Growing up in an OFW family set-up, balikbayan boxes are not new to us. It’s very common that each member of the family looks forward to every year. I should know….
My dad worked in the Middle East for over 26 years. He would send us boxes back then where me and my brother would share. My dad would put name labels on each item so we would know what belongs to whom.
By the time he came back home for good, it was my turn. I also worked in the Middle East for almost 10 years (1999 to 2008) and practically did the same thing. I would send balikbayan boxes to them and named each one of the item in the box. I do that whenever I can. If I plan to send a box just before the Christmas holidays, I would start buying and collecting goods as early as June till I managed to fill the box and send it over to the Philippines. I was not a big time earner then. I would save something from my salary, of what was left after remitting the money to them. That’s how it works. But it doesn’t matter for as long as everybody is happy and smiling. I should know… I was also a recipient for more than 26 years.
Back then I don’t remember having tax issues. I pay the charges for sending the box and that was it. So what is the fuss these days all about? I won’t go into details anymore and just pay attention to what BOC has come up now. After the President’s order to stop opening the balikbayan boxes sent via cargo, BOC is now up to something else.
I strongly disagree. We are a family of four and Filipinos are known for extended families. My husband is not a Filipino but we are basically on the same OFW set-up. He works abroad while we are left here at home, miles away from each other. We have two girls, 9 and 5, who would always look forward to what he sends via freight or hand carried. That’s normal.
He comes home every year. He brings me home minimum of 6 bottles of perfume (plus my mom’s and soon my daughters’) enough to consume till he gets home again. Those bottles of perfume are of course bundled with handbags, cosmetics etc. which are the typical pasalubong of a husband to his wife. He is not a Filipino but a visitor as he still comes home on a visit visa, would that be taxed, too? If it’s not, well, then, thank you. I would just let my husband carry my brother’s pasalubongs for us then. But my brother is an OFW, so what now????
I would like to understand where BOC is coming from. Smugglers! Pero wag naman damay-damay! Na ultimo 2 bote ng pabango eh taxable pa!! Then, if the person refuses to pay the tax, where the supposed-to-be-taxed goods would go? This is no different to extortion at our airports. Yes!! My family had a terrible extortion experience years ago (Part 1 and Part 2). Diyan sila magaling eh! Poor OFWs! They just give in because they have no choice or otherwise a lot of time, effort and money would go to waste. Mabuti pa sa ibang bansa. I remember well when I traveled to The Netherlands. I had more than 12 units of Google Nexus in my hand luggage meant for distribution to my colleagues who will also be attending the meeting. I only had to show the OR of Purchase and told the Inspector what those units were for and I passed with no fuss and embarrassment.
Ano ng nangyayari, Pilipinas??
i feel you ???
Why do they have to do this? Ung mga pinsan ko at titos/titas abroad they always send something everytime may uuwi… Paano na ngayon ito??? Hayyyyyy Grabe naman talaga BoC. Wala na kayong Puso!
This is really sad…. not that we are materialistic or hungry for pasalubong but it’s the simple joy that the family receives especially the kids. Opening a balikbayan box back home really means a lot, di pa man nila narereceived, naiimagine na namin ang smile sa mga mukha nila.
Ewan sa mga yan, mga bitter yata kaloka!
This is really sad.
Very… very sad.
Oh, my! That’s why if I received an email from companies abroad that wanted to send their products for review, I always decline ; (
I figured, I will be having a hard time with the custom personnel at the post office huhu
So sad that this is really happening to OFVs and their families.
xoxo
MrsMartinez
It’s really sad na kapwa Pinoys are depriving us from simple joys, and worst officials. Kung di lang sana natin alam ang anomalies nila, maintindihan ko pa.
Wala atang magawa talaga yan mga taga Customs at BIR, lahat nalang gusto perahan. Nakakabwisit.
Sobrang nakakabwiset talaga sila!! Pinastop kuno ang pagbubukas ng cargo boxes yun pala sa arrival naman babawi.
Ang tindi ng BOC. Is this the way to treat our present day heroes who are bringing dollars to our Pinas. This issue should be address ASAP by the Senate.
They have no idea kasi what OFWs go through just to fill a single box.
Before it’s different but now it’s really very annoying and to think that those boxes are sealed with love. Looking forward for positive management for BOC.
Correct, I still remember when I was an OFW, walang ganyan ganyan, nasubukan kong magpadala air and seafreight but don’t remember my family paying taxes when they received the box.
Grabe talaga sa Philippines. It is really better for the government to look for other ways to stop smuggling and catch those smugglers instead of impacting everyone. Balikbayan boxes should be tax-free since these are considered as gifts to families of OFWs.
Multiple fees na aang bayarin pag ganun, kakainis! Extortion no?
This is just so disappointing that the BOC will just do everything for them to steal something from the balikbayan box that are hard-earned by the OFW’s who worked so hard and bring something for their family.
It’s not a joke of what they’ve been through just for their family to be happy but then, this BOC will just get what they want from the box for them to be happy with themselves. Such a selfish act for them to do such things that can hurt both an OFW and their family.
I have siblings who are now living abroad and if this happens to us, we will never forgive them at all. May the karma will make them taste on what will happen if they’re on our shoes.. Tsk!
Karma is just around the corner. Pakasaya sila ngayon!!
The problem with customs is it’s roots of corruption. Implementation is not consistent and one more thing they should update their rules on taxation. They are also directing their efforts at the wrong crowd.
Dami talaga anomalies sa BOC lalo na sa airport isama mo pa ang Immigration.
I understand why customs is doing this but the thing is instead of unwrapping the box why not use technology just like airport scanner. I’m glad that government didn’t allow to do this.
Same here, I know where they are coming from pero sana respeto sa privacy. That’s what they said before this recent issue came out, at nung pinastop ni President, scanners na lang daw ang gagamitin.
Mabuti na lang nabasa ko to sis. My mother-in-law is sending balikbayan box dito this November and I’m not sure if taxable yung mga items. Kung ganyan, grabe and laki siguro ng babayarang tax. May mga meds din kasi para sa mga may sakit. Pano pag ganun. Dati walang problem sa tax
I feel you, my husband sends box to us every year before the Holidays pero kung ganyan nakakakaba sa pwedeng amount na ipabayad sa atin. 🙁
Nakakalungkot talga. Wala nang dadaig pa sa Pilipinas if corruption ang pag uusapan. Hays. 🙁
Sinabi mo pa. Lahat ng pwedeng pagkaperahan, gagawan ng rule at pilit iimplement.
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