Slowly Filling My Balik Bayan Box

My delivery arrived today from Costco. I am slowly filling up the balik bayan box which I will be sending to my family back in the Philippines. A balik bayan box is a usual cardboard shipping box but Filipinos call it balik bayan box. balik bayan roughly translates to coming back to the place you are from. This term could also refer to the act of coming back or to the people themselves who are coming back home to the Philippines such as the Filipino Workers Abroad and or the Filipino living abroad who visits the Philippines. That is my own description of the term base on my observation and experience.

The balik bayan boxes are usually sent during Christmas season. That is how Filipinos are. We love to send these boxes to our friends and families. Do not fret when someone jokes around telling you what their shirt or shoe size is. That is a pinoy thing. It is usually a joke and a fun way to ask for a gift. We do not get offended though because it could be taken as a joke or a subtle way of asking.

Here the delivery from Costco are bottles of fish oil and vitamin C gummies. These are requests from my family. The adults are requesting for fish oil especially those with cholesterol concerns. The vitamin C gummies are for everyone to help boost their immune system especially in these days of the corona virus. They are not asking for anything else aside from these health supplements.

See the balik bayan box is now slowly getting filled. I added some multi vitamins and canned goods.

Some other random items to fill the box. Cleaning products we use around the house, hygiene and bath products. I will be buying some more and maybe some clothes too. How about you guys do you have something similar to our balik bayan box?

Thrive On Hive
Jad