Every year, as Christmas approaches, thousands of cardboard boxes make their way across oceans to Filipino homes. These aren’t just ordinary packages—they’re balikbayan boxes, filled with carefully chosen gifts and everyday items that carry the weight of love and care from overseas Filipino workers to their families back home.
More than just a box
“It’s like sending a piece of your heart home,” says Digna Hamed, who has been working in Singapore for eight years. She starts filling her Christmas balikbayan box as early as July, carefully picking items her children will love. “Every time I see something in a store, I think, ‘Would this make my daughter smile? Would my son like this?’”
For OFWs like Digna, these boxes are more than just containers of goods—they’re the physical substitutes for the absent family members during Christmas, making them feel present even when they can’t be there themselves.
What goes inside
The contents of a balikbayan box tell stories of love and thoughtfulness. Here are some of the most common items found in balikbayan boxes.
Christmas Favorites
- Chocolates and sweets that taste different from local versions
- Special ingredients for Noche Buena
- Christmas decorations from other countries
Family needs
- New clothes and shoes for the whole family
- Toiletries and personal care items
- Vitamins and medicines
Special gifts
- Toys and school supplies for children
- Gadgets and electronics
- Items requested by family members
The art of packing
Packing a balikbayan box requires careful planning, strategy and some engineering. Heavy items go at the bottom, soft items work as cushions, and every space gets filled. But beyond these practical considerations, there’s an even finer art to arranging items so that opening the box becomes an experience.
“My dad puts small surprises between the bigger items,” shares Aron, an OFW’s son whose dad is in Dubai. “It’s like a treasure hunt. It’s so much fun finding those little treats as we unpack.”
Timing is everything
For Christmas delivery, most OFWs ship their boxes months in advance. September is usually the latest to ensure the box arrives before December 24. This early planning has become part of many OFWs’ Christmas tradition—shopping for Christmas gifts while their host countries are still celebrating summer.
Here are a few tips to ensure that the box arrives safely:
- Don’t send prohibited items like liquor or aerosols
- Pack liquids carefully in sealed plastic bags
- Use plenty of tape to secure the box
- Label everything clearly
- Keep a list of what you packed
Christmas magic
The arrival of a balikbayan box is always a special occasion, but during Christmas, it becomes magical. Families often wait to open their boxes on Christmas Eve, making it part of their Noche Buena celebration.
Modern technology has added new layers to this tradition. Many families now unbox their balikbayan boxes while on video calls with their loved ones abroad. Some even create “unboxing videos” to share with family members who couldn’t be present for the opening.
Beyond the gifts
What makes balikbayan boxes special isn’t just what’s inside them—it’s the love and effort that goes into preparing them. Each item is chosen with care, each space filled with hope, and each box sent with prayers for safe delivery.
For Filipino families, these boxes are reminders that despite the distance, their loved ones are thinking of them. They’re proof that even when families are oceans apart, love finds a way to bridge the gap.
This Christmas, as thousands of balikbayan boxes make their way across the world, they carry more than just gifts—they carry dreams, love, and the spirit of Filipino Christmas. They remind us that sometimes the biggest expressions of love come in cardboard boxes, carefully packed with thoughtfulness and sealed with hope.
