Pasalubong: A Filipino Tradition

A Sampling of the Goodies I Brought Back Home (photo c/o Knox)

I’m back in Manila after almost a week of travelling. I went up to Baguio last weekend and then flew off to Cebu almost right after.

While on my trips, I picked up a few knick-knacks for the loved ones I left behind. When I say a few, I mean half my luggage and when I say loved ones: I mean my family, my extended family, my friends, and my officemates. The bringing home of “pasalubong” is a truly Filipino tradition. There is no literal translation for, “pasalubong” but it means a coming home gift.  This is not to be mistaken with souvenirs, which are usually bought as a remembrance that one has visited a certain place.

Filipinos live to stay connected with others, thus when they leave (even for a few days), there is this urge to bring back something to share. Usually, it’s something that can only be found from that place because it’s a way of bringing the adventure home for everyone to enjoy. Food is the number one choice simply because Pinoys love to eat and with every native biscuit, there is an embedded story. Every new flavor is a joint discovery made by both the giver and the receiver.

Pasalubong also comes in the form of handicrafts like these necklaces I picked up in Cebu. Personally, I try to avoid mugs, t-shirts, key chains, or anything with the name of the place stuck on it. Just because I find it odd to give them out when that person hasn’t been there. But of course, those are quite popular too. Pinoys love to share in their friend’s adventures and that’s what a pasalubong is all about. That and to remind our friends that even when we’re away, thoughts of them did not drift too far off.