Perhaps something that’s unique to the Filipino culture is the ‘balikbayan box’ – a collection of items that we thoughtfully collect and buy over a period of months as it slowly fills up to send to our loved ones back home. Nothing brings us more joy than seeing our them open it up when it gets to the door.
So how do you fill up that balikbayan box to make it worth the spend? The Filipino Times asked the Abu Dhabi Q and A Facebook group as well as a few individuals on their own ‘hacks’ and here are what we got:
1- Put a cloth lining on the bottom of the box, as well as cloth and towels on the sides. Before closing the box, put either a tower or a big plastic bag.
2- Before buying items on sale, be sure to check expiration dates. Be sure that it’s at least good for an additional 4 months by the time it arrives in the Philippines.
3- A good measure of your balikbayan box is a portion of the space below your bed. When you think it’s already almost full, that’s the time to get a box.
4- For fragile items and/or liquids, be sure to either wrap them in a cloth or put them in separate boxes (or both). Put brown packing tape to secure them.
5- Put all heavy stuff on the bottom (huge soaps, detergents, nonstick pans etc.) and prepare a lot of old clothes/hand-me-downs which are still in good condition to fill out the gaps.
6- Be sure to label which item goes to who, and include a ‘packing list’ to have someone in the Philippines manage the contents of the balikbayan box.
7- Never send home anything that will compromise the smell of the items inside the balikbayan box, like onions. (This really happened!)
From Kat Alvez, member of Abu Dhabi Q and A
This happened to a friend of a friend.. I was told that she sent onions in her box.. hilarious I know.. and guess what?! Everything reeked of onions in her box obviously..!! My friend told me the mother of the sender was so angry.. ???.. because even the chocolates tasted onions.. and the clothes had to be laundered million times before the smell wore off.. even the lotion and shampoo smelled onion.. ???.. so there’s your tip.. never send onions..!! Lol..!
