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Do you find yourself in any of the following situations cited below?

• You are thinking of moving to the Philippines but are daunted at the prospect of shipping your belongings from your home country to your new residence.
• You are an expat already based in the Philippines, and your relatives from back home want to send you some goodies for the holidays.
• You want to ship some items to your relatives, or your spouse’s relatives, in the Philippines.
• You are a “balikbayan” and are planning to come back to the Philippines (perhaps for the first time ever!), with a lot of presents in tow.

If the answer to the above posted question is “Yes”, one of the options you could consider is using a Balikbayan Box to ship things to the Philippines.

A balikbayan box contains any number of items ranging from clothes, to canned goods, toiletries, books and electronics sent from abroad to the Philippines, traditionally by an overseas Filipino, known as a “balikbayan”. Balikbayan boxes started to become popular around the 1970s, when overseas Filipino workers from the USA would bring with them these eagerly-awaited pasalubong (homecoming gifts or tokens) back to their families and friends. These balikbayan boxes enabled our hardworking Overseas Filipino Workers or OFWs to share a slice of the “American Dream” with their loved ones in the Philippines, but over the years it has evolved into a genuinely Filipino custom, practiced by balikbayans from all corners of the globe.

Balikbayans traditionally brought home balikbayan boxes with them aboard their flights or voyages (and you knew someone was a balikbayan from the impressive number of those boxes surrounding him or her!), but due to the increased restriction on luggage allowances, nowadays most balikbayan boxes make their way to the Philippines through freight forwarding.

So now you’ve done your shopping for items you want to send to the Philippines, and have a list of people who are receiving them. What’s next?

1) Getting the box

You can buy a balikbayan box through a cargo forwarding company. Boxes may also be available at your local Asian/Filipino supermarket or grocery store. If you have any OFW friends, ask them where they buy their boxes! And if those fail, try to search on Google with the following terms: “balikbayan box” + “name of your hometown”.

There are different sizes available for your needs — they range from 23 x 17 x 20 inches (actually, as small as you want) to about 30 x 20 x 20 inches. The great thing about using a balikbayan box is that the cost of shipping is the same regardless of the box’s weight. Do take note, though, that this is true only for boxes shipped by sea, which could take several weeks depending on the sender’s and recipient’s location. Shipping by air (which is much faster but subject to airline luggage restrictions) is normally only used for emergency purposes.

2) Packing and sealing

Place the heaviest items at the bottom of the box. Use bubble wrap for fragile items, or pack them in a separate lighter box, as the heavier boxes are usually loaded at the bottom of the ocean liner. If you are sending clothes, you may also use these to wrap other items — be resourceful! Try to pack liquids, such as lotions and shampoos, inside resealable plastic bags. Include a packing list for your intended recipients.

Don’t forget to check with your freight forwarding company about customs-prohibited items.

Seal your box carefully using packing or strapping (not duct, as it tends to unravel with the humidity) tape. Using a black permanent marker, label your box on every side with the recipient’s complete name, address and telephone number.

3) Which company?

Check your carrier for both price and reliability. From the United States, shipping usually costs $60 to $120 per box; be wary if the prices are outside this range. (Prices may be much higher in other places such as in the UK or Latin America.) Make sure the company is accredited with the appropriate agencies e.g. Federal Maritime Commission, or the Philippines Shippers’ Bureau or Department of Trade and Industry. Check the Better Business Bureau for complaints. Ask your OFW friends for their experiences and recommendations with freight forwarders. And again, Google the company for reviews!

Try to shop around to get the best value for your money. Some companies provide services such as pick-ups straight from your house, so that you don’t have to drop your box off at their location. Others take photos of your recipient with the box, and then send you the photo and proof of receipt. Look out for other perks such as regular-customer discounts.

4) Bill of lading

A bill of lading (or sales invoice) is issued by the freight forwarding company, acknowledging that your box has been received by the carrier and will be delivered to the specified recipient. It includes the list of items that are inside the box, and the recipient’s information (e.g. name, address and phone number). You will need to fill out a bill of lading for every recipient—that is, if you are sending two boxes to just one recipient, only one bill of lading needs to be completed.

5) The send-off

Check your forwarding company for the methods of payment. Ask for a tracking code so you can track the box either by phone or online. Notify your recipient about the shipment and when they can expect to receive it, and make sure they can provide valid identification upon receipt. Lastly, remind them to keep you updated if they have received the balikbayan box, or if they encounter any problems so you can follow up with the company.

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What to ship things to the Philippines? A Balikbayan Box helps, according to Katlyn Batuigas.

Below are some pointers that can help foreigners interact with Filipinos in general and Davaoeños (local folks in Davao) in particular. These are applicable in common social situations.

Social Gatherings and Meeting People

What To Wear

For less formal gatherings such as casual parties and meals especially here in Davao, a decidedly more laidback city compared to Manila, many people (men and women alike) usually pair jeans with nice casual polo shirts (for men) and blouses (for women).

For the ladies, it is important to dress tastefully. Showing “too much skin” is frowned upon, and it is better to err on the side of caution and dress a little more conservatively.

Meet The Parents… Kuyas, Titos, and everyone else too

Filipino society revolves around core family values, one of these being respect to the elderly. The oldest person in a gathering is usually the most important and accorded the most respect.

Remember The Title

Address people with Mr., Mrs., Ms or titles such as Dr., Atty., Engr., and their family name. Wait until you are invited to use given name or even a nick name.

We Shake Hands, Too

A smile and a polite (not too firm) handshake are acceptable for greeting new people.

Meeting Time

In large social gatherings, it is usually fine to arrive 15 – 30 minutes late. Even an hour late is acceptable for VIPs. For business meetings, however, everyone is expected to be on time.

To learn more about Filipino Time, click here.

For The Real Gentlemen

For men, a gentlemanly attitude and manners are very much appreciated. Go ahead and hold the door open for the ladies!

Dining Manners And All

Who will pay?

In general, the person who invites pays for the meal, but as a guest be prepared to offer to pay as well (your offer will usually be declined).

Home Dining

If you are invited to a meal at your host’s home, bring a gift or token to show your appreciation. A couple of good examples would be a basket of fresh fruits (easy to find, and better yet, cheap, in Davao), drinks (such as wine) that can be shared after the meal. Compliment the host and his/her spouse on their home.

Don’t begin eating until the host invites to do so

Your host may offer you an alcoholic drink (usually either beer or wine) to go with the meal. It’s fine to refuse if you don’t drink or do not want to drink. If you do take up the offer, remember that getting drunk is frowned upon

During meals, the general rule is to help yourself. You may offer to serve some of the food or pour a drink for the person seated next to you, but it is fine not to do so

Spoons, Knives, Chopsticks or just Toothpick?

Spoons and forks are almost always used during meals. Sometimes chopsticks may be used, if dining at an Asian restaurant. Less frequently, people may eat using their own hands, but this is usually done at very informal and casual settings. (Besides, there is an art to eating with your hands, and it takes a lot of practice before you are able to feed yourself properly without making a mess.) It’s fine not to follow what other guests are using and just use whatever you’re comfortable with

Don’t Eat The Last Donut: Filipino Style

It is acceptable to not finish all of the food and say you are full. “Sayang!” The last morsel of the dish is usually just left on the table.

What To Do Next?

Don’t immediately leave after meals; lingering and a little bit of chit-chat is expected

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This article on Social Etiquette To Observe In Davao and The Philippines is written by Katlyn Batuigas.