What's in your Balikbayan Box?

It's 61 days before Christmas and most OFY's around the world schedule their trips home during this festive season. Of course, who doesn't miss the smell of bibingka and puto bumbong on Simbang Gabi and the carolings of neighboring children in the streets? Families would go parol-hunting as early as September to make sure the houses are decked with lights and tinsels.

But for an OFY, one of the most important annual event in their OFY life is preparing the Balikbayan Box. Some even buy the boxes at the start of the year so they have a whole year to fill it up, while some cram up to the last minute to make sure that their boxes are filled up to the kilogram limit of the airline.

Nowadays, not everyone brings home a balikbayan box, some opt to do their shopping home and let their ralatives pick out what they want, but for most OFY's, nothing beats the joy of seeing excitement in our loved ones' faces when they see the limited edition Nike rubber shoes (that you got on sale) , the (50% off ) complete Clinique make-up set, or the (buy one take one) Hershey's Kisses.

At the end of the day, it's more than material stuff... cliche as it is, it's celebrating the spirit of giving- OFY style.

Top 5 Popular Balikbayan box items

1. Imported Chocolates and Candy

2. Imported Groceries like Coffee, Corned Beef and Peanut Butter

3. Electronics - LCD TV, cellphone, Ipods

4. Signature Clothe, Bags and Perfume

5. Rubber shoes (deserves its own spot)

How about you ? What's in your Balikbayan Box? let us know at ofyuppies@gmail.com

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Just Always Pray at Night

The recent events in the first quarter of 2011 left overseas Filipinos across the globe stunned and panicked. To date, OFWs living in Egypt, Libya, Yemen, Bahrain, New Zealand and Japan are facing difficult times. Thousands have been repatriated while a lot are still in these countries trying to cope.

The Philippine government is trying to do its best to offer assistance to OFWs by providing flights , free calls and money. All these to make sure the OFWs safety is secured. But there are still those who chose to stay in these countries amidst the danger... thinking that the worst is over and the risk is better than going home and facing unemployment.

At this point, the best thing to do is to pray for our fellow Filipinos' safety and for them to have a better life back home. I guess, this is also a wakeup call for all of us OFYuppies. Life abroad is not permanent... we must always be prepared emotionally and financially just in case we need to pack our bags and say hello to home.