Cultural Significance
Part of the attraction of the balikbayan box is its economic value as it affords the sender cheaper bulk shipment of items versus sending each individually or in smaller boxes through postal services. The tradeoff though is longer transit time by container ship, which typically lasts several weeks, and the lack of a solid delivery date.
Important is the balikbayan boxes' role in the practice of pasalubong, where returnees are culturally expected to bring home gifts to family, friends and colleagues in the Philippines.
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