In the Philippines, Christmas starts in September. Your shipment should too.
If you have lived in the Philippines or have a Filipino partner, you know it: the Filipino Christmas is the longest in the world. It starts on 1 September — the first day of the "Ber months" (septembER, octobER, novembER, decembER) — and stretches all the way to the Feast of the Three Kings. Four months of lights, parol in the windows, carols in the shopping centres, Simbang Gabi in December and, above all, the Christmas Eve dinner on the 24th with the whole family.
That dinner is built around gifts. For a mother, a grandfather, a daughter living in the Philippines while you work in Barcelona, opening the balikbayan box is part of the Pasko ritual. And for it to be, your box has to arrive on time.
This guide explains exactly when to send, which shipping mode to choose, which gifts work best (and which cause headaches at customs), and the mistakes we see every year at our Barcelona office in November. The sooner you read this, the better.
The real deadline: 1 November, not December
If you take only one thing from this article, let it be this: your balikbayan box should leave Barcelona by 1 November at the very latest if you want it to arrive before Christmas Eve with margin to spare.
Why? Because from November onwards:
- The volume of shipments to the Philippines triples (Christmas shipments from all over the world)
- Philippine customs (BOC) gets overloaded and timelines go from 7–10 days to 15–25 days
- Local couriers in the Philippines also get overloaded on the last mile
- Philippine public holidays in December (Bonifacio Day, the Feast of the Immaculate Conception, Christmas, Rizal Day) close offices for several days
Reverse calendar for arrival before 24 December:
| Shipping mode | Latest send date from Barcelona |
| Express air (7–10 days) | 15 December (real limit, no margin) |
| Standard air (12–15 days) | 1 December |
| Air in peak season (with margin) | 1 November (recommended) |
Sea freight doesn't fit this calendar: the timeline from Barcelona is 45–60 days, so for Christmas you would have had to send it in October. That is why our air cargo balikbayan box service always operates by air: so it arrives on time, not in February. Outside peak season, an air cargo balikbayan box to the Philippines usually takes 7–15 days; in November and December it pays to allow more margin.
What goes in a Christmas balikbayan box
The Christmas classics we see every year at our office:
For the little ones
- Toys (no loose lithium batteries — inside the toy is fine)
- Clothing: jeans, jackets, dresses
- School supplies for the new school year (in the Philippines it starts in June, but you prepare ahead)
- Backpacks, bags, accessories
- Gift-set style hygiene products
For the grown-ups
- Spanish food that is exotic in the Philippines: cured ham, chorizo, olive oil, premium canned goods, marzipan, turrón, polvorones, cider
- European chocolate (much better than Filipino brands, they say so themselves)
- Good-quality Spanish or Italian coffee
- Beauty products: creams, perfumes (liquid, never aerosols)
- Vitamins and OTC supplements (paracetamol, ibuprofen) — highly valued
For gifts to neighbours and godparents
- Sets of chocolate and sweets
- Small products with a "Made in Spain" label
- Boxes of polvorones / marzipan to share around
What the family always asks for, even if you don't say it
- Perfumes (liquid, not spray) and colognes
- Make-up
- Vitamin supplements
- Specific branded clothing that isn't available in the Philippines
- Hair products (shampoos, masks)
What you should NOT pack
- Aerosols (spray perfumes, spray deodorants, hairsprays) — prohibited in air shipping
- Liquids in large quantities (wines, strong spirits) — Philippine customs restrictions
- Fresh or uncured meat — prohibited on phytosanitary grounds
- Very high-value new electronics (the latest iPhone, a MacBook) with no context — can trigger tax on the amount above PHP 150,000
- Cash — illegal by courier service
- Active gift cards with a balance — AML restriction in some cases
For the full detail, read our guide on what can go in a balikbayan box.
Philippine customs at Christmas: what changes
The balikbayan box has a wonderful tax exemption: up to PHP 150,000 (~€2,500) in personal content with no tax to pay. This does not change at Christmas.
What does change:
- Volume and times. BOC customs processes a great deal more in November-December. What takes 48h in February can take 5-7 days in December.
- More frequent physical inspections. Customs runs more random checks in peak season. If your packing list is vague, the risk of a hold multiplies.
- Local delivery costs can rise due to last-mile demand, especially outside Manila.
To reduce the risk:
1. Detailed packing list with items and approximate value
2. Coherent declared value (neither inflated nor undervalued)
3. Don't include anything from the prohibited list
4. Send before 1 November
If you want to understand better how the Bureau of Customs operates, we have a complete guide to Philippine customs.
How to present the gift (the part that really counts)
A box that arrives with everything inside anonymous white bags and one that arrives with each gift wrapped and labelled are two different experiences on Christmas Eve. For the family opening the box, the second is the gift inside the gift.
Suggestions:
- Wrap each gift individually inside the box. Cheap wrapping paper, a ribbon, a label with the recipient's name.
- A letter or a note inside the box (especially if you won't be there for the dinner). Material things fade; letters don't.
- A photo or a small print: a recent picture of you or your children for the grandparents who haven't seen you this year.
- A box with a final surprise: a small gift hidden at the bottom of the box, labelled "Open on the 24th". A small touch, a big effect.
If you come to the office with the idea but no time to wrap, we'll help. It's not a premium service; it's the norm at an agency that cares about what you send.
Recommended shipping plan (September–December calendar)
If you want to play it safe, this is the rhythm we recommend to our regular clients:
September
- Make a gift list by recipient
- Start shopping (you make the most of the end-of-summer deals)
- Reserve a shipping slot with Acacia if you're going to send several boxes
October
- Buy what's missing
- Pack the box (don't seal it yet)
- Book an appointment for shipping in late October
1 November — target send date
- The box leaves Barcelona
- Tracking activated
- Notify the family of the estimated arrival date
Mid-November
- Arrival in the Philippines
- Customs clearance
- Home delivery
Late November – early December
- Box received in time for Simbang Gabi (16 December)
- No stress over "will it make it for Christmas or not"
Plan B (if you didn't make November): express air shipping with a tight margin in the first half of December. Latest date: 15 December with the risk accepted.
The 5 mistakes we see every Christmas
1. "I'll send it the week of 15 December, it'll just make it." It arrives between Christmas and Three Kings. The dinner has already passed. The box is still useful, but the magic moment isn't.
2. "I'm going to put in a big bottle of cava to celebrate." Liquids in quantity are restricted for air safety. If you want to send a drink, ask first — there are formats that pass and others that don't.
3. "I'll buy spray perfumes for all the cousins." Aerosols don't go in air shipping. Buy perfumes in liquid format (not pressurised atomisers). Almost all premium perfumes are sold in both formats.
4. "I'll just put 'clothing and various' on the packing list." Risk of a hold for inspection. Be specific, even if only approximately.
5. "I trust it'll arrive, I won't tell the family." Telling them creates double joy: the anticipation of the box and the opening. Besides, if any delivery problem comes up, the family is already on the lookout.
Frequently asked questions about Christmas shipments to the Philippines
How much does a balikbayan box to the Philippines cost at Christmas?
We don't work with fixed "from €X" prices: the cost depends on the weight of the box and the destination within the Philippines. We give you a fixed price over WhatsApp in under 2 hours, with no surprises at drop-off.
Can I send two separate boxes to the same person?
Yes, but remember the balikbayan box exemption is 3 boxes per recipient per year. If you also send at other times of the year, work it out so you don't exceed 3 in total per person.
And if I want to send money instead of gifts?
By courier service, cash is prohibited. To send money, use Western Union, Wise, Remitly or similar services.
Does Acacia offer home pick-up at Christmas?
Yes. We offer home pick-up in Barcelona and the surrounding area; you can also drop the box at a DHL/UPS point or bring it to the office at Pelai 9. It pays to reserve a slot in advance because November is our busiest month of the year.
And if I can't be bothered to prepare the box myself?
We help you pack at the office if you come with the gifts loose. We advise you on how to distribute them, what to avoid and how to label them. When you ask us for a quote, we confirm everything the service includes for your case.
Does my family have to pay anything on receipt?
If your box stays under PHP 150,000 (~€2,500) and meets the conditions of the balikbayan box exemption, they pay nothing. If it exceeds that value, there is tax on the amount above. We confirm this for you before shipping.
And if I need to make an urgent shipment in December?
We turn to the express service with a tight margin. The realistic latest date: 15 December, with the risk of arriving between the 22nd and the 26th depending on the route. After that date, it's better to plan for Three Kings (6 January) than for Christmas Eve.
Do you accept instalment payments for regular clients?
For individuals we work with a fixed price per shipment. If you make recurring shipments (for example, a business or a family sending several boxes a year), we can discuss tailored terms: message us on WhatsApp and we'll look into it.
Maligayang Pasko, but only if it arrives on time
The difference between an unforgettable Christmas and a balikbayan box the family opens in January comes down to one decision: when to send. The magic date is 1 November. Anything later is taking a gamble.
If you're planning ahead:
- Request a no-obligation quote and plan your Christmas shipment
- Drop by the office at Carrer de Pelai 9, 08001 Barcelona; we'll help you plan the box
- WhatsApp: +34 626 78 54 28 — ask us anything in Spanish, English or Filipino
Maligayang Pasko to you and your family.
Related guides: