Beyond Balikbayan Boxes

Kuya Lito was my very first sibling who moved to the US in the 70s. After graduating from Commerce at the University of Santo Tomas and passing the CPA board exams, he was hired by a local company with a nice office in Makati. He moved to another trading company but resigned to immigrate to the US. I knew that he got the visa by just walking in at the US embassy and filling out a form for professionals wanting to work and live in the US.

There were no balikbayan boxes yet during those days. My brother would send some goodies thru his friends coming home to the Philippines. Ang tawag duon ay “pakidala”. Once or twice a year, we got greeting cards na merong nakasipit na one dollar which was enough to make us jump up and down. Pag merong umuwi, meron syang padalang t-shirt, M&M chocolates, Kisses, or key chain, soap, lotion, or shampoo and a photo of him wearing turtleneck. “Ang ginaw sa America!” Moments like that were heaven. “Ang bangooo! Amoy stateside” were the usual expressions upon opening the package.

My parents would be beaming with pride upon seeing the padala of their mabait na anak. His handwritten letters were the most valuable thing and the most anticipated by my parents. My brother went to the US thru his own volition, not out of poverty. He was already an executive here in the Philippines earning more than most people in our town when he left for abroad. My parents also didn’t have to depend on him for anything. But Kuya Lito was helpful and generous to us.

We would write back to him and senselessly sent lists of “pakibili”. Na actually eh “hingi” lang naman talaga kasi pakibili na wala namang bayad. Minsan tatawag pa kami sa telephone para humingi ng pabango.

The list included Revlon shampoo (hindi pa uso ang conditioner), Colgate toothpaste, Dove soap, Ivory, Del Monte fruit cocktail, Irish Spring.

After a year or two, my eldest doctor brother, Kuya Junior followed suit. He left his wife and three little boys to work for a hospital in Chicago. His family joined him in America only after a few months.

When Kuya Lito put up his own office, his trips to Manila became more frequent. He always had pasalubong for everyone. Aside from that, many Filipinos in the US would send thru him pakidala to their families here in Manila. When Kuya goes back to the US his employees naman in Manila would send a lot of stuff for their relatives living in America. Ensaymada, sampaloc, bagoong, hopia, tabo, basahan, pastillas, pulvoron, etc.

During the first 10 years of our visits to the US, we always came home with lots of Balikbayan boxes. These were full of $3 towels from JC Penny, bulky comforters, pressure cooker, fluffy pillows, soft blankets, curtains, bath mats, Corelle plates, cups and saucers, Del Monte Fruit cocktail, Kisses, M&M, Dove, Ivory, Tone soap, Spam, Libby’s sausage, shampoos, toothpastes, diapers, toys, is-is ng kawali, etc.
No branded bags, shoes, and the like.

The boxes during that time were much bigger. And the weight allowance was 75 kg. Then the boxes became smaller and PAL’s weight allowance were reduced. Nun, pag sumobra ang timbang, nadadaan sa awa at pakiusap. “Sige na nga, pero sa susunod bawasan yung delata”.

The highlight of our annual trips to the US were the shopping. Kung anu-ano lang naman. Walang contrabando. Walang chop-chop na spare parts. No guns and ammunitions.

When one shipper disappeared with thousands of balikbayan boxes supposedly for delivery to the Philippines from the Bay Area, thousands of our kababayans cried. One box contained an estimated $500 worth of merchandise. Dollar dollar na Ivory soap, spam, Revlon, Cadburry, pinaglumaang cellphone, etc. I knew that because I’ve seen houses with open balikbayan boxes on their hallway. Unti-unti nilang pinupuno ng laman. Nagpi-flea market sila, nag-aabang ng sale sa Macy’s. Pakonti-konti, iniipun nila yung padala. Yung iba mga pinaglumaang gamit.

There was a time when I would donate boxes of used magazines to the Philippine Marines who were stationed in the south. Tuwang-tuwa ang mga heneral nila pag meron akong padala. They had something to read in the jungles. My sister and brother in law sent those magazines to me from the US thru balikbayan boxes. Kabigat-bigat.

My sister also would occasionally send old clothes and personal effects. Eto naman pinamimigay ko sa mga maids, sa mga tiga Binangonan, dun sa mahihirap. Wala kaming isinisipit na kontrabando. It’s all for charity.

One time Aileen and I went to the flea market a few blocks from their house, I’ve seen a group of Filipinos with push carts. They were buying the dollar a piece things. Yung meron naman dito sa atin. Toothpaste, shampoo, soap, mga sweater (mainit dito), dollar t-shirts, pati supilyo at garter, etc. I heard them talking about their boxes “O nakapuno ka na ba?” “Malapit na, tamang-tama sa pasko ang dating”.

Beyond the contents of their balikbayan boxes, is their love and longing for their families left behind. It’s a symbol of their pride, generosity and caring. Sending boxes is an accomplishment for them. They are happy to give because their loved ones are happy to receive.