The pasalubong syndrome

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Having lived overseas for 4 straight years, I still feel rooted in the Philippines. I don't exactly call myself a balikbayan, but I am considered one when I fill out the arrival form on the plane before the descent to NAIA.

Before I travel to Manila on a short vacation, my brain whirrs incessantly about what to bring home, aka pasalubong. I buy specific things for each family member. Luckily, I don't have a lot! I only consider about 10 people and that should be pretty easy, right?

It can be a dilemma! For one, some of the things I want to buy are already sold there. The only thing that I buy that has significance are cheeses -- cheddar, blue, etc. Dalawang family members ko ang crazy for cheese! And another thing, how much pasalubong is enough?

I try to kill the pasalubong syndrome in me because I go overboard sometimes. I once packed 20 kgs of nothing but food -- cheese, wine, chocolates, candy, clothes, even muesli! My family has traveled a bit, especially me and my sister, so they already have preferences for things from overseas.

Pagdating ko pa sa Pinas, my mom likes to go to DFS. Ewan ko kung anong attraction meron sa kanya ang DFS at kelangang mabisita nya yun pag may kapamilya syang nag-travel overseas maski short 1 week business trip lang. So, effectively, pasalubong pa rin yun.

I've not really expected anything from people who travel overseas or who are balikbayans to give me something on their return. My rationale is it's not the things I'm given that I want, it's the person that I want to see. Tsaka I don't want to add to the pressure. I want them to feel that it's perfectly acceptable that they don't give me any pasalubong. I understand din kasi what it's like to live abroad lalo na nung puro business trips pa lang ang ginagawa ko. Para bang may unspoken pressure from people at home na mag-pasalubong tayo.

Pasalubong is something I have to save for and at the same I set an amount that I'm willing to spend. I just can't justify it sometimes, yet I do it and, admittedly, I like doing it lalo na pag nakangiti na yung little cousin ko about a cute dress I got her. I probably shelled out $700-1,000 on pasalubongs for just 1 visit to Manila. I know that that's NOTHING compared to others. I'm not kuripot. I'm just practical, realistic, and honest. I've never considered it as validating my asenso-ness.

Paano pa kaya yung konti lang ang kinikita tapos nagpapadala pa ng remittance habang nasa abroad sila? I wonder kung gaano kalaki ang ginagastos nila for pasalubong lang. Who started the trend anyway?

It's kind of a love and hate thing for me. I don't like having this societal pressure to give. Never have. I remember one time I traveled for 2 weeks on business, pagbalik ko sa work hiniritan ako ng officemates ko ng pasalubong. Hindi naman ako nag-bakasyon ano. Nagtrabaho ako. Kung meron man akong pasalubong, hindi para sa inyo.

My point is that maybe we should not expect it or ask for it. Filipinos working abroad don't work just so they could give you pasalubong. Maski malaki pa ang kinikita nila compared to those in the Philippines, ang ginagastos nila sa bansang kinaluluklukan nila ay ang local na pera rin. Buti sana kung presyong Piso rin ang tinapay don.

I'm curious about what other Filipinos have spent on pasalubongs on one visit. Do you think what I spent was too much or too little? Do you think it's mean of me to blog about this practice?