One of the tasks on my to-do list before I leave the Philippines was to buy a luggage on sale. Not huge and heavy but enough to withstand the long flight and handling (more like tossing) of airport staff. And another on my list was to open a bank account in the Philippines. I found […]
Buhay OFW
I Need a Break: Balikbayan Box Shopping Ban. Maybe You Too
Don’t be alarmed. There’s no recent absurd policy change about balikbayan boxes. It’s just me challenging to change my habits of sending stuff in the Philippines. The balikbayan box (medium size from Forex Alberta) in my room is well wrapped and waiting to be shipped in the Philippines from Canada. I plan to have it […]
Balikbayan Box Shipping Review: Forex Alberta
When it comes to finding the right freight forwarders, I guess I’m lucky to get recommendations from the pioneers, the people who came before me in Canada. The first freight forwarder company that I’ve tried was Forex Alberta. Second was Jenrich Fast Cargo. I’m availing the service of the latter for a long time and […]
How I Pack Balikbayan Boxes in Canada
There’s the art of paper folding called origami and kyaraben is to the art of packing lunch. For OFWs there’s the art of packing balikbayan boxes. I know it’s not that artistic or traditional. But it’s part of the Filipino culture that we OFWs have to learn; the sooner the better. Have you seen the […]
How to Send Large Amount of Money to the Philippines
As I stepped outside, I can hardly tell where the sidewalk is. The snow was falling. It didn’t wait for me to send large amount of money to the Philippines before it covers everything on the ground. In a typical day, I would remit money online and didn’t have to bother about the weather. But […]
Why I’m Switching to Small Balikbayan Box
While I wish to help manong in putting the balikbayan boxes in his van, I can only watch from not-so-far distance. My balikbayan boxes are bound to go to the Philippines and leave the Canadian ground. After all the time the boxes have been waiting to be filled, all I see now is the empty […]