Stuff doesn’t work in the Philippines. Power and internet connections are intermittent. Locally manufactured cling-wrap plastic doesn’t cling. Aluminum foil tears apart when you apply.
Some items can’t be found. Other items that can be found are expensive
due to high shipping costs incurred to reach the island nation.
For the last month or so,
Desiree and I have been purchasing dry goods, canned goods, and products
difficult or impossible to fine in the Philippines. Among the standard items such as aluminum
foil and plastic wrap, we added Dot’s Pretzels, High County brand beef jerky,
jars of my homemade huckleberry jam, and packets of Kirkland brand bacon bits.
The other night, we packed all these
items (and much more) into a balikbayan box.
The compound word “balik-bayan”
means a return to the country. Heavy-duty
corrugated boxes are stuffed full of items sent home to the Philippines by
Filipinos. They are transported
(sometimes taking many months for travel) by way of cargo ships at sea and are
sent for flat rate if weighing 120 pounds or less.
The boxes may hold almost
anything (firearms, illicit drugs, and a few other items are not allowed) and
most items arrive duty-free if the boxes have been shipped home by Filipinos
living overseas.
We will be shipping our box to
Desiree’s daughters in Manila. I have
previously, by other methods of shipping, sent my homemade huckleberry jam to
them. They are pretty much addicted to
that. I am a bit worried about the girls
getting addicted to Dot’s Pretzels.
Goodies Ready to Pack
Box Ready to Go
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