Hi everyone

[Sis Suze]

I joined this forum last year when I found my brother after 25 yrs and discovered he was living in the Phils.
To cut a long story short, he reinded me why we fell out all those years ago and are now estranged again (thank goodness!)because he was using and abusing Filipino girls and women and telling massive lies to people.

Anyway, the good to come out of it is that I have remained friends with the family of the girl he was with when he came her and the girl he met when he went back and they are decent people, unlike him. I speak with them regularly via yahoo and chikka and I know consider them a significant part of my family.

I've sent one or two little things over but really just bits and bobs as I can't afford much and in any case, the postage usually costs more than the contents :cwm34:

What I would really like to know is this....what type of things would the Filipino people appreciate as token gifts....such as what do they like that they can't get easily there? I just send little tokens of pretty stationary items and dress jewellery, plus I discovered that certain feminine hygiene products are unobtainable so I've sent those over as well. We're talking not very well off people here so I need some ideas of things to just make life a little more pleasant for them.

Looking forward to hearing from some of you. :)

[IainBusby]

Hi Suze,
Welcome to the forum. When Filipinos send stuff home they usually do it in bulk by means of what is known as a balikbayan box. This is something you would tend to fill up over a period of time with lots of diferent thing. It doesn't need to cost a lot to be appreciated, many people send second hand clothes, shoes, trainers, handbags etc. Well known brand name stuff from the west is especially prized over there.

The other things that people usually send are things like second hand mobile phones and other small electronic devices for the kids. Some canned food such as corned beef and things like tea and coffee is also a good idea as is perfumes ect, if you look around the house you might be surprised how many smellies you have recieved as Christmas or Birthday prezzies that you've never even opened.

The only 2 downsides of the balikbayan box is the cost, a jumbo box will cost you about £110 to send and the time it takes to get there, about 2 months or so, but you need to look at the balikbayan box as a long term project, maybe just once or twice a year.

I'm sure some of the Filipina's on here will think of other stuff you might send that I haven't thought of as well.

Cheers,

Iain.

[Mrs.JMajor]

Hi Sis your such sweet gal aint you :D giving presents, If you will ask me I would love to have chocolates :icon_lol: and yes cell phone :BouncyHappy: and jewelry that would be fine :BouncyHappy: and some sorta imported shampoos are really appreciated although we had loads of different shampoos lol and sorta Dove, gosh I am going back to PI soon, so my sisters just ask for imported Dove soap and shampoo :cwm34::icon_lol: and chocolate although we had toblerone in PI as well :cwm34::doh

Welcome to the forum

[Sailor_JT]

Thanks guys useful info I have often wondered what to send and my other half thinks of millions of things (cos they are all useful there) but one big one we found was useful particular was children's clothes especially babies, we all know how fast they grow out of them and if your not planning any more just yet I am absolutely sure there is member of the family already way ahead of you right now.

[pennybarry]

I joined this forum last year when I found my brother after 25 yrs and discovered he was living in the Phils.
To cut a long story short, he reinded me why we fell out all those years ago and are now estranged again (thank goodness!)because he was using and abusing Filipino girls and women and telling massive lies to people.

Anyway, the good to come out of it is that I have remained friends with the family of the girl he was with when he came her and the girl he met when he went back and they are decent people, unlike him. I speak with them regularly via yahoo and chikka and I know consider them a significant part of my family.

I've sent one or two little things over but really just bits and bobs as I can't afford much and in any case, the postage usually costs more than the contents :cwm34:

What I would really like to know is this....what type of things would the Filipino people appreciate as token gifts....such as what do they like that they can't get easily there? I just send little tokens of pretty stationary items and dress jewellery, plus I discovered that certain feminine hygiene products are unobtainable so I've sent those over as well. We're talking not very well off people here so I need some ideas of things to just make life a little more pleasant for them.

Looking forward to hearing from some of you. :)

There's also bulilit box where you can put soap, shampoo, toothpaste. You can save much by sending balikbayan box. Just google BALIKBAYAN BOX TO PHILIPPINES. :xxgrinning--00xx3:


Hi Sis your such sweet gal aint you :D giving presents, If you will ask me I would love to have chocolates :icon_lol: and yes cell phone :BouncyHappy: and jewelry that would be fine :BouncyHappy: and some sorta imported shampoos are really appreciated although we had loads of different shampoos lol and sorta Dove, gosh I am going back to PI soon, so my sisters just ask for imported Dove soap and shampoo :cwm34::icon_lol: and chocolate although we had toblerone in PI as well :cwm34::doh

Welcome to the forum

Do you still have space in your suit case?
Mine is full:Brick:
Looking for pants and jacket with full of pockets:action-smiley-081:

[Mrs.JMajor]

Do you still have space in your suit case?
Mine is full:Brick:
Looking for pants and jacket with full of pockets:action-smiley-081:
Its all presents friendship, I am not gonna bring any clothes for me, As I left lots of my clothes in PI, so I still have some room for you ,if you want me to bring for you in Laguna :Rasp::Cuckoo:

:action-smiley-081: There you go :icon_lol::cwm38:

[pennybarry]

Its all presents friendship, I am not gonna bring any clothes for me, As I left lots of my clothes in PI, so I still have some room for you ,if you want me to bring for you in Laguna :Rasp::Cuckoo:

:action-smiley-081: There you go :icon_lol::cwm38:

Well well you are welcome even if you will not do any favour:xxgrinning--00xx3:

Wanna see your reaction when you reach my place. A little house surrounded by 3 big houses 3 storey lol.

R u ready and willing to meet my Nanay's pet? Still at-large. She just changed her clothes and left behind.:omg: I will gonna help her where she's hiding.

[IainBusby]

Hi Sis your such sweet gal aint you :D giving presents, If you will ask me I would love to have chocolates :icon_lol: and yes cell phone :BouncyHappy: and jewelry that would be fine :BouncyHappy: and some sorta imported shampoos are really appreciated although we had loads of different shampoos lol and sorta Dove, gosh I am going back to PI soon, so my sisters just ask for imported Dove soap and shampoo :cwm34::icon_lol: and chocolate although we had toblerone in PI as well :cwm34::doh

Welcome to the forum

Oh yes I forgot, chocalate, lots and lots of chocalate!

[Sun Shine]

Welcome to the forum Suze!:Hellooo:

[Sailor_JT]

Thanks guys useful info I often wonder what to send although my wife can think of millions of things (all useful back home) we found that baby clothes and kids clothes are always welcome cos if your not planing another there will be someone back home ahead of you with one on the way.

[trader dave]

reading books paper pens crayons toys only the well off have toys

basicly anything that you dont want someone over there will appreciate it :xxgrinning--00xx3:


as others have said balikbiyon box is the best i would imagine there a few boxes getting filled now ready to be shipped for xmas and i know a few guys will be:furious3: that ****king box:doh whens it getting collected :Hellooo::Hellooo::icon_lol:

[Sis Suze]

Thanks for the replies everyone...like the sound of the Balikbayan box although the price is scary!! Still, If I weigh up all the money it costs to send individual items, it has to work out much cheaper especially as the weight doesn't matter on the ship.

I thought about chocolate but doesn't this melt with the heat? Is there a way to prevent this from happening? I also don't want to offend anyone by sending stuff that isn't necessary or assume they don't have basics so that I embarrass anyone. It's very difficult to try and help without causing offence. Someone mentioned sheets and towels etc on another forum, are these things which are too expensive or hard to come by? For instance, I have two bedding sets which I bought last year and only used once...would that be an insult if I sent them to the Phils?

I am quite shocked to learn about the Philippines way of life, I didn't realise that it was so deprived because everyone I speak to there seems so happy and proud of their beautiful Country! What a lesson to us all to be happy with a simpler life?

Thanks again everyone for your ansers. Have a good weekend

[Arthur Little]

Thanks for the replies everyone...like the sound of the Balikbayan box although the price is scary!! Still, If I weigh up all the money it costs to send individual items, it has to work out much cheaper especially as the weight doesn't matter on the ship.

I thought about chocolate but doesn't this melt with the heat? Is there a way to prevent this from happening? I also don't want to offend anyone by sending stuff that isn't necessary or assume they don't have basics so that I embarrass anyone. It's very difficult to try and help without causing offence. Someone mentioned sheets and towels etc on another forum, are these things which are too expensive or hard to come by? For instance, I have two bedding sets which I bought last year and only used once...would that be an insult if I sent them to the Phils?

I am quite shocked to learn about the Philippines way of life, I didn't realise that it was so deprived because everyone I speak to there seems so happy and proud of their beautiful Country! What a lesson to us all to be happy with a simpler life?

Thanks again everyone for your ansers. Have a good weekend

It's extremely :cwm38:warming to read such an uplifting thread clearly demonstrating your generosity of spirit, Suze. Thankyou for sharing it with us and Welcome. :)

[trader dave]

Thanks for the replies everyone...like the sound of the Balikbayan box although the price is scary!! Still, If I weigh up all the money it costs to send individual items, it has to work out much cheaper especially as the weight doesn't matter on the ship.

I thought about chocolate but doesn't this melt with the heat? Is there a way to prevent this from happening? I also don't want to offend anyone by sending stuff that isn't necessary or assume they don't have basics so that I embarrass anyone. It's very difficult to try and help without causing offence. Someone mentioned sheets and towels etc on another forum, are these things which are too expensive or hard to come by? For instance, I have two bedding sets which I bought last year and only used once...would that be an insult if I sent them to the Phils?

I am quite shocked to learn about the Philippines way of life, I didn't realise that it was so deprived because everyone I speak to there seems so happy and proud of their beautiful Country! What a lesson to us all to be happy with a simpler life?

Thanks again everyone for your ansers. Have a good weekend

chocolate does melt but nobody will complain yes sheets towels blankets thats all fine

if you was to go there you suddenly relise you dont need all our western luxurys to be happy

you see people with absolutly nothing and i mean nothing they have a smile on there face and they are proud of there country they know its short comings but they dont like foregners keep putting it down :doh

only 2 days ago my wife was in manila she had been to submit her papers to join me here

she was sitting in a pizza place and there was an old foregner sitting behind her slagging off everything and everyone in the philippines ,the guy was talking to himself

but this offended my wife so she said SIR why you say so many not nice things about my country and our people ?

so they had a debate about it but in the end she took my line

IF YOU DONT LIKE IT .... OFF BACK WHERE YOU CAME FROM [thats my girl ]

[Sis Suze]

It's extremely :cwm38:warming to read such an uplifting thread clearly demonstrating your generosity of spirit, Suze. Thankyou for sharing it with us and Welcome. :)

What a lovely thing to say and thank you! :D Although I am ashamed and embarrassed by the way my Brother treated one particular woman, who I now call my sister, I can be thankful that his appalling behaviour brought about at least two very close friendships with people I really respect and admire. He now has the audacity to call the Philippines his home, using his meagre income as bait for young girls who think he is rich. This behaviour sickens me and I disown him.

I am not working myself due to illness but I can see how fortunate I am in what I do have. I don't have much but am happy to share with deserving people.
If anyone has any information about shipping companied in the UK that collect or have a local base in Birmingham, I would appreciate this information.

xxxxxxxxxxx:cwm35::cwm35:

[Sis Suze]

chocolate does melt but nobody will complain yes sheets towels blankets thats all fine

if you was to go there you suddenly relise you dont need all our western luxurys to be happy

you see people with absolutly nothing and i mean nothing they have a smile on there face and they are proud of there country they know its short comings but they dont like foregners keep putting it down :doh

only 2 days ago my wife was in manila she had been to submit her papers to join me here

she was sitting in a pizza place and there was an old foregner sitting behind her slagging off everything and everyone in the philippines ,the guy was talking to himself

but this offended my wife so she said SIR why you say so many not nice things about my country and our people ?

so they had a debate about it but in the end she took my line

IF YOU DONT LIKE IT .... OFF BACK WHERE YOU CAME FROM [thats my girl ]


And so say all of us!!!!!!

[trader dave]

What a lovely thing to say and thank you! :D Although I am ashamed and embarrassed by the way my Brother treated one particular woman, who I now call my sister, I can be thankful that his appalling behaviour brought about at least two very close friendships with people I really respect and admire. He now has the audacity to call the Philippines his home, using his meagre income as bait for young girls who think he is rich. This behaviour sickens me and I disown him.

I am not working myself due to illness but I can see how fortunate I am in what I do have. I don't have much but am happy to share with deserving people.
If anyone has any information about shipping companied in the UK that collect or have a local base in Birmingham, I would appreciate this information.

xxxxxxxxxxx:cwm35::cwm35:

i use POOTEN FORWARDING
113 GROVE ROAD
LONDON E17 9BU

0208 520 6435

EMAIL pfi_uk@yahoo.com

I WOULD IMAGINE THEY HAVE AN AGENT IN YOUR AREA

[Sis Suze]

i use POOTEN FORWARDING
113 GROVE ROAD
LONDON E17 9BU

0208 520 6435

EMAIL pfi_uk@yahoo.com

I WOULD IMAGINE THEY HAVE AN AGENT IN YOUR AREA


Thanks for that..will have a look
xx

[aromulus]

He now has the audacity to call the Philippines his home, using his meagre income as bait for young girls who think he is rich. This behaviour sickens me and I disown him.

Unfortunately it does happen all over the world, not only in Phil:NoNo:

People like that really disgust me and make me seriously angry.:cwm23:

[Sis Suze]

Yes, I'm really disgusted with him too. To be honest, he was with a young girl who he intended to marry when I found him and he sent money home each week regularly by the hundreds...while I kept him for nothing :rolleyes:
Anyway, when he got back, she had ripped him off big time and spent all his money and at the time I was really angry. But now, I just think that is was poetic justice for what he's been doing for years. He met a really nice and respectable woman nearer his age and when he had nothing and nowhere to go, she took him into her home. He then rented a place and took her and her children (adult children) to live with him there, taking all her household belongings with them. Then after a few months, he literally threw her on the street!! I was livid and encouraged her to take all her stuff and she did, so then he bad mouthed her for leaving him with nothing! Can you believe the cheek of the man???? He's 54 and advertising for young girls between 18-30 on person.com....makes my stomach churn!!
Anyway, enough of him, he's worthless and I hope he gets his payback one day!!!
In the meantime, I gained some lovely friends and learned about a different way of life, so I benefited in the end and I hope in some way, they did too.

[Tawi2]

Hi Suze,how are you doing?I am not thread hijacking....Honest,but wanted to ask Pen is that a snake slough?As for your bro,well,why not send the lady a Welrod for the next time she sees him :xxgrinning--00xx3: He obviously has low self esteem and needs to feed his ego by sleeping with young girls,I have become immune to it over there,take a trip over and you will see loads of guys,westerners,with girls in their teens,I think its so commonplace I became inured to it,it doesnt shock anymore.

[Sis Suze]

Hi Suze,how are you doing?I am not thread hijacking....Honest,but wanted to ask Pen is that a snake slough?As for your bro,well,why not send the lady a Welrod for the next time she sees him :xxgrinning--00xx3: He obviously has low self esteem and needs to feed his ego by sleeping with young girls,I have become immune to it over there,take a trip over and you will see loads of guys,westerners,with girls in their teens,I think its so commonplace I became inured to it,it doesnt shock anymore.

Well yes, I agree with you, but I can't excuse it at all!! In a way after Chiara ripped him off, I thought it was his way to 'rebound' but I now fine he does it all the time and that its just the way he is.

He will lose big time in the end. I've already told many people to be wary of him as he says he was in the military and all kinds of rubbish, and he never was!!!

Thanks for your reply again xx

[trader dave]

WE ARE PRESUMING SO MUCH HERE there is always 2 sides to a story it is not for us to judge :D sis mentioned YOUNG GIRLS what is a young girl she mentioned nothing about teens :Erm: the girl might be 21 22 25 26 compared to her brother who is in his 50's they are young :cwm24:


I AM 53 MY WIFE IS 24 ANY COMPLAINTS :NoNo: ANY COMPLAINTS ADDRESS THEM TO MRS TD :icon_lol::icon_lol:

does sis know that many older guys have young wives or girlfriends :xxgrinning--00xx3: to many in this country that is disgusting ,:cwm24:because they are ignorant and because it is not the norm in our country they think it is wrong :ARsurrender:

[Sis Suze]

WE ARE PRESUMING SO MUCH HERE there is always 2 sides to a story it is not for us to judge :D sis mentioned YOUNG GIRLS what is a young girl she mentioned nothing about teens :Erm: the girl might be 21 22 25 26 compared to her brother who is in his 50's they are young :cwm24:


I AM 53 MY WIFE IS 24 ANY COMPLAINTS :NoNo: ANY COMPLAINTS ADDRESS THEM TO MRS TD :icon_lol::icon_lol:

does sis know that many older guys have young wives or girlfriends :xxgrinning--00xx3: to many in this country that is disgusting ,:cwm24:because they are ignorant and because it is not the norm in our country they think it is wrong :ARsurrender:

The young girls are from 19...one says she has his baby although whether it's his or not isn't clear...but chiara was 21.
To be perfectly honest, I don't think that for an older person to meet a younger person and fall in love is wrong or disgusting, weird but not wrong...hahaha...but to actually go out on the hunt for young girls to sleep with with no plans to make any commitment IS disgusting!! To me, to do that is almost - well, you know what.

I'm not ignorant at all, it's OK if it happens that way in any country - what we're talking about here is searching out young girls, the younger the better, to have sex with and brag about it to people!! THAT IS WRONG IN ANY COUNTRY OR CULTURE.

Anyway, enough about him, all I want to do is chat to decent people.. hahahaha!
Thanks for the reply.
xxxx

[Ji&Ma]

Welcome in here Suze :Hellooo:
I'm sure you will find a plenty of themes to chat about, enjoy! :xxgrinning--00xx3:

[Sis Suze]

Yes I am sure....I especially want to learn more about these boxes!! LOL

Good night xxx

[Ji&Ma]

Yes I am sure....I especially want to learn more about these boxes!! LOL

Good night xxx

I'm sure there is lot of info about them around in here...
Type "balikbayan" or "balikbayan box" into search field right in the green strip on top of the forum page and you will get a plenty of results...

Good luck :xxgrinning--00xx3:

[trader dave]

The young girls are from 19...one says she has his baby although whether it's his or not isn't clear...but chiara was 21.
To be perfectly honest, I don't think that for an older person to meet a younger person and fall in love is wrong or disgusting, weird but not wrong...hahaha...but to actually go out on the hunt for young girls to sleep with with no plans to make any commitment IS disgusting!! To me, to do that is almost - well, you know what.

I'm not ignorant at all, it's OK if it happens that way in any country - what we're talking about here is searching out young girls, the younger the better, to have sex with and brag about it to people!! THAT IS WRONG IN ANY COUNTRY OR CULTURE.

Anyway, enough about him, all I want to do is chat to decent people.. hahahaha!
Thanks for the reply.
xxxx

the girls are of legal age many people may think as you SAID YOUNG GIRLS that your brother is a pedofile:cwm34: now that is something that disgusts everyone :Brick: but your brother has sex with girls of legal age IT IS NOT UNUSUAL OVER THERE girls tell men lies and men tell girls lies many guys even on this forum have been scammed by girls

believe me a lot of girls know exactly what the game is

go there and see it go to thailand and see it many countries are the same :xxgrinning--00xx3:

as you said was it his baby :icon_lol::icon_lol::icon_lol: i had a 19 gf like that she told me she was having my baby :icon_lol::icon_lol: sorry babe i had the chop 6 years ago :Hellooo::Hellooo::Hellooo:


YOUR QUOTE----To be perfectly honest, I don't think that for an older person to meet a younger person and fall in love is wrong or disgusting, weird but not wrong...hahaha. WHY YOU THINK IT IS WEIRD

I have heard western women call it weird before lol

i have a daughter of 21 my new wife is 24 strange yes WEIRD NO

What about if you found a pilipino guy of 21 would that be weird there are a couple of english women on here who have pilipino boyfriends ,i am not sure of there ages though

[Sun Shine]

What about if you found a pilipino guy of 21 would that be weird there are a couple of english women on here who have pilipino boyfriends ,i am not sure of there ages though

My Pinoy bf is 44 and I'm 30, we are more in tune with each other with this age gap than I was with others closer to my age.

[Sis Suze]

the girls are of legal age many people may think as you SAID YOUNG GIRLS that your brother is a pedofile:cwm34: now that is something that disgusts everyone :Brick: but your brother has sex with girls of legal age IT IS NOT UNUSUAL OVER THERE girls tell men lies and men tell girls lies many guys even on this forum have been scammed by girls

believe me a lot of girls know exactly what the game is

go there and see it go to thailand and see it many countries are the same :xxgrinning--00xx3:

as you said was it his baby :icon_lol::icon_lol::icon_lol: i had a 19 gf like that she told me she was having my baby :icon_lol::icon_lol: sorry babe i had the chop 6 years ago :Hellooo::Hellooo::Hellooo:


YOUR QUOTE----To be perfectly honest, I don't think that for an older person to meet a younger person and fall in love is wrong or disgusting, weird but not wrong...hahaha. WHY YOU THINK IT IS WEIRD

I have heard western women call it weird before lol

i have a daughter of 21 my new wife is 24 strange yes WEIRD NO

What about if you found a pilipino guy of 21 would that be weird there are a couple of english women on here who have pilipino boyfriends ,i am not sure of there ages though


Strange...weird...all one in the same to me....and I wouldn't find myself a 21yr old boyfriend.... if I fancied one I would worry about myself to be honest!! But each to his own I guess.
xx

[Ladybug_sim]

Hi! Sis Suze, welcome to the forum .. nice thread :Hellooo: :Hellooo:

[Sis Suze]

Hi! Sis Suze, welcome to the forum .. nice thread :Hellooo: :Hellooo:

Hi yourself and thank you xx

[trader dave]

sis have you read this http://www.british-filipino.com it is very informative just because people from different cultures have different ways it is not wrong :icon_lol::icon_lol:
:D:D well i thought there might be a little more debate as i left it open when i retired last night :Erm:

come on people i know we have been down this road many times before but there are plenty of older guys with younger pilipina wifes :Rasp::Rasp::Rasp:


anyone want to say why we prefer young to old -----or pilipina to western :icon_lol::icon_lol::icon_lol:

[Sis Suze]

sis have you read this http://www.british-filipino.com it is very informative just because people from different cultures have different ways it is not wrong :icon_lol::icon_lol:
:D:D well i thought there might be a little more debate as i left it open when i retired last night :Erm:

come on people i know we have been down this road many times before but there are plenty of older guys with younger pilipina wifes :Rasp::Rasp::Rasp:


anyone want to say why we prefer young to old -----or pilipina to western :icon_lol::icon_lol::icon_lol:

Dave, I think you have gone off track a bit here. I am not saying whether it is right or wrong to have young Filipina wives and girlfriends, what I am saying is that it is wrong to use them and abuse them as my brother does.
My brother knows that his money is a great attraction for many young girls also the possibility that he will bring them to the UK, however, they are not there to be used and abused, be sincere with them of leave them be. They are people the same as everyone else and deserve to be treated with respect.

Reasons for men to prefer young Filipina wives is irrelevant to my thread and of no real interest to me.
xx

[trader dave]

Dave, I think you have gone off track a bit here. I am not saying whether it is right or wrong to have young Filipina wives and girlfriends, what I am saying is that it is wrong to use them and abuse them as my brother does.
My brother knows that his money is a great attraction for many young girls also the possibility that he will bring them to the UK, however, they are not there to be used and abused, be sincere with them of leave them be. They are people the same as everyone else and deserve to be treated with respect.

Reasons for men to prefer young Filipina wives is irrelevant to my thread and of no real interest to me.
xx

i am sorry to keep going on this thread :omg: but i know for a fact that money is an attraction to many young girls/women and it does make me :censored: angry when foreigners promise these girls/women a future then just mess them about:furious3: but i am afraid there are also a lot of girls/women who also play the same game :doh you have to go there to see the realality

and i also agree be sincere or leave them alone:xxgrinning--00xx3:END

[Sis Suze]

i am sorry to keep going on this thread :omg: but i know for a fact that money is an attraction to many young girls/women and it does make me :censored: angry when foreigners promise these girls/women a future then just mess them about:furious3: but i am afraid there are also a lot of girls/women who also play the same game :doh you have to go there to see the realality

and i also agree be sincere or leave them alone:xxgrinning--00xx3:END

PMSL! It's OK Dave, I thought you'd missed what I was saying or misunderstood. I know there are rip off merchants there coz it happened big style to my brother. I was really annoyed at the time but when I came to realise that he'd been using them for about 4 yrs anyway, I just felt it was pay back! :icon_lol:
I feel very privileged to have made two friends out of it though and I hope that within the next couple of years I'll be able to make a brief visit to see them.
xxxx

[Sis Suze]

:Erm:
Since hearing about Balikbayan boxes, I've been looking around for someone, a company, who can collect etc from the Birmingham area but I'm not having much luck. Then I thought to myself, there's no point until I know what I'm talking about :rolleyes::rolleyes: so.......................
What does 'balikbayan' mean? Are the boxes specific types of boxes or just a name given to the package? Do I need to buy boxes from whoever is going to ship them? If so, how much are they approximately?

Next subject :D

Is healthcare, specifically eye care chargeable in the Phils or do they have any system such as ours where those less able to pay don't have to, or is it a case of if they can't afford specs, they go without? If the former, would it be feasible for me to send my old specs over there? I'm getting an 'upgrade' so to speak so my old ones are up for grabs.

So many questions!! :Cuckoo:

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

[kimmi]

:Erm:
What does 'balikbayan' mean?
Are the boxes specific types of boxes or just a name given to the package? Do I need to buy boxes from whoever is going to ship them? If so, how much are they approximately?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Balikbayan_box

the prices are depending on the size of the balikbayan boxes that you wanted and also the place where it will be delivered and sometimes most companies offers a promo wherein you buy a big box and u will get smaller boxes for free or someting like that..



Next subject :D

Is healthcare, specifically eye care chargeable in the Phils or do they have any system such as ours where those less able to pay don't have to, or is it a case of if they can't afford specs, they go without? If the former, would it be feasible for me to send my old specs over there? I'm getting an 'upgrade' so to speak so my old ones are up for grabs.

So many questions!! :Cuckoo:

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

with regards to healthcare in the Philippines, i am afraid to say it is not like in here that u have NHS almost for free.. for those who can afford they can go to private hospitals or institutions and we also have http://www.philhealth.gov.ph/ wherein a member will pay a certain amount every month depends on their income and it will help them with their hospital bills, and tere is also public or government hospitals.

with regards to ur plan of sending them ur old specs, that was so kind of u but make sure the grades are the same with the receiver..:xxgrinning--00xx3::xxgrinning--00xx3:

[Sis Suze]

Thanks Kimmi for your reply. I'm still not clear on the procedure though. What I want to do is buy a box or two and keep it at my house to fill over a period of time, then call the shipping company to collect. Is that feasible? The company I have inmind is in London though

Thanks for the stuff about the specs...yes I'll check the grades with the intended recipient :)

[Florge]

hi Suze, welcome here. I would like to thank you for taking time in sending those boxes to your friends here. You truly have a great big heart. any little thing counts, especially to those that who have nothing.. not everyone here live comfortably... most especially those that are in the boondocks... thanks for helping out... you have a great soul.

enjoy your stay here in the forum!

[jam07]

Hi Suze and welcome to the forum! :)

you seemed nice and sweet...

thank you for helping Chiara and I hope your brother will get to his senses soon :)

[IainBusby]

Thanks Kimmi for your reply. I'm still not clear on the procedure though. What I want to do is buy a box or two and keep it at my house to fill over a period of time, then call the shipping company to collect. Is that feasible? The company I have inmind is in London though

Thanks for the stuff about the specs...yes I'll check the grades with the intended recipient :)

Hi Suze,
I don't know how other companies work, but we got our boxes from an agent in Coventry and we have to return it to the agent before a specified date ready for collection by the shipping company. You don't have to buy and pay for the box up front (it's only a very large cardboard box), you only pay when you return it to the agent ready for shipping.

I'm sure there must be similar agents in Birmingham somewhere.

Iain.

[aposhark]

.......and chocolate although we had toblerone in PI as well :cwm34::doh

Hi Juliet :) I noticed a lot of foreign (Western) chocolates in the department stores in Phils.

Cash & Carry stores in the UK (if you know someone who has a company) sell large boxes of Cadbury's.

I took a large-ish box (about £12) of dairy milk in my luggage last visit to my wife's family.

This box didn't last very long at all as there were no fridges in her family's house, well that was their excuse :icon_lol: :icon_lol: :icon_lol:

The little ones had the same chocolate over their faces as the English kids.......but I bet they enjoyed the taste more :icon_lol:

"Cloud Nine" in the Phils tastes pretty good to me and my wife loves that too.

[Sis Suze]

Hi Suze and welcome to the forum! :)

you seemed nice and sweet...

thank you for helping Chiara and I hope your brother will get to his senses soon :)

Hi there, thanks for your nice comments. It's not Chiara I help out, it's the women that hosted him when Chiara dumped him, Andrea.
My brother will never come to his senses...he is selfish and greedy and dishonest...I wash my hands of him!

Have a good day xxx

[Sis Suze]

Hi Suze,
I don't know how other companies work, but we got our boxes from an agent in Coventry and we have to return it to the agent before a specified date ready for collection by the shipping company. You don't have to buy and pay for the box up front (it's only a very large cardboard box), you only pay when you return it to the agent ready for shipping.

I'm sure there must be similar agents in Birmingham somewhere.

Iain.

Hi Iain, thanks for that. The problem that I have is that I can't work to a specific date. I just need to have a box here to fill over time as I'm not very well off myself so it will take a while. The reason I want to use this service is that it costs such a lot to mail stuff so it would be cheaper over time, as well as more beneficial to the recipient, to fill a box and send it.

Could I just get a large carton myself and then contact the company when I'm ready to ship it? It all sounded so simple but now I just get more and more confused...:Erm::Erm:

xx

[IainBusby]

Hi Iain, thanks for that. The problem that I have is that I can't work to a specific date. I just need to have a box here to fill over time as I'm not very well off myself so it will take a while. The reason I want to use this service is that it costs such a lot to mail stuff so it would be cheaper over time, as well as more beneficial to the recipient, to fill a box and send it.

Could I just get a large carton myself and then contact the company when I'm ready to ship it? It all sounded so simple but now I just get more and more confused...:Erm::Erm:

xx

Yes I think you could get your own box because you'll be able to get the different box sizes and the approximate shipping cost for each on any of the balikbayan box wesites. This company http://www.balikbayanboxes.co.uk/page3.htm was the first one I googled and they only cover Yorkshire and surrounding areas, but it will give you the box sizes. You just use just a normal (as strong as possible) cardboard box and then, given that it's going by boat, it's wise to use up a few rolls of strong parcel tape on it, just to ensure that it stands up to the rigors of the journey.
Iain.

[Sis Suze]

Thanks Iain, that takes a lot of the stress out of it!! I have rolls of bubble wrapr and parcel tape at the ready!!!
Also, do you know if British electrical appliances are any good over there? Such as coffee machines, printers etc etc? I know the electrical supply is different but I was thinking that if I got travel adaptors like we would take on holiday, would that be OK?

Thanks again xx

[IainBusby]

Thanks Iain, that takes a lot of the stress out of it!! I have rolls of bubble wrapr and parcel tape at the ready!!!
Also, do you know if British electrical appliances are any good over there? Such as coffee machines, printers etc etc? I know the electrical supply is different but I was thinking that if I got travel adaptors like we would take on holiday, would that be OK?

Thanks again xx

British electrical devices are fine over there as long as you have a plug adapter, but I would suggest that the specific things you mention, coffee machines, printers etc, wouldn't be very high on a Flipino's wish list. I know they like kitchen appliances such as liquidisers and blenders, slow cookers and rice cookers etc. Even microwaves if you've got an old one that's still working. Thats the beauty of the balikbayan box, no weight limit and if you put in something large like microwave, you can put lots of things inside it so you don't use up so much space.

Iain.

[trader dave]

British electrical devices are fine over there as long as you have a plug adapter, but I would suggest that the specific things you mention, coffee machines, printers etc, wouldn't be very high on a Flipino's wish list. I know they like kitchen appliances such as liquidisers and blenders, slow cookers and rice cookers etc. Even microwaves if you've got an old one that's still working. Thats the beauty of the balikbayan box, no weight limit and if you put in something large like microwave, you can put lots of things inside it so you don't use up so much space.

Iain.

the trouble i have found with electrical appliances THEY USE ELECTRIC now to you and i that is not a problem but to those people using a few centavo in electric it is

example i sent blender and microwave and electric kettle to mrs T they only come out of the boxes when i am there [the excuse they use electric]:xxgrinning--00xx3: my answer I AM PAYING THE ELECTRIC that does not matter she says :xxgrinning--00xx3:

[Sis Suze]

Fab answers from both Iain and Dave...thank you.:D
Have now spoken to my one friend over in Davao and prised out of her the stuff she would like..I have a thing about not wanting to embarrass anyone by asking and unless I press the issue, they won't ask for specifics!

All I need to do now is find a suitable box from somewhere...wonder if pickfords might sell me one? Hmm...might ask them on Monday :icon_lol:
Thanks again for the replies.

P.S. What are the customs restrictions???? Or where can I find out?
xxxx

[IainBusby]

Fab answers from both Iain and Dave...thank you.:D
Have now spoken to my one friend over in Davao and prised out of her the stuff she would like..I have a thing about not wanting to embarrass anyone by asking and unless I press the issue, they won't ask for specifics!

All I need to do now is find a suitable box from somewhere...wonder if pickfords might sell me one? Hmm...might ask them on Monday :icon_lol:
Thanks again for the replies.

P.S. What are the customs restrictions???? Or where can I find out?
xxxx

As far as I know there are none...... as long as you don't intend to send guns or drugs etc. I don't know if it's true, but a Brit that I met who lives in Phils told me that he has used balikbayan boxes to send over lots of things from the UK over the years for his business and he said that he always labels the boxes "Personal Effects".

He says that balikbayan boxes are very rarely opened or interfered with, but he thinks that by labelling the box Personal Effects, the cargo handlers etc that encounter the box along the way will assume that it contains the belongings of an OFW (Overseas Filipino Worker) who had died overseas and that they are being returned to his or her family in the Philippines.

That way if they're looking for a box to loot, they'll probably choose someone elses box.

Iain.

[Sis Suze]

Thanks again Iain....will remember that
xx