📦 My First Time Sending Balikbayan Boxes: A Bittersweet Milestone
This month, I did something I’ve never done before—something that might seem small to others, but feels monumental to me. I sent two balikbayan boxes to the Philippines, entirely on my own. No parents coordinating the logistics, no one guiding the process. Just me, making the decisions, packing the items, and choosing what love looks like in cardboard form.
Growing up, I was used to my parents handling everything when it came to sending boxes back home. They knew the routine—what to include, who to send it to, how to time it just right. I was the kid on the receiving end, waiting with wide eyes for the box to arrive, knowing it carried not just goods but care, connection, and love. So now, stepping into that role myself feels like crossing a quiet threshold into adulthood. It’s a milestone I didn’t expect to feel so deeply.
🎁 Two Boxes, Two Families
I decided to send one box to my father’s side of the family and the other to my mother’s. It felt right—balanced, intentional, and rooted in gratitude. Initially, I planned to include practical items: bedding we hadn’t used in a while, clothes that were still in great condition but no longer fit us. Pieces of our everyday life that could be repurposed and appreciated.
But as I packed, the boxes began to fill with more than just fabric and thread. I added chocolates, hygiene essentials, and beauty products—little luxuries that I hope will bring joy. My cousin from my dad’s side had asked for a printer for her kids, and I was more than happy to include one. It’s something useful, something that will serve not just one person but a whole household. That’s how I like to give—through things that meet a need, spark joy, and carry purpose. I’d rather send something tangible and helpful than money.
💌 Bittersweet Reflections
As I sealed the boxes, a wave of nostalgia hit me. I remembered being a child in the Philippines, waiting for my dad’s balikbayan box to arrive. The excitement of opening it, the scent of foreign air trapped inside, the feeling of being remembered—it was magic. And now, I’m on the other side of that experience, hoping to recreate that same magic for someone else.
It’s bittersweet. There’s joy in giving, but also a quiet ache in remembering. These boxes are more than packages—they’re echoes of my childhood, stitched with memory and intention.
⏳ The Wait Begins
The boxes will take about two months to arrive. That’s the nature of sea cargo—slow, steady, and full of anticipation. I hope my relatives feel the care I put into each item. I hope they see the thought behind the choices. And most of all, I hope they feel loved.
I’m looking forward to seeing photos of them holding the items, smiling, maybe even surprised. I want them to feel what I once felt: that someone far away was thinking of them, and that love can travel oceans.
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