The concept of balikbayan boxes is nothing new to overseas Filipino workers (OFWs). Some Pinoys have sent a couple or more boxes of balikbayan boxes during their stay overseas.
Sending balikbayan boxes to their loved ones at home is nothing new to OFWs but preparing them does not seem to get any easier each time.
For those of you who need help, here are 7 must-haves for your next balikbayan box!
1. Candies and chocolates for bunso
Bunso needs to satisfy his sweet tooth! There is no better way to make him happy than to send him packs of chocolates. These colorful and sweet bars of candy can also be divided to your neighbors, nephews, and cousins.
Just a friendly reminder, make bunso promise to share the candies and to always drink water and brush teeth every time he/she will eat a chocolate bar!
2. Size 8 Adidas or Nike shoes for kuya
Kuya has been waiting years for his size 8 pairs of Jordans! The smell of new shoes does not necessarily mean an elevated gameplay in a basketball game but a new set of kicks will always be a good addition to his basketball wardrobe.
Aside from that, admit it, it feels great to see people looking at your new kicks.
3. Make-up and pabango for sizzum
They say that beauty comes from within, but that should not stop you from buying those newly released matte lipsticks and pigmented highlighters for your beloved kikay sister. Time to visit those MAC, Sephora, or Cover Girl stores to pick up some beauty essentials for her.
While you are at it, a few bottle of fragrances is also a good addition to your box.
4. iPad for kambal
Electronic gadgets are also one of the most popular items found inside a balikbayan box. Other gadgets that can be sent home to the Philippines include cameras, cellphones, and even headphones. Many OFWs opt to purchase these gadgets overseas because some of them are cheaper there than in the Philippines.
With kambal’s new ipad, you can now play against each other in your favorite online game!
5. Canned goods for nanay
Whether it’s Spam, corned beef, imported sardines, or canned sausage, nanay will for sure be delighted to see some additions to her ‘canned goods’ display. If you are an OFW, you know too well how these items will not be eaten until a month before its expiration. While they are far from expiration, they will be stacked neatly inside a well-protected cabinet to be up for display as bunso awaits the day the imported canned goods will finally be opened.
6. New relo and singsing for tatay
Although this is not common for all OFWs, gold jewelry, especially for OFWs in the Middle East, is a must when sending a balikbayan box to the Philippines. It is not only limited to necklaces and bracelets, though. Many OFWs also send new watches and rings.
Despite this, you must remind your family in the Philippines to be extra careful and to avoid wearing them if they are not needed.
7. Lotion and shampoo for tita
Tita needs to have a new addition to her lotion collection. Typically, lotions and shampoos from abroad come in big bottles and OFWs take this opportunity to also save some money. But we all know what happens to these big bottles of body products, they will be stuck inside tita’s cabinet full of imported lotions, shampoos, soaps, and conditioners, tapered with handwritten dates when they were added to the shelf so she would know which one will be used next. We know how the sequence goes, the first one in the shelf is the first one to go!
