Hundreds of overseas Filipinos have come forward online to dispute government statements that nearly all abandoned balikbayan boxes have already been delivered, saying their own shipments remain missing after months — and, in some cases, years — of waiting.
The surge of complaints emerged shortly after officials reported a 95% delivery rate for balikbayan boxes left behind by suspended forwarding firms. Many OFWs shared that their parcels have yet to reach their families despite repeated follow-ups.
From Saudi Arabia, Oscar Navarro questioned how the figure was reached, saying he has not received his shipment at all. “Napakarami pang hinde nakukuha UNG mga balik bayan box paano nasa 95% na ung nakakuha,” he wrote, adding that his box sent from Yanbu to Manila has had “wala parin balita hanggang ngaun.”
Other families echoed the same frustration. “Pasko na wala pa nakarating sa pamilya ko,” commented Bheng Cherryl Eslafor, who said many like her are still searching for their long-delayed boxes. Another OFW from Qatar, Rogelio Santillana, said his shipment remained undelivered since May, noting, “wala pa… expired na Yong ibang laman.”
Some expressed fear and exhaustion after months of uncertainty. “Sanang matanggap kuna saakin ang tagal na,” said Jr Tanaleon, referring to a box he had expected to arrive since January. A sender from Davao shared similar concerns, noting that her family has been waiting since April.
Several OFWs described how delays have stretched far beyond what they could tolerate. “Panung 95% ung box q 2yrs na anjan parin nka tengga sa manila port,” Gabriella Tayas Tayas wrote, explaining that her box had been stuck for two years while she kept receiving the same explanation: that other regions were being prioritized first.
A number of commenters recalled past experiences with undelivered cargo that never arrived at all. Ina Rosas described losing three XL boxes she sent in 2015. “Walang nkara ting sa aming bahay 10yrs na ang nkalipas pero parang dpa ko maka move on,” she said, sharing how many sleepless nights and years of savings went into filling those packages.
For others, the emotional toll was paired with financial strain. One OFW from Qatar said her package bound for Zamboanga had been delayed since July. “Grabi pinag paguran namin yan stress na kami,” she said.
Messages sent directly to the page told the same story. Mary Grace Ann Dela Cruz, an OFW from Riyadh, said the box she shipped on May 7 has not appeared despite the tracking system indicating a July 22 departure date. “Mag 7 months na pong delay… pero hangang ngyon po wala pa din,” she wrote, adding that she has already been home in the Philippines for more than three months without seeing her shipment.
Another message, from a sender whose box has been in transit for nearly a year, read, “Sana masama na sa delivery ang box ko… Nasaan naba Tala ang box ko?” A separate OFW from Kuwait asked why her family has waited three years for boxes still sitting at a port. “Bakit po ayaw nyo labas e sa amin naman mga iyan,” she said, fearing that the items she sent may have already deteriorated.
Some messages conveyed deep anger over what they described as years of sacrifice wasted. “Jusko box namin di parin dumating… dapat naawa manlang kau sa dinanas naming pagod,” one OFW wrote, saying the items she packed with hard-earned money and effort have yet to reach her province.
As the Department of Migrant Workers prepares to begin clearing another batch of boxes stored in Manila, more OFWs continue to ask when their own shipments — some already eight to ten months overdue — will finally be released.
