Balikbayan Boxes Full of Pencils

When I went to the Philippines for the first time in 2004, I flew directly from San Diego to San Francisco and met my family there before we all flew to the Philippines. For that trip, I only had luggage to be checked in. When my family saw me they mentioned what a waste it was that I was only flying with one bag…and if they had known, would have packed me a balakbian box of my own. I didn’t realize at the time what they had meant by “what a waste.”

This time, however, I perfectly understood why it was such a waste. Since I flew into Sacramento a couple of days before our flight, I was able to help my parents pack these balakbian boxes. As we filled them, I realized what we were bringing with us. These things we were putting into these boxes…the rolls of paper towels, the bundles of toilet paper, the lotions and shampoo bottles from bath and body works, the instant coffee, the packets of sugar, and the cheap soap…aren’t just random items, but items that we would use to give away as gifts and presents. The paper towels, toilet paper, soap, coffee, and sugar were meant for gifts for those hosting us for the week or to use at my grandmother’s house where we would spend most of our time. These simple items, which I take for granted, are so valuable to those that live in the Philippines. They are items that they don’t have access to…or if they do…are so expensive that it is cheaper for us to bring them from the states. The fancy lotions, shampoo, and chocolate were meant as gifts to relatives, friends, the help, and others who crossed or path. I realize now that in 2004, I took away the chance for us to pack more items to give away. I also now understand that it also meant less room for family members here in the states who weren’t going to the PI that would also give us items for us to bring to their loved ones back home.

The one thing I didn’t understand was the pencils and pens. I mean we were bringing boxes and boxes of pencils and pens. When I asked my mom, she told me that they were for two schools: one school in San Nicolas that my Tia Puring sponsors and the other for the school in Bagio where my grandmother (my mom’s mom) taught at. She mentioned that it can be difficult to get pens and pencils that bringing these items with us would help those children at the school to learn.

At this point, I began to tear up and cry. I’ve always known that the PI is a third world country. I guess it just never hit me till now.