Preparation for the trip over to US

[Bob & Joana 2]

I like to plan ahead so im trying to compose a list of "essentials" that I should have my wife buy in PH before she comes over. If anyone has any suggestions on must-haves of things that are either immensely cheaper there vs the US, or things that a filipina would love to have from there that cannot be bought here I would appreciate it. I am trying to make the transition as easy as possible for her by making sure some of the things from "home" can move with her. Thanks a lot.

Edit: She will be bring over our 4 month old with her so I guess this list can also apply to baby supplies that may be much cheaper or hard to acquire in US.

Edited March 19, 2013 by Bob & Joana

[Andrea&Henry 311]

I'm not filipina but I remember that when my time came to moved to the US my husband bought girly stuff like body creams and oil, my favorite shampoo and conditioner, face soap and soap...things like that. He also bought my favorites things to eat. In Venezuela most our brands are the same here so it was not hard. And for your baby boy, i guess you have a nursery room waiting for him. BabysRus is the best in it kind! We dont have kids yet, but is the best store ever! To start you should have baby formula, wipes, diapers, bottles, blankets. Pacifiers. Even when I brought most of my stuff it was nice to ser all the things my now husband bought me to spoiled me and welcome me

[Tintin and Mike 127]

If she has particular brand of facial cleanser, day and night creams as they're expensive here in Asian or even Filipino supermarket.

Clothes are pretty much cheaper here in the US so don't bother unless her size is hard to find or in between. It's not cheap to alter clothes here to fit you right.

For the baby, white onesies, tops with ties on the side, pajamas, sando and shorts when she/he grows to toddler.

Safe flight and good luck!

[actob99 156]

We found clothes are alot cheaper in the PI(not in malls) and alot easier to find her size there..

[Grant PDX 183]

The biggest things I've seen were: jeans (US sizes don't quite seem to fit the same), bras (same issue), shoes (lots cheaper in phils, and most girls have favorites, or favorites they haven't even bought yet ). Baby clothes are much cheaper in phils, especially if your wife has thoughts about what a baby should wear.

Every trip over we've brought back jeans and Magic Sarap. Loads and loads of magic sarap. New jeans every trip to phils.

I've told my fiancee to bring over all her jeans (and buy extras), all her bras, all her favorite shoes, magic sarap, and dried fish. All those things are available in the US, but not quite the same as they have in Phils.

[CristiFur 15]

To this day my wife is still trying to find a suitable face wash, cleanser, etc.. beauty supplies that she is happy with. So if there are particular items she uses, it would be good idea to get a couple of months supply while she adjust and find a replacement. I have to go to a Filipino Market to get her Creamsilk shampoo and conditioner..lol, I told her Panteene is close enough to Creamsilk but she still preferred Creamsilk..

As the other member mentioned clothes, definitely clothes, my wife initially was not particularly thrilled with the choice of style or available size of clothes here even though we shopped at popular and mainstream department stores (GAP, Penneys, Macys, OLD NAVY, H&M, Express, Abercrombie, Forever21 (lol)..etc..) , but I think this is because she was used to those kinds of clothing style similar to KPOP (well my wife anyways). Now she has adjusted her style and taste of clothing. I don't know if it was a good idea..lol..

I think the best we can do to ease the transition is to be supportive of them and have alot of patience.

[Calypso 464]

- undies

- sweatpants

- jeans, especially skinny jeans with her preferred length

- a few extra copies of her birth certificate and your baby's from NSO in case you need those at some point

- packs of her favorite pancit canton and cans of corned beef if she eats that kind of stuff and there is no Filipino store where you live (but I suggest that you help her stop eating processed food, if ever she does)

[Mrs Carrot 89]

native bags

[Caryh 5,206]

The biggest things I've seen were: jeans (US sizes don't quite seem to fit the same), bras (same issue), shoes (lots cheaper in phils, and most girls have favorites, or favorites they haven't even bought yet ). Baby clothes are much cheaper in phils, especially if your wife has thoughts about what a baby should wear.

Every trip over we've brought back jeans and Magic Sarap. Loads and loads of magic sarap. New jeans every trip to phils.

I've told my fiancee to bring over all her jeans (and buy extras), all her bras, all her favorite shoes, magic sarap, and dried fish. All those things are available in the US, but not quite the same as they have in Phils.

Magic Sarap isn't legal to bring into the country, because its got chicken fat in it and the Philippines is know to have had Avian Influenza. I've never heard of anyone getting in trouble for it, but technically you can't bring it with you into the USA. We buy it in bulk through a dealer in Guam who's on Amazon. My wife claims she can't cook without it

Next time we go, we're going to stock up on jeans there. Its really tough finding jeans that fit well in the USA. My wife is a size 00 or 24 inch waist, and everything needs to go to the tailor to be shortened.

If she uses a whitening deodorant, bring a stock pile of it. Can't find that stuff in the USA, so we order from out of country. The wife just hates if her armpits get darker. She gave up the lightening facial creams, but she refuses to let her armpits get dark Any shampoos, face creams, basically any cleansing, lotion or makeup product, she should pick up. Mostly she'll eventually find replacements here, but she'll want to have a supply of things she knows while she searches for them. Have her keep trying things right away so she doesn't run out of her favorites from home.

If she's into dried fish, stock up and bring some over. Seal it up good and store it in the freezer. You can find it here in the USA if there's a Filipino store near you. But not the really good dried fish. My wife's family regularly sends us shipments of the stinky stuff. Not sure how you feel about dried fish, I love it myself, but set up a way to cook it outside. Given we live in Minnesota, I do most of the cooking of it on the grill outside. We bought a pan dedicated just for it, so we can fry it on there to.

[Robb&Ann 101]

your wife should visit 168, 999 or divisoria mall. Lots of stuffs there that are also in the malls here. me and Robb are planning to visit divi before i go there there are many nice dresses there. shoes, bags, etc.. that wen sold in the states would be a bit pricey. well, most products came from china. so i would say buy in divi or order in bulk from china. when it comes to soaps or face creams or moisturizers, i have had started using products are are good on my skin that are also available in US such as physiogel or cetaphil for my face and johnson & johnson liquid soap for my body which is for sure available in the states. but if ur wife has beauty regimen, maybe she should bring some few. with me, i have to bring my favorite erythromycin liquid sol that is really effective when i get zits. i also have to bring this deo and lightening cream that i used to buy at Diana Stalder. though they have dealers in the states but the price is double or tripled.than here (i just made a research on the products i used if it is available there). but when it comes to clothes even baby clothes there are many in divisoria. oh , and also if ur wife would want to make polvoron soon, maybe she should buy a molder coz it is not available in some states Aside from those, ya, jeans, dresses, shoes, beauty products,bags, baby clothes. since i am also preparing for what i will bring there, right now, those are on my list and i am planning to visit divi too. she can also find accessories in divi too. things that she might be needing there when attending party or any occasions esp if she is small like me, i would say divi (mecca) is the one for me.lol. even their jeans is better than what i got in BENCH here. so expensive in the mall but in divisoria i was able to buy jeans at P200-P250 and it was really a nice fitting for me. compared to jeans in malls, it would be around P800-P1500 also depends if on sale. I am not into brands so divi or tiangge is not a problem for me as long as it is comfy and a good deal. price is right to the quality as well. btw divi has all sorts of product, baby clothes, toys, baking essentials, toold, accessories, bag, shoes, blouses,shirts, jeans, dresses, everything! they even have veggies and fruits.lol.