Balikbayan Boxes

Filipinos are known for their balikbayan boxes. It is common for Filipinos to be sending gifts to their families, especially when they haven’t been home for quite some time. The word “balikbayan” means “return to home.”

These boxes mean connecting with their families, remembering them through the goodies they’ll send, and make their presence felt at home even if they are too far away. These balikbayan boxes are loved by families, especially when given during special occasions such as Christmas.

If this is your first time to send a balikbayan box, then you just came to the right place! Here are some commonly asked questions that we would love to share with you:

Are there restrictions?

There are a lot of items you can put inside a Balikbayan box such as:

Household goods
Biscuits
Food
Clothes
Chocolates

Be reminded that an overseas Filipino is only allowed to send one box every six months. In addition to that, only non-commercial goods can be included. That means goods that are not for selling. The total value of the box should not exceed Php 150,000 (HK$23,000). Some items that are prohibited are meat (unless canned), medication, alcohol, pets, plants and seed, soils, etc. You can check other banned items from this link.

Let’s talk about the prices

The shipping varies among operators and also dependent on the size and delivery location. The cheapest area is in Manila. The good news is that this balikbayan box is tax-free, and there are no restrictions when it comes to weight. You are free to fit in items without being anxious if you reached the weight limit.

Bringing the balikbayan box with you when you fly back home

Know that there are different sizes of Balikbayan boxes. Before buying one, already thinking ahead of what you’re going to be putting inside so that you’ll not underestimate/overestimate the box you’ll buy. Some operators would offer discounts if you decided to drop off your package to their branch.

Prepare

It’s never wrong to prepare. Meaning, list down already what are you going to put inside the box. Choose the correct size, plan when you are going to send it. Give it 1 to 2 weeks for your parcel to arrive after you shipped it. If you plan on sending presents for Christmas day, ship it more advanced that usual so that it’ll arrive on time. Remember that Christmas season might be a busy time for everyone, so people usually send gifts and packages.

When it comes to fragile objects, ensure that it’s carefully packed. Seal well the containers holding liquids through a duct-tape. Close the box carefully to make sure the safety of the items. Try to secure the opening and edges to make it well-built. Remember that duct tape is your ally!