Filipino-American Club of the Jersey Shore, Monmouth County, New Jersey, filamorg.com

Courtesy of:  PASCKIE PASCUA,  Philipine News, www.philippinenews.com,  February 20, 2009.

"LOS ANGELES— The experience of Milagros Cruz of Hollister, California should serve as an eye opener to many who use balikbayan boxes as traditional gesture of “pasalubong.”  On January 11 this year, Cruz sent three balikbayan boxes of various goods to Manila through ALAS Cargo in Northern California.  One of the boxes was supposed to also contain a new laptop computer.

“The three boxes arrived on time but to my dismay, there was a missing item, the laptop,” Cruz wrote in a letter to Philippine News.  “I was devastated upon knowing that the item wasn’t in the box I sent through ALAS Cargo.”

Cruz said that she contacted ALAS on February 9 to inform them about the situation.  “The man who accepted the box that I sent was so defensive of his answers about my query.  Though, he instructed me to call their Union City office the following day, which I did,” she added.  ALAS’s staff didn’t satisfy Cruz’s plea for concrete, immediate response, so she told them that he will file a complaint with Better Business Bureau and the US Federal Maritime Commission.

“Investigate for what?  To find out who took it?  Then what?  Will they pay me?” Cruz demanded a full repayment of the cost of the laptop, which is about $1000 plus.

“I bought the laptop for my daughter’s birthday present and graduation gift through credit card, which I am still paying until now,” she added.  “I sent the laptop with other goods in the three boxes.  Pinag-isa na dahil kapos sa budget.”

Cruz may not find easy remedy to her predicament, it seems. “First, she did not declare that a laptop was included in one of the boxes or indicated the approximate worth of the boxes’ contents.  Second, whoever received the shipment in Manila, a receipt was signed.  The boxes were received in good condition—the boxes were sealed, strapped, not tampered.  I also have pictures to prove it,” Peter Sy, owner of ALAS Cargo, told Philippine News.

In ALAS Cargo’s website, it is stated that the company prohibits the shipment of the following goods: firearms/ammunitions, explosives/toy guns, combustible materials, negotiable instruments in bearer form, electrical appliances, lewd or obscene or pornographic materials, gambling paraphernalia, industrial carbons, communication equipment, computers, motor vehicle parts, perishables, currency, money order, traveler’s checks, precious stones, and drugs.

All shipments are subject to customs inspection and any customers found in violation of the prohibited goods will be liable and be held responsible. This notice is common in all cargo shipment firms’ contracts. “Once the Customs detects banned items in the box, I will be in trouble.  I will be severely taxed and my shipments will be delayed,” Sy said.  It is common business practice that a sender declares the contents of a package, envelope or parcel to a postal agency or forwarding company as a receipt or form is filled up prior to shipment.

“Electronics like laptops are taxable items.  These are prohibited.  She did not declare it, according to our record,” Sy added.  “She presented a receipt but she should know that we prohibit shipment of computers in our contract.  Moreover, customers pay $38 (for a box).  If her laptop is worth $13oo, ba’t mo ilalagay sa balikbayan box na worth $38?”

ALAS has long upped their minimum charge to $55 from the previous $38.  The company, which was previously involved in the pager business for 18 years, started in 2003 in Carson.  It maintains warehouse and offices in the Southern California cities of West Covina, Panorama, Cerritos, Eagle Rock, San Diego, as well as in the Northern California cities of San Francisco, Union City, Daly City, Vallejo, and San Jose—all known Filipino enclaves in the state.

Sy offers Cruz the amount of insurance payment to lost items.  “If the laptop was indeed lost or stolen, my insurance ranges from $200 to $500 maximum.  But then, she wants the exact amount of the item.”
Despite these and the current economic downturn, Sy claims that his business is still going strong.  “I guess, when your tree bears more fruits, others are prone to target you.”

While Milagros Cruz believes that malpractices, such stealing of goods, are prevalent in the balikbayan box business, it doesn’t seem likely that Filipinos will refrain from sending some or more love via these packages.

Balikbayan boxes come with a cloth cover and side handles, others are tightly secured with tape or rope, and thus not confused with an ordinary moving box more lightly wrapped.  Shipped boxes are delivered directly to the recipient.  But all these obviously do not secure a box to arrive as is in a loved one’s doorstep."