Pasalubong (the Filipino term for gifts or souvenirs from traveling friends or relatives) has become part of the Filipino tradition. Whether traveling from domestic holidays or returning home for a short vacation, Filipinos are often tied to buying them for friends, co-workers, and family members.
Returning balikbayans to the Philippines from the United States often include pasalubongs in their luggage and make a checklist of recipients matched with novelty items. They may range from perfumes to chocolates, key chains to shirts or simply crisp dollar bills. The value may vary but the thought of remembering someone with a token gift is often what matters to the recipients.
The value of a pasalubong
Giving souvenirs from travel, or pasalubong, is an important tradition in many cultures, including the Philippines. It symbolizes the thoughtfulness and consideration of the traveler towards their loved ones back home. The act of bringing back gifts and souvenirs shows that the traveler remembered their friends and family even while they were away and that they took the time and effort to find special items to share with them.
Pasalubong also serves as a way for the traveler to share their experiences with others, by providing a tangible connection to the places they visited and the memories they made. The gifts often serve as reminders of the trip and can bring happy emotions and spark conversation about the journey.
Overall, giving pasalubong is a way to express love and appreciation, and to create meaningful connections with others. It is an important part of the travel experience and a cherished aspect of many cultures.
US dollar bills
Crisp US dollar bills serve as excellent souvenir items. Recipients will appreciate these gifts from balikbayans as the US dollar carries high value due to superior exchange rate.
Giving newly printed US bills, especially larger denominations such as $100 and $50 is seen as a sign of generosity of the givers and a symbol of their success abroad. Some recipients, especially the elderly ones, tend to keep them as savings or emergency funds rather than spending them right away.
This pasalubong is also perfect gift for balikbayans traveling to the Philippines and during special occasions such as weddings, birthdays or the Christmas season.
Beauty and skincare products
These products are excellent pasalubong ideas from the US as they offer a mix of quality and exclusivity compared to those available in the Philippines.
Brands such as Rare Beauty, Drunk Elephant or Tarte are relatively affordable in the US and are hard to find or overpriced in the Philippines. Also, drugstore brands such as CeraVe and Aquaphor are conveniently available in the United States.
Filipinos who follow Tiktok influencers will be delighted to receive merchandise that are featured in viral videos. Bringing them limited-edition beauty sets or products recently launched will also add bragging rights.
Unlike souvenirs that just sit around, perfumes and lotions make great pasalubong ideas for family and friends because they offer practical use and suit a wide range of ages and preferences.
- Make up: Fenty Beauty lip gloss, Rare Beauty blush, Tarte Shape Tape Concealer
- Skincare: CeraVe Moisturizer, The Ordinary serums, Aquaphor healing ointment
- Body Care: Bath & Body Works lotions, Victoria’s Secret body mists
- Perfume: Sol de Janeiro body mist, designer mini perfumes (Dior, Chanel)
- Lip Care: Burt’s Bees lip balm, Carmex, Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask
Fashion & Accessories
Many Filipinos crave for fashionable clothing, shoes and accessories so travelers from the US will always find them attractive gifts.
Branded clothing like Nike, Adidas or Under Armour are often cheaper when bought in the US due to lower retail prices and presence of outlet stores. These brand also release models and collections that may not make it to their stores in the Philippines.
Great deals can also be obtained with discounts being offered during Black Friday, Cyber Monday and other seasonal sales promotions in the US, making them worthwhile gifts without denting the budget.
Receiving items from popular brands such as Michael Kors, Coach, Calving Klein and Tommy Hilfiger adds a sense of luxury and elevates the value of a pasalubong. Even more affordable brands like Gap, Old Navy and Uniqlo are well-loved due to the quality and comfort associated with these brands.
As they are lightweight and easy to pack, t-shirts, caps and small accessories also offer ease to travelers who are conscious about bringing bulky luggage or limited baggage allowance.
- Clothing: Nike or Adidas shirts, Levi’s jeans, Uniqlo heattech (for travel)
- Sneakers: Converse, Vans, Nike Air Force 1, Adidas Ultraboost
- Bags & Wallets: Coach, Kate Spade, Michael Kors, Herschel backpacks
- Caps & Beanies: New Era MLB caps, Carhartt beanies
- Watches: Fossil, Timex, Casio G-Shock
- Sunglasses: Ray-Ban, Oakley, Quay Australia
- Accessories: Branded socks (Nike, Stance), minimalist jewelry (Pandora, Kendra Scott)
Local and Souvenir Items
Conventional pasalubong items from the US are meaningful gifts from balikbayan travelers because they offer a tangible piece of American culture. They can come in form of popular items or regional specialties, and are suitable for family or friends who appreciate something distinct from the United States.
Key chains, postcards, tote bags, mugs and fridge magnets that feature specific US state or city landmark make people feel they received something truly American. These products are affordable, especially those sold at discount stores such as Ross, TJ Maxx and Target, and also easy to find such as those at airport duty-free shops.
Gifts that have deeper cultural connection such as National Park collectibles, Route 66 memorabilia or journals that feature historic America are also available as pasalubong for history buff recipients.
City-Themed Items:
- New York: “I ❤️ NY” shirts, Statue of Liberty miniatures
- California: Hollywood merch, Golden Gate Bridge souvenirs
- Las Vegas: Casino chip keychains, dice sets, shot glasses
- Texas: Cowboy hats, BBQ seasoning, “Don’t Mess with Texas” shirts
Theme Park & Pop Culture Memorabilia:
- Disney, Universal Studios, and Harry Potter merch (mugs, keychains, shirts)
- Route 66 signs, NASA-themed souvenirs from Houston or Florida
Food & Drinks:
- Local specialty snacks like Hershey’s chocolates (from Pennsylvania), Saltwater Taffy (from the East Coast), or Maple Syrup (from Vermont/Canada border)
- Regional hot sauces (e.g., Tabasco from Louisiana)
- Coffee beans from Starbucks Reserve or local roasters
Toys and Collectibles
Many toys and limited-edition collectible items such as action figures and trading cards are sold exclusively in the US, making their value extra high for pasalubong recipients. Likewise, toys sold at Target, Walmart or Disney Stores are not always available in the Philippines.
Without import markups, travelers are almost always assured that cost of buying toy brands such as LEGO, Mattel and Hasbro are lower in the United States, assuring of superior durability and assurance of authenticity.
These types of pasalubong also cater to a diverse set of age groups. Young kids will be delighted with products such as action figures, dolles, and plushies from popular US toy brands. Collectors appreciate limited-edition Funko Pops, Star War figures and Marvel / DC collectibles. Hobbyists have always been praying to receive gifts such as model kits, trading cards and genuine NBA jerseys.
- For Gamers: Nintendo Amiibos, PlayStation/Xbox gift cards, Pokémon plushies
- For Builders: LEGO sets (Star Wars, Harry Potter, Architecture series)
- For Car Fans: Hot Wheels premium sets, Matchbox collectibles
- For Collectors: Funko Pop exclusives, Marvel/DC action figures, Star Wars Black Series
- For Card Players: Pokémon TCG, NBA trading cards, Magic: The Gathering decks
- For Kids: Barbie dolls, Disney Store plushies, Squishmallows, Play-Doh sets
- For Small Souvenirs: Character keychains, enamel pins, mini blind box figures
Technology gadgets
Tech and gadgets from the US are attractive pasalubong ideas. Known for their durability and performance, US brands are preferred by Filipinos who wish to own a piece of these prized technology gadgets.
Travelers can leverage on earlier launch dates, and wider range of available products, bringing products like Amazon Echo, Google Nest and Roku can be advantageous as they are not widely available in the Philippines.
For space conscious travelers, gadgets such as wireless earbuds, smartwatches and phone accessories don’t take up much luggage space. They are also less fragile compared to other pasalubong options.
These technology gadgets such as iPad, Bluetooth speakers or smartphones can be priced lower in the US, thanks to seasonal sales and tax-free states where they are sold. More importantly, these souvenirs are functional and can be used daily, whether work, study, or gaming.
- Accessories: Anker power banks, Apple MagSafe charger, Belkin wireless chargers
- Audio: Apple AirPods, Bose QuietComfort, Sony WH-1000XM5, JBL portable speakers
- Smartwatches & Fitness: Apple Watch, Fitbit, Garmin sports watch
- Gadgets: Amazon Kindle, Google Chromecast, Roku streaming stick
- Work Essentials: Logitech MX Master mouse, Razer gaming keyboard, external SSDs
- Gaming: Nintendo Switch accessories, Xbox/PS5 controllers, gift cards (Steam, PlayStation, Nintendo)
History of giving pasalubong
The tradition of pasalubong, or the giving of gifts and souvenirs from travel, has roots in the Philippines and has been a part of the culture for many generations. It is believed to have originated from the practice of Filipino seafarers who would bring back gifts and trinkets from their travels abroad to their families and friends.
In the past, pasalubong was often seen as a symbol of wealth and prosperity, as only those who could afford to travel were able to bring back gifts. Today, the tradition has evolved and is now a common practice for travelers of all social classes, regardless of the purpose or length of their trip.
Pasalubong has become an important aspect of Philippine culture and is now a widely recognized tradition in many other cultures as well. Although it can also be interpreted in a negative light, giving a pasalubong serves as a symbol of love, appreciation, and the bond between travelers and their loved ones, and continues to be a beloved custom for many people around the world.
For Filipinos abroad, pasalubong can also mean the content of a balikbayan box they send back to families, especially if they cannot travel home.