Balikbayan box Term Analysis

The word balikbayan literally translates to “return to country” in Tagalog and refers to a Filipino individual who comes back to the Philippines after a period of at least a year abroad. A balikbayan box is a box that a balikbayan would bring back home to the Philippines with them. The objects in these boxes vary, and they tend to be things that the recipient would want or need or like, regardless of value—for instance, clothes, toys, or nonperishable foods. Balikbayan boxes also tend to include objects that can’t be purchased easily in the Philippines. In Patron Saints of Nothing, Jay’s dad packs balikbayan boxes for Jay to take to his family in the Philippines. At first, Jay’s Tito Maning prevents Jay from unpacking one of his balikbayan boxes (part of the tradition of the balikbayan box is distributing the items to the recipients). As Jay becomes more confident in his Filipino identity, though, he starts to take part in traditions like the distribution of the balikbayan box’s items.