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Stories behind the hugs and kisses inside the balikbayan box of every Overseas Filipino Workers.

 

When my mother in law sent me the video of my daughter unboxing the package that I have packed last December, I was really happy to see her reaction. At last, she's holding the toys and chocolates that I promised to give her for her Christmas present. I didn't go home for two years and sending a package is my way to somehow lessen the feeling of homesickness. I also included some toys for my nephews, bags for my parents and some essentials for my relatives. For more than two years of working here in Hong Kong, it was the first time that I send a box to my family. I used to help my friends packing things that they will send to Philippines because it's not easy to do it when you`re alone. So I got the idea on how to do it by myself. I assumed that I will only finish it for half day. But because I need to buy some more stuffs to add, it took me a whole day to pack it all in the box.

 

As I sit on the bus while heading home, I just got the thought of how hard it is to send a package to your loved ones. From buying clothes, bags, toys and shoes. Paying the storage, or storing stuff that I bought in my employer’s house. And when the time comes that I need to send them, I will pull it out again and carry it to the packing area. Very tiring, but after putting it all together and sorting all the things, it's all worth it. While staring at the photo of my box on my phone, I just realized that there’s more than what’s inside. And we called it a package of love.

 

I was recalling the time when my friend asked for my help to carry things that she will put in a storage. I did not insist, why not, I'm always happy whenever I see people buying stuff for their family. While she is choosing clothes for her sister's children, she gently told me; "I left my nephews and nieces when they were still young. Now, I don't even know what size will fit them. I miss them so much". I can't find a words how to comfort her because I also feel the same. So the least thing that I can do is to help her in buying.

 

Another neighbor of mine asked for our help to carry a large stripe bags and she promised to treat us a lunch. She said that her employer changed all the things in their house. So she sort out the things that still can be use such as bags, shoes for children, kitchen wares and a bike that still looks new. It's common here in Hong Kong. Most of the employer throws things and we ask their permission if can we keep them, rather than throwing it.

 

Seeing all those efforts and sacrifices of OFW's makes me proud. When we choose to work miles away just to provide the needs of our family. When we deprive ourselves from buying the things that we want because we need to save it for the things that we want to buy for our loved ones.  When food is the only treat that we can give to our self during holidays, of course that makes us happy too.

 

The balikbayan box is where the OFW`s express their feelings of how much they miss their family back home. It's a box full of love with lots of hugs and kisses inside. Those toys that we bought reminds us about the tiny little ones that we used to hug. Those stuff toys reminds us about our children whom we used to carry when they were young. Those clothes reminds us how we want to see our parents wear a brand new shirts and pants. Those bags reminds us how we want see our siblings finish their studies. Those chocolates reminds us about the happiness of someone who will eat it. We always think of what's the best for our family. We always make sure that we provide everything for them, specially to our children. They are the source of our strength and the reason why we chose to stay in a battle of homesickness.