What's a balikbayan box?

This Christmas, millions of Filipinos will send the ultimate, 100-lb. gift box home to their relatives. It's called a balikbayan box.

[@mlkneri]

I'm Filipino Canadian living with my family in Canada and we literally have one at home right now. We send at least one every year. Many Filipinos living abroad send those boxes every year and it's one of the ways we stay in touch with our family, relatives and friends back home. Everything in this video is true especially with the packing and taping lol xD

[@yg6484]

Yeah thank gosh LBC exists. (The Luzon Balikbayan Company it think)

[@davidb5205]

Haitians (and other Caribbean people) do the exact same thing with jumbo plastic drums/barrels. We call it a "droum"

[@Qznews]

That's super interesting @David Boucard. It's so cool to see pockets of similar traditions that pop up around the world.

[@cathya7045]

domincan overhere and we send boxes a lot

[@Aaron-yx8km]

The 3 dislikes are the dudes didn’t receive their balikbayan boxes

[@fv_.564]

Prolly

[@handsandpaws1027]

dislikes are probably because its LBC , the company with a bad reputation

[@TheReturnofJose]

One of the greatest Filipino inventions, a tradition of sending free stuff to love ones

[@christinamacaluso1761]

Thank you! This helped me a lot. My mom, who always sent boxes home, passed away last year. I felt sad that our family would no longer receive these, so I am packing my first box and was not sure what to include or how to pack it. Thank you!!

[@luistomaslloyd870]

We value snacks the most in every balik bayan boxes specially chocolate

[@Qznews]

Good to know!

[@whyhiman]

I want to send a box but don't know how ,,I have tried researching carriers but cant find and can I use any box as long as strong

[@pinkipromise]

balikbayan means going back to home in filippino. Balik means going back in malay language, bayaan means home in arabic

[@Qznews]

>> mind blown

[@kanamoney210]

Nice

[@edgarbounds]

Love this. Great content!

[@charitodelgado1133]

Thank u for your tip about bubble wrap I can use clothes to wrap fragile stuff.

[@patduss174]

Imagine sending Spam to someone on the other side of the planet. 😂

[@jeanescharms2163]

This will be my 4th year sending boxes. I use LBC because they are close and they have been very helpful. My friend that is living there will send a list she makes on Amazon and then send it to friends and family. They send everything to me and once I squish every last little thing in the box that I can, then off they go. I line each box with a giant plastic bag to keep moisture out. It takes 7-8 weeks to get there. I have not sent chocolate because I was told it might melt but I see a lot of people do. I also send very little other than what she asks for. Non-food items are brands she prefers and cannot buy there. Food items she also can't get there and some things she misses and don't taste the same when they are bought there. Just make sure liquids are wrapped 3 times in plastic!!!I use garbage bags which she reuses.

[@anthonymontoya880]

i am curious, can a small bbq grill fit in one of these balikbayan boxes?

[@alittlesugaplease1748]

If you are not Filipino but want to send food and other stuff to your friends that are in Philippines can you still do this? It feels so complicated. Trying to use US postal was expensive and couldn’t weigh a lot. Also do you have to do a customs form with this sort of box?

[@SiKedek]

Actually, yes - if they have a residential address in the Philippines. You just need to find a cargo forwarder that provides the "balikbayan" service (if you have any Filipino friends around, they *should* know of one or two). And yes, you do have to fill out a customs form - usually, the cargo forwarder will have their own forms, so make sure that you bring a list of items (along with quantities) that you will enclose in the box. That will save you a lot of headaches in the end.

[@brookstormhonorblade2782]

What % of your boxes over the recent years reach there destination without any theft? I am debating sending some old technology like an ipad and some old cell phones but I am worried if someone sees that on the customs form the box will get raided by employees.

[@vangiehossi]

first tome ako magpadala sa august 👍🏼😊

[@GM-wf6el]

if you are planning to return to PH but dont have a place in PH yet, can you send the box to a shipper address and pick up your balikbayan box at the shipper after you arrive? thanks

[@icar5468]

Thankies for sharing this is helpful

[@RedCentaureas]

Very nice!

[@turabulhaq9698]

0:01 "We like to move it, move it."

[@judes3994]

You are so sweet!

[@albertthedogeinstein7983]

How do I do it? I need help if anyone can help me

[@ghettosuperstar2able]

Glad I came across this

[@JeffreyAllanSousa]

Good Day can I purchase balikbayan boxes at homedepot, what are the boxes dimensions I need to use?

[@tierraciellophc]

Better go to a Filipino Store near you so you won't have any problem with the dimensions.

[@mfumento]

Sorry, it's just plain stupid to send stuff like Colgate toothpaste that they sell in Pinas for presumably about the same price. Send things not obtainable there or only obtainable at a very high price. Paper, notebooks, pens? Can't find those in a 7-story mall?

[@aleehonda8655]

Michael Fumento same thinking..ang corny nuh?hihi

[@tierraciellophc]

Iba kasi pag binigyan mo ng pera para sa school supplies, hindi dun ginagastos. Iba po ang binibili. Tapos sabay hingi na naman ng pambili. Ganurn.

[@markcristophernilo7397]

Economically speaking it is. But there is more to packaging stuff than money matters. To package stuff that you are using means to try to pack your very self into the package itself. It is to say that that is what they are using. This is also done to maximize the space by filling in all the knicks and crannies remaining. To package everything that can be fitted inside it is to complete the details of your love.

[@krdiaz8026]

@@markcristophernilo7397 Yes, that's the thinking behind it. To send money is impersonal to them. The culture of balikbayan boxes is based on the culture of Filipinos who migrated to the US in the late 20th century when imported chocolates were not yet commonly found in grocery stores. Nowadays, middle class Filipinos who can easily buy Colgate Whitening with baking soda (we have a tube in the bathroom) are less excited to receive a balikbayan box, except when the box comes from Europe and contains uncommon items. My family is middle-class and we are more annoyed than excited to receive a box of things we already have, and we give most of the contents away. This culture will likely stop when the first generation immigrants pass away. Fil-Am cousins who are not close to their Fil cousins are likely not going to go through the trouble, especially when their Fil cousins can easily get Spam at the grocery store.

[@anthony4acre]

your very sweet nana

[@atablevendetta1429]

Cool

[@roloice8420]

This is destroying or at the least, not helping, the Philippines economy.Everything sent from here already exist in the Philippines, perhaps some is made in China or is made even of better quality by pinoy hands. Best thing you can do is to just send money so your family can buy what they need or want in the Philippines and also help your own economy that way, by buying local or foreign products that have pay taxes to enter the country. Is just an opinion ...

[@Mr-pn2eh]

I could see this being a useful way to send car parts if they own a classic car that is hard to find parts for.

[@okzzzzz]

Boi is this true