My question is about gifts for the Philippines....

[red]

I leave for the Philippines Aug. 6th and i understand it is the custom to give gifts upon arriving there.My pen-pal has 8 uncles and aunts and 3 sisters and her parents.What would be a good gift for them??....All her Uncle's smoke...is a carton of cigarettes good??...what about the aunts,sisters and parents..I cant spend a lot,because they are so many,but any help or advise would be appreciated...as the days get closer i get more nervous,but i am very excited....as always thanks in advance for all your help..this board has been very beneficial to me.

[Ray]

... in response to My question is about gifts for the Phili..., posted by red on Jul 24, 2001

red,

Yes, it’s customary to bring some small gifts, but don’t spend too much. I guess you already figured out the chocolate thing (ROFL).

Brand name American cigarettes are always welcome, but you don’t need to give them a whole carton. One or two packs each is fine. If you don’t know which brand, try menthol. You can usually get the smokes on the plane or in the duty free shop over there for about 1/3 what they cost here.

A really nice gift for dad would be a bottle of Johnny Walker Black. Don’t worry if they drink or not, they will still put it to good use or just “display” it in a place of honor in their home :-)

T-shirts are good if they are made in the USA (good luck) and have any kind of place name of team logo (especially basketball) on them. Small & medium sizes. Team ball caps are good also. Almost anything with a label that says “Made in USA” is good.

For easy to pack, light weight stuff, try beef jerky (goes great with beer or rum). Peanut butter and tabasco sauce were big hits also.

I would forget the Levi’s for gals, unless you can find them in a petite shop (size 2 or 4 short is probably average).

Also, something that you personally carried all the way across the ocean will be cherished, even if the same thing is available at the local sari-sari store.

You can ask your gal to help you distribute the loot when you get there.

Have a safe trip,

Ray

[Dave H2O]

... in response to Re: Pasalubong, posted by Ray on Jul 24, 2001

Ray,

The only thing sometimes paused the karaoke party we attended, was basketball. Sometimes the singer would stop singing in the middle of the song and focus on a big play on another TV. Bringing basketball T-shirts or jerseys would probably elevate a Kano to God-like status. ;o))

Dave H.

[Bear]

... in response to My question is about gifts for the Phili..., posted by red on Jul 24, 2001

Let me see? I think you deen to take chocolates and a leatherman like tool (for dad), and choclates and any thing made in the USA (for the siblings - t-shirts go well) and choclates and for mom, more chocolates and let me see did I for get anything?  Yeah Chocolates.  I took 10 bags and didn't get a single piece!!!  Leave out all the extended family unless you want to have a dinner at your pen-pals house that you cover.  I fed 16 people a steak dinner for P3000 ($60).

Don't spend a lot because it will only get you in trouble in the future.   The more you spend the more they will think you have and expect you to spend in the future.

Baer

[Dave H2O]

... in response to Re: My question is about gifts for the P..., posted by Bear on Jul 24, 2001

Bear,

ROFL I took about the same amount of chocolate as you and was able to steal two pieces when they weren't looking. ;o)))Then I hid in the CR and ate it. Man did that taste good. Maybe because I stole it back. LOL

Yes, anything made in the USA is considered superior, even when it is not. When I was in the PI, I prefered to drink Sarsi, Pop Cola and Royal Tru Orange, while others drank Coke. In fact, I often drink Filipino soft drinks in the US.

Dave H.

[jon]

... in response to Hey Bear...what about chocolate?, posted by Dave H2O on Jul 24, 2001

On my trip, I was told US chocolate was better and I brought some.  I also bought some at the airport shop when leaving by request.

Jon

[Lori]

... in response to Re: Hey Bear...what about chocolate?, posted by jon on Jul 24, 2001

I NEED CHOCOLATE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Windmill Boy]

... in response to where is windmillboy when you need him?, posted by Lori on Jul 24, 2001

Ahhhh Lori

I could use some chocolate also  (do cocoa puffs count?)  I had yesterday and today off  but I am broke as I paid
$ 500 today for auto repairs  (thats $ 500 less towards the Asian trip fund Boo Hoo) So I will have to wait until tomarrow  until I can sneak some at work.

From a Conniseurs point of view (well mine at least)  American chocolate is the worst .. Hersheys is garbage  with minimal Actual Chocolate products in their Bars and Nestle's (swiss or American   Who knows now a days)  is not far behind.  Yes I am guilty now and then of eating their products  but they are convinced that Americans like only milk chocolate products for the most part and I prefer Dark Chocolate myself.  Russel Stouffers  taste more like wax than Chocolate and I will not eat their stuff anymore.  

Commercially  I would recommend  Droste' (Dutch of course)  chocolate  and Lindt  (Swiss)  Godiva (Belgian ?) is over rated and too sweet to enjoy the actual chocolate essences.
Ghiradeli (american) is fair but also too sweet.  If you can find it Vahlrona (French)  is the best in my opinion  nice and slightly bitter.

Non commercially  we use Callebaut (Belgian) which is pretty good  Cocoa Barry (French) its sister Chocolate fromthe same company is slightly better.  Vahlrona again is superior.  Carma (Swiss) is fair  but nothing to write home about.  I am some what impressed with EL Rey Choclate out of Venezuala  different varieties of Cocoa beans with eathy flavors  Yes  Chocolate  can be compared  just like Wines.

Ther you have some of it  but now I want a twizzler  or even a Chuckles  but they don't have those out here in California.

Windmill Boy

[Jeff S]

... in response to Re: where is windmillboy when you need h..., posted by Windmill Boy on Jul 24, 2001

I had some homemade, unsweetened (semi-sweet?) chocolate whan I was in Guadalajara earlier this year. I think it came from a small town in Michiocan. It was outstanding though quite crude tasting as compared to the European varieties. Drop a lump in some hot milk and it was just wonderful. It even went well with a jug of homemade reposado I picked up in the town of Tequila, Jalisco. )
-- Jeff S.

[Ray]

... in response to Re: where is windmillboy when you need h..., posted by Windmill Boy on Jul 24, 2001

Hey Wind,

With your knowledge of choc-o-late, you would be a guaranteed hit in the Phils!

Ray

[kevin]

... in response to Wow!, posted by Ray on Jul 25, 2001


How about "choc-o-early"?  ha-ha

- Kevin

[Windmill Boy]

... in response to Wow!, posted by Ray on Jul 25, 2001

Maybe Ray

But does it melt in your hands before it gets to your mouth because of the heat over there?

[Dave H2O]

... in response to Re: where is windmillboy when you need h..., posted by Windmill Boy on Jul 24, 2001

Hi WB,

The Latinas I dated all seemed to like Perugina "Baci" (Italian). I believe that Perugina may now be owned by Nestle.

Dave H.

[Windmill Boy]

... in response to Hey Chocolate Boy..., posted by Dave H2O on Jul 25, 2001

Dave

I have heard of of the Perugina "Baci" brand before but I have never tried it.  I recall seeing an article a few years back that the rented the advertising rights for an airplane and had the plane painted in their blue and White/silver motif.  It doesn't surprise me that they may have been gobbled up by Nestle'  most of the Chocolate market is being controlled by 4 -5 super mega corporations now a days anyway.

Windmill Boy

[Cecil]

... in response to My question is about gifts for the Phili..., posted by red on Jul 24, 2001

Hi Red,

I want to wish you the best on your trip and I look forward to reading your trip report.  I asked one of my penpals if her father drank liquor becoz I did not want to offend him by giving a bottle as a gift.  She replied," Yes my papa drinks liquor...a lot!"

Bon Voyage!!!

Cecil