Tagalog Word of the Day: BALIKBAYAN
Dear Readers
Lately, I’ve been traveling—a lot. I love exploring new places, but each journey brings me back to a cherished Filipino tradition: pasalubong.
Pasalubong is the heartfelt practice of bringing gifts to friends and loved ones upon returning home. It’s more than a souvenir; it’s a tangible expression of thoughtfulness and connection. Derived from the Tagalog words “pasa” (to pass) and “salubong” (to welcome), it embodies the spirit of sharing one’s experiences with those back home.
When I was little, my father—who served in the military—would be deployed for long stretches. Every time he returned, he brought me pasalubong: a toy, a trinket, a sweet. It didn’t matter what it was; what mattered was the message: I thought of you. I didn’t forget.
This tradition continued during our family trips to the Philippines. Like many balikbayans, my parents would arrive with giant boxes wrapped in plastic and rope—tightly knotted in a way only a Navy person would know. Boxes marked with final destinations noted with bold permanent marker—the words PHILIPPINES, underlined with emphasis–, packed with care, filled with gifts for family—some extravagant, some humble, but all filled with thought.
And when we reached our final destination in the province, the response was always the same: joy, appreciation, and warmth.
I’ll admit—when I got older, I became a little cynical. I started to wonder: Were they more excited to see us, or the gifts? But time, and a bit of distance, has softened that opinion.
Now, I see pasalubong for what it really is: a distinctly Filipino love language. A way of caring from afar. A connection built through effort and thoughtfulness, especially when physical presence wasn’t possible. I now understand that these gifts weren’t bribes or obligations; they were gestures of devotion and kinship, quiet ways of saying: We’re still connected. I didn’t forget.
Now, when I travel and find myself near the West Coast, I make a pit stop in San Diego to see my mother. Sometimes I forget to bring pasalubong. Sometimes I remember. Lately, my pasalubong has taken the form of acts of service: coloring her hair, cooking her something nice to eat. She already has everything, but these small gestures still say, I thought of you.
Pasalubong also manifests in other forms, such as remittances. In 2024, overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) sent over $38.34 billion USD back home, accounting for 8.3% of the country’s GDP. These aren’t just transactions; they’re monthly love letters, steady and faithful, often invisible but profoundly impactful.
My mother was one of those workers. For decades, she sent money home to her mother—my grandmother—hoping to make her life a little easier. When my grandmother passed, my mother discovered something extraordinary: every detail had already been handled. The funeral services were pre-paid, the business matters settled. And every cent she had sent had been silently, and securely set aside for me, and noted devoutly in the ledger.
Now, I am the recipient of a pasalubong from someone who has traveled to the afterlife. Even in her absence, she found a way to say: I remembered you.
So yes, pasalubong is candy. It’s balikbayan boxes filled with treats and trinkets. But it’s also legacy. It’s intention. It’s a thread that binds us across oceans, generations, and even lifetimes.
What’s a pasalubong you’ve never forgotten?
See you ‘round,
Nicole
Tagalog Word of the Day:
BALIKBAYAN
Return
Balikbayan is a Tagalog word that refers to a Filipino who returns to the Philippines after living or working abroad for an extended period—most commonly used for Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) or immigrants visiting home.
Balik = return
Bayan = country or hometown
→ “Return to one’s homeland”
Ang daming pasalubong ni Tito—talagang balikbayan na balikbayan!
Uncle brought so many gifts—he’s truly a balikbayan!
March 28, 2025
Newsletter #45