You are ready to make the move and you are deciding what you should bring from your home country to make your life more comfortable in the Philippines. Right? I knew it! I was faced with that dilemma once and I remember it well. If there is something you know that you absolutely cannot live without, it may well be the deal breaker once you get to the Philippines! If you are unable to find that one thing here. However, there are ways around this situation with well thought out planning before you leave your home country. What should I do and how do I get it there? You may ask that question in wild wonder!
BBB
You will certainly hear this term once you arrive on the Golden Shores of the Philippines, if you haven’t already. What the hell is BBB? Balikbayan Box! Wouldn’t it be great if you could get a large box and fill it with things you want to have at your disposal in the Philippines and it will cost you less than $100 to ship? I’ve got some good news for you! You can. In NE Florida, there are 3 sizes of Balikbayan Boxes and 3 different prices. How much? For the small BBB, it is $49, for the medium BBB, it is $79 and $99 for the largest BBB. That’s great, isn’t it? So, I am telling you about the BBB before you leave home, for you to make plans ahead of time.
If you live in a city with a decent size Filipino Community in your home country, you will find a shipper of the Balikbayan Box. The shipping cost is according to the size of the box and not according to the weight. As long as you do not send items in commercial quantity, you should not have to pay Customs Duty once the box arrives, although some had to pay a few hundred Pesos here and there.
If you enjoy Brazilian Corned Beef, which is popular in the USA such as Libby’s brand, it is best not to ship an entire case in your BBB. Nine or ten cans is a good number. That amount will hold you until you get settled in and find out if you can buy the Brazilian Corned Beef in your area of the Philippines. I buy this canned meat product in Bacolod, as I also enjoy it, and it is cheaper here than in Florida USA! I am referring to Libby’s brand of Brazilian Corned Beef.
It is best not to burn all your bridges once you depart your home country. Family members and friends can easily ship you a BBB once or twice a year to the Philippines once you give them instructions before you get on the plane and head out. Unless they are generous to pay for the contents inside the box from your shopping list and the shipping, you can easily send them money from the Philippines to cover the expense for your BBB.
Made To Burn
I know American guys who are loading up their BBBs right now with their favorite power tools, sound system, TV, juicers, blenders, meat slicers, rotissirie ovens and their favorite electronics. Well, I’m afraid I’ve got some bad news! Those are 110v and in the Philippines, you will need 220v appliances and electronics.
What’s the solution? I don’t want to be a Killjoy but my advice is to sell those items before you hit the road! Use the money to buy new items in the Philippines once you arrive. That is what we did and it was fun furnishing our new house with all new items.
Some expats buy an AVR, Automatic Voltage Regulator, and they can use their 110v appliances in the Philippines. Some try color coding the plugins, as not to confuse anyone who may plug the appliance into a 220v outlet and that may work..for awhile. I’ve never met one foreigner who moved to the Philippines with 110v appliances who didn’t have several fried when a helper, a family member, a partner or a friend plug this 110v into a 220v outlet direct! Leave the tears, the yelling, cursing and emotional pain at home, along with your 110v appliances, is my advice!
This is Part I of a II Part Series about Moving to the Philippines. In my next article, I will give you sound advice about buying quality appliances in the Philippines and shipping more needful things to the Philippines, which may be hard to find in many areas of the Islands.
If you are interested in shipping your vehicle to the Philippines, then we have all the information you need.
Good article, made me think 🙂
Thanks, Brian.I am glad you found my article stimulating.
~ Gary ~
Of course almost everything requiring electricity costs three times more here due to immoral and greedy customs officials. No one in my house plugs in anything without asking, so my tv, deep fryer, toaster , drill and other kitchen appliances are used extensively. Currently awaiting a BBB containing my circular saw so I don;t have to spend $160 PLUS ON A PIECE OF JUNK.
Yes Gary, just loading our second BBB to send in the next couple of weeks. Some new towels towels and some good quality paper towels are included. Plenty of food stuffs that we can’t access in Bacolod including my favorite muesli combination. Fortunately electrical appliances in Australia are 240volt, 50 hertz and generally quite compatible with Philippine electrical supply.
Costs us about AU$108 to send to Bacolod. Am thinking of sending a couple of ceiling fans as the ones in Australia spin much faster than the local ones and give a much better cooling effect. Bought a new power drill to send as well as good quality computer speakers with sub woofer.
Still a bit of room in the second box and will fill it easily enough. Only ten weeks to go. Looking forward to the expat lunch when we get there. What date you looking at in November Gary? We are arriving November 13th.
All the best, Greg and Jeanna. Biding our time in Canberra.
Hi Greg,
We recently bought 4 large, plush cotton towels at Gaisano Dept Store for almost P400 each. Green and blue colors.
We usually have the expat lunch the 2nd Saturday of each month but I will talk to Bob R and see if we can’t move it up to the 3rd Saturday in November. Shouldn’t be a problem.
Take care, mate!
~ Gary ~
Great advice as always! I always look forward to these informative and very helpful articles!
Thank you, Calvin. I am glad you find my articles helpful.
Take care,
~ Gary ~
There is a Philippine woman who lives in my area of Connecticut that makes a business out of shipping balikbayan boxes. I sent a good sized one for $50 and when I asked her if it was per box she said “No” that it was $50 per shipment no matter the number of boxes. I imagine if many were taking unfair advantage of this the terms would change. But there is a large contingency of Asians living here, many working at the casino, and I’m sure the Filipinos know better than to abuse a good deal. I am preparing a box for my daughter to ship to me as soon as I have an address in Cebu. Although they are 110V, there are some kitchen appliances I want that I do not know if they are available in the Philippines. When I mentioned a slow cooker and food dehydrator to my fiancee she didn’t know what they were. One thing to point out to those preparing to move to the Philippines is that several, if not many, electronics are now dual voltage. When I was there in 2012, I had no problem with plugging in my laptop or my phone charger. As much as I want my 40″ TV, I am not sure if it can be sent if it is not in a Balikbayan box.
Hi David. Can you send a big screen TV in a BBB? Will it arrive unbroken after all that bouncing around during shipping? What you said about a slow cooker is interesting. I’m going to ask my gf in Cebu. Thanks.
SM Dept Store sells slow cookers.
~ Gary ~
Gary, thanks for this info. I have been wondering about BBB for some time. You have solved my problem! You have made my move to Cebu easier! Also, here in Florida, Libby’s Corned Beef is a product of Uruguay. Hereford Corned Beef is from Brazil.
You are welcome, Terry. I am happy that I helped solve your problem. Hereford Corned Beef and canned Hams are sold in SM Supermarket in Bacolod City. The Hams are P200 and the Hereford Corned Beef is P120.
Filipinos like corned beef very much but the local products are mostly shredded corned beef and some are mixed with buffalo meat, together with beef. Still not bad, though. Corned Beef is often breakfast food here, with eggs and rice. I enjoy Filipino Breakfast!
Have a good one!
~ Gary ~
We send a box or 2 before we vacation there. We pack mostly food and other things we will need when we vacation there/
I feel the need to comment on several posts in this thread. First of all go with Gary…his advice is sound.
Think about $50 per shipment, no matter how many boxes. Who can make money on that deal? Especially from states not on the west coast. Trust but check.
The Philippine Bureau of Customs has at various times declared electronic items ineligible cargo in Balikbayan boxes. (BBB) The policy is not clear.
The Customs Bureau regulations say Items with a value greater than $500 are not eligible.
http://customs.gov.ph/faqs/balikbayan-boxes/#7.1
The power supply in the Philippines is 220v, 60 hertz. 220-240v, 50 hertz appliance owners will experience problems with anything that goes round and round to do it’s job.
Rare are the expats who have not plugged 110-120v things into 240v outlets when moving stuff around the house.
110-120v things cost more to use when plugged into step down transformers. Step down transformers capable of disguising even ten watt things negate the marginal cost of bringing your own. Electricity is expensive.
These days, few things that don’t work 110/120 to 240 volts can be considered quality products in our global world. Comparable products are readily available at similar costs.
I’m two days removed from three months in the U.S. I went grocery shopping today. Imported food is only marginally higher here than there. Exporters/distributors/retailers cater to their market. Something as obscure as pepper jelly cannot be found in Bacolod, but I can spice up local stuff worthy of the best biscuits and cream cheese. Relax. The food you bring won’t last. What do you do then? Creativity trumps shipping in your favorite brand of anything. Real corned beef does not come in a can. Google corned beef, follow the instructions and you won’t have to open a can to get your fix.
I’m just about finished, but why shouldn’t expats open their purses to spend more for good imported towels when their favorite brands are made in China/Malaysia/Truk and sold for less here than in their home countries. And on and on.
-ows-
Thanks you, Ows. It is nice reading your comments. My next home project is making beef jerky and I think I can pull it off. I will look into making corned beef as well. I see blocks of corned beef for sale in SM and in other venues but never tried them.
Have a good day!
~ Gary ~
Yes I think $50 a shipment may be an error? I am sending two boxes shortly and I will be pleasantly surprised if they only charge for one. Canned corned beef is not so popular in Aus and we are happy with the local stuff which we only have occasionally.
Interesting about the stuff that goes round and round not being so compatible. No room in our boxes for the fan anyway. Got the drill as a gift and not exactly a top brand. Will take it and try it out.
Have friends who have sent computers and the like without any dramas.
Never been able to find canned beet root over there and always pack three. I get the paper towels for free and send plenty. Don’t like to see the same old rags sitting on the sink, just a little thing that irks me.
Anyway Gary we don’t want to put anybody out with the expats lunch so only change the date if absolutely no problems. Can always have a meal any time. Haven’t tried the Fishers Hotel yet and will give that a workout not long after we arrive.
Looking forward to arrival time. Plan to get to Dumaguette this trip and see a bit more of Negros. Got a mate living in Bais City and might call in there?
Hi Greg,
In Gainesville, Florida, Philippines Express has their small BBB for $49. I checked on that this past April. I talked to Bob and he said it won’t be a problem having the expat lunch one week later in November.
Metro had a case of Vegemite on their deli shelf and it sold out very quickly. I like Vegemite on toast, even though I am an American! Imagine that, lol.
Have a good one!
~ Gary ~
Took a jar of Vegemite on my last trip and Jeanna and I were the only ones to partake. Glad you reminded me. Need to put two jars in our BBB. Second box almost full. Takes about six weeks from Aus to Bacolod and $108.
About five weeks to Manila and $80. This is by ship of course. Got the agent picking up the box on Sept. 28 and hopefully ship out Oct. 2. We are in Canberra which is about three hours to Sydney so the box goes there by truck I assume.
Count us in for the expat lunch. Just need a location when you decide. Anywhere is fine by us.
Time seems to be going so fast. CYAs in November, Greg and Jeanna.
Sounds good, Greg. I will contact you personally about the location, as it will be the 3rd Saturday in November. It won’t be long!
~ Gary ~