It’s that merry, merry time of the year when hundreds of thousands of balikbayan boxes from Filipinos around the world are being delivered across the Philippines to make Christmas merrier for loved ones back home.
While it’s a normal thing for Filipino families to receive balikbayan boxes throughout the year, receiving those beloved boxes filled with goodies (and with that unexplainable, unique smell of the “first world”—“amoy-Amerika”) during the holiday season is especially more exciting because it is expected to contain not just the usual coffee, chocolates and canned goods, but imported Christmas gifts and treats as well. Thus, overseas Filipinos, especially Filipino Americans (who send the most number of boxes back home), are challenged to send more and spend more for the holiday boxes. Not easy to do during these hard times. But, as one nurse in LA admitted, “kahit may recession, siyempre non-negotiable ang pagpapadala ng balikbayan box sa pamilya ko. Lalo na ngayong Pasko. Kung hirap tayo dito sa America, mas hirap naman sila duon. Kaya nga, all the more akong nagsisikap na padalhan sila ng special treats and gifts this holiday season.”
To get an insight on what people abroad are putting in those boxes to send to their loved ones in the Philippines, one can go through many blogs in the internet. One blogger from Manila wrote about what their family got for the holidays. He said, “We got several balikbayan boxes this year from New York and one from Sydney. Some of the food items in the boxes included tons of candy for our annual gingerbread house—gummy bears, spice drops, twizzlers, hard candy, sour balls, candy canes, foil wrapped chocolates, etc. We also got lots of good olive oil, real maple syrup for all those pancakes and waffles, bottled artichokes which are so pricey locally, good hot mustard, hot chocolate mixes, Italian tuna, canned plum tomatoes, dried apricots and cranberries, dill pickles, a year’s supply of Earl Grey Tea which for some reason is 3 times the price in Manila as it is in bulk purchases in New York, good balsamic vinegars, coffee, etc. We also got 50-60 magazines to keep us occupied between Christmas and New Year’s Day! The package from Australia also had dried fruits, jams, sauces, chips, sweets, among other Christmas regalos and pasalubongs. But the highlight of the US boxes this year is a nice big Southern Ham from Clifty Farms. I am not a great big fan of the sweetish pineapple-ly local hams so I was thrilled to receive this drier, saltier and absolutely delicious ham. We will have it for Christmas Eve for sure. I also know it will last for several days afterwards and be reincarnated in sandwiches, with breakfasts, soups, etc. So, to all of you abroad who have sent these wonderful boxes filled with all of the goodies that will make your relatives and friends so happy, maraming, maraming salamat! Now if only we could send you back balikbayan boxes filled with green mango, bottled bagoong, dried danggit or tuyo, a bibingka or two and some fresh sampalok.”
A young couple whose parents are in California revealed what they requested from their mom for the holidays—“yung pang noche buena, aside from the regalos.” Thus, many boxes contain cans and cans of fruit cocktail, peach halves, heavy cream, mayonnaise for salads, canned ham, pasta, cake and cookie mixes, fruit cake, cheese, and boxes of chocolates, which are perennial favorites.
The fast-growing Filipino community in Australia are enjoying the service of Forex (also being offered in the East Coast), which delivers pre-packed gift boxes for Christmas. They have studied the contents of balikbayan boxes and have come up with the most popular items.
The ‘Praktikal’ Pre-Packed Gift Box (contents and delivery charges included) for around $150 Australian dollars include:
3 - cans Spam
3 - cans Libby’s/Palm Corned Beef
3 - cans Tulip Luncheon Meat
3 - cans Libby’s Vienna Sausage
2 - cans Libby’s/Del Monte Fruit Cocktail
1 - bag Hershey’s Assorted Mini Chocolates
1 - box Swiss Miss Hot Chocolate/Cocoa
1 - bottle Taster’s Choice/Folgers Coffee
1 - box Chips Ahoy
1 - can Nestea Iced Tea Mix
6 - packs Instant Noodles
1 - can Pringles or
2 - cans Piknik
1 - can Prago or
2 - cans Hunts/Del Monte Spaghetti Sauce
1 - 10 lb sack of Jasmin Rice.
With the rising cost of living and many industries in the States forced to layoff workers or push them into voluntary retirement, will Filipinos drop the habit of sending balikbayan boxes? No way, said 10 out of 10 Pinoy I asked in LA. “It’s already a part of our culture,” Rico, a real estate broker in Anaheim whose income has been sorely affected by the crisis. “Maybe, the frequency of sending boxes to my relatives may decrease, but it has never entered my mind to stop sending balikbayan boxes. Part na yan ng routine ko.”
However, some have admitted that their relatives back home have expressed that they would rather receive tangible tender loving care in cash than in kind this holiday season.
“Kahit hirap din kami,” said Pia from Fullerton, “siyempre, we can’t say no. After all, Christmas is about giving love and making our loved ones happy.” (www.asianjournal.com)
(Published December 19,2008 p.sf3 NC)
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