Coming home for the holidays: A guide for OFWs

Overseas Filipino workers, or OFWs, often have two things in mind to motivate themselves at work: to make enough money to send to their families and to make it back home on Christmas day to spend the holidays.

 

For OFWs coming home this season, it means learning to maximize their vacation to better enjoy their free time. Here’s a guide to help out OFWs with their Christmas homecoming:

 

Bring money you only need for the trip

 

Most likely, OFWs who have long planned to go home in December already secured their plane tickets to the Philippines. By this time, it’s the expenses when you arrive here that you should be listing down. Are you spending for your Christmas dinner at home? Are you planning to go on an out-of-town vacation with your family or friends? Are you taking Filipino comfort food back to your host country?

 

Before hopping on your plane, make sure to set your budget and to bring money that you will only need for the trip to avoid splurging or overspending.

 

Gather your friends and family in one celebration

 

Since you’re already planning for your Christmas homecoming, you may want to consider having just one Christmas celebration with your family and friends to save on costs. Plan the party together. Consider doing potluck or dividing the party expenses accordingly.

 

Christmas is about coming together—what better way to celebrate the occasion than spending time with your loved ones?

 

Spare some luggage space

 

It’s time to pack your essentials: appropriate clothes and important documents needed here and in your host country when you return. When packing, however, you may want to consider making room for items that you might bring back from your Philippine visit.

 

Because it’s the Christmas season, chances are, your family and friends will leave you with keepsakes to help you prepare for your OFW life again. You might even shop souvenirs for yourself.

 

Don’t forget your pasalubong

 

Speaking of shopping and souvenirs, you wouldn’t want to forget your pasalubong for your loved ones when you come home.

 

Filipinos are easily recognizable in airports because of having huge balikbayan boxes in tow. While this has been every OFW’s habit already, the process of bringing huge boxes and paying extra for the cargo can be a hassle, not to mention, costly. Why not do away with taking home balikbayan boxes and just do your pasalubong shopping here instead?

 

For OFWs, the perfect destination to do their Christmas gift and pasalubong shopping is at Fiestamall, the premiere store of Duty Free Philippines. With varied items for sale, such as chocolates, makeup products, and household items, it won’t be difficult to look for presents for Tatay, Nanay, Kuya, Ate, or bunso—all tax-free! You can even shop with them so you can let them choose what they want. Not only will this help you decide on what presents to get them, it will also create quality time for you and your loved ones.

 

Look forward to coming home this Christmas. After all, it’s the season for exciting homecomings and heartwarming reunions.