Sending balikbayan box household items, food, and clothing to loved ones in the Philippines can sometimes be challenging since it may or may not be available in your area or the country you are in.
If you are sending balikbayan boxes to the Philippines, this is an important information. There are balikbayan companies who have been blacklisted by the Philippine Shipper’s Bureau - DTI because of undelivered boxes and other violations. To learn more of the list (as of Oct 25, 2012) in your respective countries, click here.
This has long been a tradition for Filipinos who live outside the Philippines. If you just married a Filipino or Filipina, don’t be surprised that they fill these boxes and send it home to their families. It is a Filipino tradition that whenever someone in the family is better off, they would share their wealth however big or small it may be. It’s just one of those things and it is a tradition. You just have to understand it.
So how do you get these balikbayan (buh-lik-buh-yun) boxes? Most major cities with major Filipino populations have these services. You can either find a balikbayan cargo box agent, Filipino store, Filipino restaurant who resells these services. You either buy the box and then once you are ready to send it, they deduct the amount of the box to the shipping cost. Most of the time the balikbayan cargo dealers give it for free as long as you send the box through their company.
You can also buy a box from one or any balikbayan box dealer or forwarder and send it through another balikbayan cargo dealer. Most of them will accept the box as long as it’s the same dimensions. What does it look like? Here’s some of them:
Contents can look this way packed:
Talking about the dimensions of the box, you cannot just purchase a box from Walmart, Officemax, or any department store. You can buy it a packing company or store as long as it has the same dimensions as what is required. They will not take it if it’s out of dimensions unless you have prior arrangements with them. Balikbayan cargo dealers have their own dimensions for the box because they pack the 20 or 40-foot container the way they like in a certain way.
So what goes in the balikbayan box? Per the Philippine Department of Trade and Industry, these are the items that DO NOT go in the boxes:
1. AAA Cargo Express Inc.
2. ABS-CBN Star Kargo
3. Aerosend
4. Alas Cargo
5. Associated Consolidations Express (ACE Cargo)
6. FRS Philippine Freight Services, Inc.
7. Shipping Express
8. South Atlantic Cargo
As of Feb 8, 2013, here’s the list of Balikbayan Cargo dealers in the United States who are under investigation for undelivered boxes or other violations:
1. AAA Cargo Express Inc.
2. ABS-CBN Star Kargo
3. Aerosend
4. Associated Consolidations Express (ACE Cargo)
5. FRS Philippine Freight Services, Inc.
6. Pentagon Cargo, Inc
7. REN International
8. Shipping Express
9. South Atlantic Cargo
10. Star Xpress Forwarders
If you really want to believe this violations: click here to download the current list
For other countries: click here and download the current list
• Declare your shipment by accomplishing a detailed packing list stating all the contents of your box and value of shipment, per item if possible, as well as your preferred shipping date. Ask for proper (or extraordinary, if needed) packing, wrapping, strapping, sealing and labeling of your box.
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MABUHAY!
Kumusta po kayo?
…Meron po ba’ng mga legit na Cargo/Freight forwarder dito sa Billings, Montana??
Thanks!
Try mo yung Denver, CO and Spokane or Seattle, WA area. See if they have an agent dyan sa area mo. Good luck po.
Hi Maam/Sir good day…
I want to ask you..kng mron kayong balik bayan box from Morocco to philippines… can you help me please ..thanks
Tess
sorry po. I have no idea kung merong balikbayan cargo dealer dyan. If you find one, please update me. Maraming Salamat.
Why is it so hard to find a balikbayan box and shipper in Hawaii. I have been trying for four days. I have the phone number of Pinoy Cargo, but after leaving 4 messages and no return e-mail, I am still looking. Please help me if you can. I am hearing impaired and must use the Internet for communication.
it shouldn’t that hard. What Island are you in? sorry for the late reply.
How long does it take for a balikbayan box to be delivered from Seattle to Philippines?
Forex is our forwarder…
Depends. Nowadays, it may take 3 months or so. Keep check back with them. Thanks.
I need to ship a box to metro Manila I’m in Dayton Ohio. Is there a shipping company close by? Thank you.
There are a couple and you can find them online.
I’m from Virginia, and I just wanna ask if you know how much is the regular price per balikbayan boxes to ship in the Philippines? Is LBC safe to send our balikbayan boxes?
LBC is a big company so you should be okay. Just be aware that it may take 3 months or so for them to receive it.
Hi, is there a cargo here in fort knox kentucky?
There’s one in Indiana. You may have to drive it to them. BTW, I went to Bradley School at Ft Knox years ago. Met some good people there. Salamat.
I will like to order Boxes
Can I send my mom’s prescription medication to Luzon area? She has 5 different prescriptions (for diabetes, cholesterol, and anxiety) in 7 different bottles.
Thanks a bunch!
Mon, I would check with the shipping services if you are able to do that. Those are prescription medication and require a different type of approval or process.
I live in Springfield, Massachusetts.I could not find any balikbayan box forwarder in the area. Can you please recommend a name of balikbayan box forwarder around Massachusetts? Thanks.
Hi Susana, please try yung Hartford CT area. Meron sila dun. You may have to drive there or ask if they are able to pick it up from your place. Maraming Salamat po. theFilipino.com