People around the world will be celebrating love unitedly again. I so love Christmas time... Do you have something in mind now what you'll wrap up this Christmas for your love ones?...hehe. Hay soon enough may mga carolers na. Ang saya saya... Can't wait too coz My hubby will be coming home. :dance:

How bout Vj family Philippines? I hope there would be one beer who can possibly organize a Christmas meeting., yay! Ang saya siguro nun....

I used to send packages every year to my family but it was way too expensive to send it by air here in the Middle East... What I am planning to do is just send them money, so they can buy anything they want. There is nothing much here, unlike in the US that you can find something and it really cheap, when they have sale, sale talaga, 50%, 75% enjoy ka mamili.. I did buy a lot of stuff when we went to visit my inlaws in thanksgiving, May sale madness sila that time, DKNY, and other brand clothing that i bought was only 10-12$.. Isnt that amazing, Lalo na it petite ka mas madali kumuha ng available size na murang mura.

Oh, that's really a shopping madness. My aunts shared that they really hunt for 50- 75% marked down prices. Because this are the only times they can afford at least good brands and the sad thing is it's only by Christmas most of the shops do that. I am now preparing bright ideas to do this Christmas since this is the first Christmas that My husband and I will be together. We will probably do things that we wasn't able to do the last time he visited me. I am the one who often cooks in the house and my mom just helps me out. Others are busy visiting friends and having so much fun, while me in the kitchen. ,But it brings me so much happiness when I see my family eating together, gathered as one that's the most important thing.

New Years Eve is the most awaited part too, Urgh!, My father used to buy all the firecrackers and fireworks till he ran out of cash. And even it's just in the middle of the afternoon they would start firing this ear buster which leaves us all ear busted by the morning of Jan 1st. Most of my relatives outside Philippines will be coming home so this is something I am really looking forward, because we all know that once some of our family members who went out of the country can always find way to go back home by Christmas.