Whenever an OFW or overseas Filipino worker would send boxes to the Philippines, they would usually use a box called the Balikbayan box. So what is a Balikbayan box? A Balikbayan box is just an ordinary over-sized box which was formerly used to contain other things such as a television set. This boxes were then used by OFWs returning home to easily carry their things and other items in one big box. This gave rise to the name Balikbayan box or literally meaning returnee's to one's homeland box.
Because of its popularity, efficiency, as well as economic benefit, OFWs wanting to send boxes to the Philippines would usually use these balikbayan boxes. There are several advantages to using this type of boxes rather than any kind of packages. Unlike the packages, balikbayan boxes could contain a number of items that can fit and that the sender thinks the recipient would like, regardless of whether those items can be bought cheaply in the Philippines, such as non-perishable food, toiletries, household items, electronics, toys, designer clothing, or items hard to find in the Philippines.
Another part of its advantage is economic benefit. If the items were sent individually or in smaller boxes through postal services, the cost could be significant. However, the only disadvantage of sending balikbayan boxes to the Philippines is its long transit time by container ships, typically taking several weeks, and the lack of a solid delivery date.
In today's trends, the use of balikbayan boxes have steadily decline over the years. The one reason for this is because of online shops. Online shops have been established across the Philippines to provide OFWs a way to easily send gifts back to their loved ones in the Philippines. The advantage of using this compared to balikbayan boxes is its faster delivery time. Sending balikbayan boxes would usually take 3 weeks to 1 month whereas online shopping and delivery services would only take 3-5 days.
Another advantage of using online shops is its convenience. An OFW could easily buy and send their gifts in work or while at home, whereas organizing a balikbayan box would usually take a lot of effort as well as trips to several shops. However, the only thing that online shops based in the Philippines can't provide are the items usually sent from abroad. Online shops could only offer items which are available in the Philippines which is why many Filipinos working and living abroad still send balikbayan boxes to the Philippines. For more information visit to our site at http://www.lbcexpress.com
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