7 RULES FOR HAPPINESS JAPANESE STYLE
During my amazing trip to Japan in November
2008, I had the incredible good fortune of
staying with Fukiko Yuki Teramachi in her
traditional Japanese home, which
she operates as a guesthouse.
Fukiko is a fantastic hostess, who provided
me with one of the richest travel experiences
Ive ever had.
I slept on a futon in a tatami-ed room. She
cooked me delicious Japanese dishes using
fresh produce from her organic
garden, dressed me in one of her beautiful
kimonos, arranged an interview with a
meiko (a geisha in training), and took me on a
walking tour of her village, among many other
things.Every morning before breakfast we
chanted together to her ancestors. She told
me the story of her mother's life.
Fukiko's own life has not been easy (for one
thing, she is a breast cancer survivor). So the
simplicity with which she lives, and the peace
that surround her are even more inspirational.
If you watch the video below, you will hear me
make a little gasp after she demonstrates how
to open the door to the main room in her
home. I remember clearly the thought behind
that sharp intake of breath.
It was this: if we all paid more attention to the
exquisite beauty of simple tasks, and to doing
simple things in beautiful ways, instead of
being so concerned about having more of this
and more of that, the world would be a much
better place in which to live.
In the few days I was with Fukiko, I made
many gaffs and mistakes. I also learned so
many things about her, about Japan, about
myself, and about life.
Among the lessons were the seven in the
video. I hope you enjoy it.China is an
extremely large country, and the
customs and traditions of its people vary
by geography and ethnicity.
More than 1 billion people live in
China, according to the Asia Society,
representing 56 ethnic minority groups.
The largest group is the Han Chinese,
with about 900 million people. Other
groups include the Tibetans, the
Mongols, the Manchus, the Naxi, and
the Hezhen, which is smallest group,
with fewer than 2,000 people.
"Significantly, individuals within
communities create their own culture,"
said Cristina De Rossi, an
anthropologist at Barnet and Southgate
College in London. Culture includes
religion, food, style, language, marriage,
music, morals and many other things
that make up how a group acts and
interacts. Here is a brief overview of
some elements of the Chinese culture.
ReligionThe Chinese Communist
Party that rules the nation is officially
atheist, though it is gradually becoming
more tolerant of religions, according to
the Council on Foreign Relations.
Currently, there are only five official
religions. Any religion other than
Buddhism, Taoism, Islam, Catholicism
and Protestantism are illegal, even
though the Chinese constitution states
that people are allowed freedom of
religion. The gradual tolerance of
religion has only started to progress in
the past few decades.
About a quarter of the people practice
Taoism and Confucianism and other
traditional religions. There are also small
numbers of Buddhists, Muslims and
Christians. Although numerous
Protestant and Catholic ministries have
been active in the country since the
early 19th century, they have made little
progress in converting Chinese to these
religions.LanguageThere are
seven major groups of dialects of the
Chinese language, which each have
their own variations, according
to Mount Holyoke College. Mandarin
dialects are spoken by 71.5 percent of
the population, followed by Wu (8.5
percent), Yue (also called Cantonese; 5
percent), Xiang (4.8 percent), Min (4.1
percent), Hakka (3.7 percent) and Gan
(2.4 percent).
Chinese dialects are very different,
according to Jerry Norman, a former
professor of linguistics at the University
of Washington and author of "Chinese
(Cambridge Language Surveys)"
(Cambridge University Press, 1988).
"Chinese is rather more like a language
family than a single language made up
of a number of regional forms," he
wrote. "The Chinese dialectal complex is
in many ways analogous to the
Romance language family in Europe. To
take an extreme example, there is
probably as much difference between
the dialects of Peking [Beijing] and
Chaozhou as there is between Italian
and French."
The official national language of China is
Ptnghu, a type of Mandarin spoken
in the capital Beijing, according to
the Order of the President of the
People's Republic of China. Many
Chinese are also fluent in English.
FoodLike other aspects of Chinese
life, cuisine is heavily influenced by
geography and ethnic diversity. Among
the main styles of Chinese cooking are
Cantonese, which features stir-fried
dishes, and Szechuan, which relies
heavily on use of peanuts, sesame
paste and ginger and is known for its
spiciness.Rice is not only a major food
source in China; it is also a major
element that helped grow their society,
according to "Pathways to Asian
Civilizations: Tracing the Origins
and Spread of Rice and Rice
Cultures," an 2011 article in the journal
Rice by Dorian Q. Fuller. The Chinese
word for rice is fan, which also means
"meal," and it is a staple of their diet, as
are bean sprouts, cabbage and
scallions. Because they do not consume
a lot of meat occasionally pork or
chicken tofu is a main source
of protein for the Chinese.
The ArtsChinese art is greatly
influenced by the countrys rich spiritual
and mystical history. Many sculptures
and paintings depict spiritual figures of
Buddhism, according to
the Metropolitan Museum of
Art.Many musical instruments are
integral to Chinese culture, including the
flute-like xun and the guqin, which is in
the zither family. Eastern-style martial
arts were also developed in China, and
it is the birthplace of kung fu. This
fighting technique is based on animal
movements and was created in the mid-
1600s, according to Black Belt
Magazine.
Ancient Chinese were avid writers and
philosophers especially during
the Ming and Qing dynasties and
that is reflected in the countrys rich
liturgical history.
Customs and
celebrations
The largest festival also called the
Spring Festival marks the beginning
of the Lunar New Year. It falls between
mid-January and mid-February and is a
time to honor ancestors. During the 15-
day celebration, the Chinese do
something every day to welcome the
new year, such as eat rice congee and
mustard greens to cleanse the body,
according to the University of
Victoria. The holiday is marked with
fireworks and parades featuring dancers
dressed as dragons.Many people make
pilgrimages to Confucius' birthplace in
Shandong Province on his birthday,
Sept. 28. The birthday of Guanyin, the
goddess of mercy, is observed by
visiting Taoist temples. It falls between
late March and late April. Similar
celebrations mark the birthday of Mazu,
the goddess of the sea (also known as
Tianhou), in May or June. The Moon
Festival is celebrated in September or
October with fireworks, paper lanterns
and moon gazing. Japanese
Traditions
Japan is known for its unique culture and
heritage, which has been preserved by
the Japanese people since ancient
times. The age-old Japanese traditions
and customs which give a unique
character to the lifestyle of the Japanese
people have to be experienced to be
truly appreciated. Some of the unique
aspects of Japanese life are mentioned
here as an introduction to the traditions
of Japan.
Japanese Gardens: The original
Japanese gardens were inspired by
Buddhist and Chinese philosophy and
later evolved to have their own distinct
Japanese identity. The gardens found in
Japanese temples and shrines are
inspired by the Shinto religion and the
belief in an ideal state of harmony. The
Japanese attempt to recreate this
idealized harmony in their beautifully
designed gardens that include aspects
such as water, rocks, gravel, moss and
miniature plants or Bonsai. One of the
most famous Zen Rock Gardens in Japan
is the Ryoan-ji Zen Rock Garden in
Kyoto.
Japanese Architecture: Traditional
Japanese Architecture has a distinct
style deeply influenced by Buddhism
and Shintoism. Houses and temples
made of wood, placed on stilts to raise
them above the ground, and with
sloping roofs made of thatch or tiles
create a distinctive silhouette in
traditional Japanese architecture. The
use of lightweight wood and bamboo to
create Fusuma (sliding doors) and straw
or woven grass to create Tatami (mats)
are other unique features of Japanese
architectural design. People usually sat
on the floor and furniture only came into
widespread use after the late-nineteenth
and early twentieth century.
Japanese Tea Ceremony: The
Japanese ceremony of preparing and
offering tea to revered guests is a formal
and stylized ritual, almost like a
meditative performance. The art or skill
of preparing tea and all the elements of
the tea ceremony have special and
symbolic meaning. Deeply influenced by
Zen Buddhism, the Japanese tea
ceremony has evolved into a cultural
ritual which means much more than the
mere sampling of powdered green tea,
and is a unique part of Japanese
traditions.
Japanese Cuisine: Japan is an island
nation and seafood plays an important
role in Japanese cuisine. Rice and fish
along with vegetables are eaten by most
Japanese. Tofu or soy bean curd is
another popular and healthy dish often
consumed by the Japanese people.
Japanese food such as Sushi (rice
flavored with vinegar and combined with
seafood or seaweed and sometimes
vegetables) and Sashimi (cut and sliced
raw meat, usually seafood) are forms of
Japanese cuisine that have become
famous worldwide. Teppanyaki or food
cooked on an iron griddle is another
popular form of Japanese cuisine. Sake
or Japanese rice wine is also drunk at
traditional meals as a toast to the health
and long life of one's dining
companions.
Japanese Festivals: The Japanese
people celebrate many festivals, most of
which are of the Buddhist and Shinto
religions. Different temples or shrines
across Japan have their own specific
Matsuri or festive holiday. Some festivals
that began long ago are also celebrated
today in a modern form. These include
Aomori Nebuta Festival, the Hadaka
Matsuri Festival and the Cherry Blossom
Festivals, which are an integral part of
Japanese culture.
Cherry Blossom Festivals: Every year
in spring the Japanese people take time
out to appreciate the beauty of nature
as the Cherry trees burst into full bloom
and their lovely pink flowers offer a
wonderfully appealing sight. People
picnic in the Cherry groves, drink tea
and Sake and enjoy music in the
delightful ambience of the blooming
Cherry flowers. The Cherry Blossom
festivals at Okinawa and at Matsuyama
Castle in Ehime prefecture are the best-
known among many flower festivals
across Japan. The natural beauty of the
Cherry blossom season is celebrated by
the Japanese in their art and music, and
even in the designs of their traditional
clothing, the Kimono.
Japanese Kimono: The traditional
Japanese costume, the Kimono, is a
graceful full-length robe that falls from
the wearer's shoulders to the ankles.
The robe is tied around the middle with
a sash called the Obi. Kimonos for
special occasions were made of rich
fabric such as silk, satin and brocade
and feature designs inspired by nature
such as Cherry blossoms, autumn
leaves, butterflies and pine trees.
Kimonos are now worn mostly for
ceremonial occasions and events such
as festivals and marriages.
Japanese Painting: Japan has a long
tradition of painting and woodblock
printing. Some of the famous Japanese
painters are Utagawa Hiroshige (1797-
1858) who is famous for the Ukiyo-e or
woodblock printing style of art. Another
famous Japanese painter is Katsushika
Hokusai (1760-1849) who is famous for
a series of woodblock prints depicting
Mount Fuji. The best known among
these is The Great Wave off Kanagawa.
Japanese Calligraphy: The Japanese
script consists of characters which were
traditionally painted using smooth
brushstrokes on handmade paper. The
fine art of calligraphy requires many
years of practice and was considered
essential learning for an accomplished
person in Japanese society.
Ikebana: The Japanese cultural practice
of flower arrangement is a fine art that
encompasses the ideas of aesthetics,
spirituality, discipline and harmony with
nature. It is believed to have evolved
from the Buddhist practice of offering
flowers in memory of those who have
passed away. The emphasis on
minimalism, attention to the line and
form of the plants or flowers used in an
arrangement and the harmony of the
overall arrangement exemplify this
Japanese tradition.
There are many more fascinating
aspects of traditional Japanese culture,
such as viewing Mount Fuji, the Samurai
Code, Sumo Wrestling and the role of
the Geisha. You can find out more about
these uniquely Japanese traditions when
you visit this fascinating country.
Japanese Customs and
Traditions
The gardens found in Japanese
temples and shrines are inspired
Japanese
by the Shinto religion and the
Gardens:
belief in an ideal state of
harmony.
Traditional Japanese
Architecture is deeply influenced
by Buddhism and Shintoism.
Japanese Earlier, people usually sat on the
Architecture: floor. Furniture only came into
widespread use after the late-
nineteenth and early twentieth
century.
The Japanese ceremony of
preparing and offering tea to
Japanese Tea revered guests is a formal and
Ceremony: stylized ritual. The Japanese tea
ceremony is deeply influenced
by Zen Buddhism.
Seafood plays an important role
in Japanese cuisine. Rice and
fish along with vegetables are
eaten by most Japanese.
Tofu or soy bean curd is a
popular and healthy dish.
Sushi (rice flavored with vinegar
and combined with seafood or
Japanese
seaweed and sometimes
Cuisine:
vegetables) and Sashimi (cut
and sliced raw meat, usually
seafood) are famous Japanese
cuisines.
Sake or Japanese rice wine is
also drunk at traditional meals as
a toast to the health and long life
of one's dining companions.
Famous Japanese festivals are
Japanese Aomori Nebuta Festival, the
Festivals: Hadaka Matsuri Festival and the
Cherry Blossom Festivals.
Kimono is a traditional Japanese
Japanese costume. It is a graceful full-
Kimono: length robe that falls from the
wearer's shoulders to the ankles.
Utagawa Hiroshige (1797-1858)
is famous for the Ukiyo-e or
woodblock printing style of art.
Katsushika Hokusai (1760-1849)
Japanese
is famous for a series of
Painting:
woodblock prints depicting
Mount Fuji. The best known
among these is The Great Wave
off Kanagawa.
Ikebana: Ikebana is the Japanese cultural
practice of flower arrangement
and is believed to have evolved
from the Buddhist practice of
offering flowers in memory of
those who have passed away.
It is a fine art that encompasses
the ideas of aesthetics,
spirituality, discipline and
harmony with nature.
Culture of the Philippines. The
Spanish colonized the islands
and after more than three
centuries of colonization
Hispanic influence has heavily
impacted the culture.
The Philippines being governed
from both Mexico and Spain,
had received a fair bit of
Hispanic influence.
Filipino
Customs and
Traditions
Mano po Our culture is a big
reflection of our great and
complex history. It is
influenced by most of the
people we have interacted
with. A blend of the Malayo-
Polynesian and Hispanic
culture with the influence from
Chinese, Indians Arabs, and
other Asian cultures really
contribute to the customs and
traditions of the Filipinos.
Filipino culture is unique compared
to other Asian countries, and
beliefs apply every day in the life
of the Filipinos and reveal how rich
and blessed the culture the people
have.
Lets review some of the popular
Filipino traditions and find the
similarities that bind Filipinos to
each other.
First on the list is Mano Po. When
children or young people greet or
say goodbye to their elders they
typically do so by taking the right
hand of the elder with their right
hand and touch the back the
elder's hand lightly on their
forehead. It is a way of giving
respect to the elders and I believe
that is also a way of receiving
blessing to the elders.
Mano is a Spanish word for hand
while Po is used in the end of the
sentence when addressing elders
or superiors.
Next is that Filipinos are one of the
most hospitable people you may
find anywhere. Foreign visitors in
the country are treated with the
utmost respect. This trait is
usually seen during fiestas and
holidays where many Filipinos are
giving their best to entertain their
visitors well.
It is amazing to see that even the
simplest home along the road
opens their home to a stranger.
For Filipinos, to be able to serve
others gives them honor of
showing true friendship. Filipino
Hospitality is a trait you can't take
away from them.
Having Close Family Ties is also
one of their unique traits. It is one
of the outstanding cultural values
that Filipinos have. The family
takes care of each other and are
taught to be loyal to family and
elders by simply obeying their
authorities. This is one of the
unique characteristics of Filipinos.
Having fondness for family
reunions during secular and
religious holidays such as
Christmas, New Years eve, All
Saints Day, Holy Week, Fiestas,
homecomings, birthdays,
weddings, graduations, baptisms,
funerals etc. is evidence that
Filipino people valued not only our
cultural tradition but the spirit of
our family. As Filipinos, we are
blessed to have been brought up
with strong family ties.
BayanihanPhoto by B l a c k S w
a n Have you ever experienced the
bayanihan in our country? It is the
spirit of communal unity or effort
to achieve a particular objective. A
famous example of this is the
neighbors carrying a hut or house
to a new location. People
nowadays use it to describe an
outpouring of community spirit-as
people give their all to the
common good, without expecting
recognition or personal gain.
CourtshipWe Filipinos are very
romantic when it comes to heart
affairs. Serenading or Harana in
Tagalog is one of the most popular
forms of courtship to show that a
man is very serious with his
intentions to a woman. A serenade
would require the young man to
sing a love song in front of the
young lady's house. Normally, he
is accompanied by his male
friends who act as back-up
singers. The man himself or his
friend played the instrument,
usually a guitar, which provides
the background music to his
song.They would have to wait until
the young lady opened a window
to listen. It would be up to her if
she wanted to invite them in for
some refreshment and to chat
after the song. Even if they had
been asked to come in, the suitor
would not expect that he could
have the chance of a private
moment with his object of
affection. It was highly likely that
the parents would also be there to
entertain the man and his
friends.ReligionThe Philippines is
one of two predominantly Roman
Catholic nations in Asia-Pacific.
Their habit of going to church and
often praying reflects that Filipinos
have a deep faith and belief when
it comes to religion. They are very
devoted to religions that
sometimes many take the risk of
their lives just to touch the Black
Nazarine (in Quiapo Manila). For
many, it is just a choice between
their faith and fears.
Filipinos believe that having a
strong devotion may lead to a
better life and their guidance to
face everyday life.
SuperstitionIn the Philippines,
superstitious beliefs have grown
throughout the country. These
beliefs have come from the
different sayings and beliefs of our
ancestors that aim to prevent
danger from happening or to make
a person refrain from doing
something in particular.
These beliefs are part of our
culture, for one derives their
beliefs from the influences of what
their customs, traditions and
culture have dictated to explain
certain phenomena or to scare
people. Some are practiced
primarily because Filipinos believe
that there is nothing to lose if they
will comply with these beliefs.
CuisineThe Philippines is
considered the melting pot of Asia.
The rich medley of Chinese, Malay,
Spanish, Mexican, American, and
Indian cooking are noticed in
Philippine cuisine. Eating out is
one of the favorite Filipino
pasttimes. A typical Pinoy diet
consists at most of six meals a
day; breakfast, snacks, lunch,
snacks, dinner, and again a
midnight snack before going to
sleep. Rice is a staple in the
Filipino diet, and is usually eaten
together with other dishes.
Filipinos regularly use spoons
together with forks and knives.
Some also eat with their hands,
especially in informal settings, and
when eating seafood.
Other popular dishes brought from
Spanish and Southeast Asian
influences include afritada, asado,
chorizo, empanadas, mani
(roasted peanuts), paksiw (fishor
pork, cooked in vinegar and water
with some spices like garlic and
pepper), pan de sal (bread rolls),
pescado frito (fried or grilled fish),
sisig, torta(omelette), kare-kare
(ox-tail stew), kilawen, pinakbet
(vegetable stew), pinapaitan, and
sinigang (tamarind soup with a
variety of pork, fish, or prawns).
Some delicacies eaten by some
Filipinos may seem unappetizing
to the Western palate include
balut (boiled egg with a fertilized
duckling inside), longanisa (sweet
sausage), and dinuguan (soup
made from pork blood).Popular
snacks and desserts such as
chicharon (deep fried pork or
chicken skin), halo-halo (crushed
ice with evaporated milk, flan, and
sliced tropical fruit),puto (white
rice cakes), bibingka (rice cake
with butter or margarine and
salted eggs), ensaymada (sweet
roll with grated cheese on top),
polvoron (powder candy), and
tsokolate (chocolate) are usually
eaten outside the three main
meals. Popular Philippine
beverages include San Miguel
Beer, Tanduay Rhum,coconut
arrack, and tuba.Every province
has its own specialty and tastes
vary in each region. In Bicol, for
example, foods are generally
spicier than elsewhere in the
Philippines. Patis, suka, toyo,
bagoong, and banana catsup are
the most common condiments
found in Filipino homes and
restaurants. Western fast food
chains such asMcDonald's,
Wendy's, KFC, and Pizza Hut are a
common sight in the country.A
roasted pig known as the Lechn,
is one of the Philippines most
popular dishes.
Marriage and Wedding
Customs Ph In the country,
marriage is a sacred union of man
and women after a period of
courtship and engagement. It is a
sacrament between two people
who love each others. For many
Filipinos, the eternal quality of
dedication to God pervades a truly
sacred marriage.A sacred
marriage is a covenant between
two who love each other in God
and with God, whose joining
becomes an expression of the
desire of each to love and serve
God together.
DeathDeath in the Philippines is
one of the most important
occasions in family life. For many
Filipinos, a death of relatives is an
opportunity to strengthen ties in
the Family. To pay respect and
honor the relationship to the
deceased, long lost relatives,
friends, and even relatives
working abroad are reunited.The
Philippines is the home of some
unique death rituals that are partly
religious and mostly superstitious.
The mourning and the weeping are
still present, but a happy and
welcoming atmosphere would
usually envelop the place to help
the deceased on his journey to the
afterlife.After the death of a
person, a nine-day period of
having a novena of prayers and
Masses offered up to the deceased
is held, although the beginning of
the "Siyam na araw" varies, but
usually ends the week after the
death. Another period follows after
death, the 40-day mourning
period. Family members indicate
their state of bereavement by
wearing a small, black rectangular
plastic pin on their left breast or
breast pocket area. A ceremonial
mass is held at the end of this 40-
day period. Common belief states
that the soul goes to Heaven after
these 40 days, following the belief
that Jesus Christ ascended to
Heaven after the said period of
days.
SocietyThe primary ancestors of
Filipinos are Malays who came
from the southeastern Asian
country which is now called
Indonesia. The Philippines is a
combined society, both singular
and plural in form. It is singular as
one nation, but plural in that it is
fragmented geographically and
culturally. The nation is divided
between Christians, Muslims, and
other religious-ethno-linguistic
groups; between urban and rural
people; between upland and
lowland people; and between the
rich and the poor. Although
different in numerous ways, the
Filipinos are very hospitable and
give appropriate respect to
everybody regardless of race,
culture and belief.
Christmas in the Philippines
Christmas in the Philippines is
considered as one of the biggest
holidays in the archipelago. We
earned the distinction of
celebrating the worlds longest
Christmas season with Christmas
carols heard as early as
September and lasting until
Epiphany, the feast of the Black
Nazarene on January 9 or the
Feast of the Santo Nio de Ceb
on the third Sunday of January.In
ones article, Archbishop Cruz told
in his Christmas message that "the
essence of Christmas is God made
flesh, God who has come among
us" in an act of love "that joins
humankind to the Living God
through our Lord Jesus Christ".
For many Filipinos, the true
essence of Christmas for is not gift
giving but sharing this special holy
day with family.FiestasEvery town
and city in the Philippines has a
fiesta of its own; whatever time of
the year it is, there's sure to be a
fiesta going on somewhere.Fiestas
in the Philippines are held to
celebrate a patron saint. It is part
and parcel of Filipino culture
through good times and bad
times, it must go on. The biggest
and most elaborate festival of all
is Christmas, a season celebrated
with all the pomp and pageantry
where the whole country breaks
out in celebrations that can begin
long before December.For
individual Filipinos, fiestas can be
a way of supplicating the heavens
or to make amends for past
wrongs. It is a way to celebrate
their blessings, commemorate
their past and observe solemn
religious rituals. Celebrations may
take the form of music, dancing,
feasting, beauty contests, balls,
processions, sports challenges or a
host of other events.Spanish
influence is evident in the
elaborate masks, makeup,
headdresses and costumes worn
by the revelers; outfits which often
take months of preparation.
Living with ParentsFilipinos
highly value the presence of
family more than anything. Adult
children living with their parents
are another Filipino traditional that
make them exceptional. Unlike in
the United States where children
leave the home after finishing high
school or college, many Filipinos
continue living with parents until
they get married.
Eating with a Fork and
SpoonOne Filipinos identity is that
they are eat using a fork and a
spoon. The fork is place in the left
hand while the spoon is in the
right hand. Fork is used to place or
push the food into the spoon
which is held by the right hand.
Since rice is the main staple of the
Filipinos at almost every meal, the
fork and spoon method is ideal. It
is believe that the use of a spoon
and a fork is perfect for the way
Southeast Asians prepare and
cook their food. Unlike the
Americans who like their meats
and other food items in big slabs
and humongous chunks,
Southeast Asians generally
prepare their dishes in bite-sized
pieces -- chopped, minced or
ground -- thus leaving no real
need for a knife.
Eating with Hands (Kamayan)
In addition to the use of the fork
and spoon, eating with your hands
or kamayan is another common
Filipino tradition. For many
Filipinos, kamayan gives full taste
to the food instead of using
utensils. Gather a small portion of
meat or fish and a bite-sized
portion of rice on your plate. Then
use all your fingers to gather the
food into a small mountain or
mound. Pick up the little mound
and put it in your mouth using
your thumb to gently push the
food in.Filipinos usually eat rice
that has a slightly sticky
consistency so making the little
mounds is easier than if you were
to use a jasmine or basmati rice.
Of course, this method of eating
doesn't work with soup/stew or
noodles and other kinds of food
but for your basic plate of rice,
meat/fish and vegetables it works
quite well! Next time you make
dinner try eating kamayan.
Balikbayan BoxesSome Filipinos
leave the Philippines to live and
work abroad. A balikbayan box is a
box of items sent by the
balikbayan to their family in the
Philippines. The box can be sent or
it can be brought by the sender
when they themselves return to
the Philippines. Balikbayan boxes
come in all different sizes and
dimensions from bulilit (small) to
extra large. It can be filled with
almost anything but it is usually
filled with items that cannot be
found in the Philippines or items
that may be too expensive for the
average person to buy in the
Philippines. Common items found
in balikbayan boxes include:
clothes, shoes, chocolate, nuts,
vitamins, basketballs, coffee and
tea, magazines,
shampoo/conditioner, soap, body
lotion, etc.