By JELLYN GUECO

As the holiday season draws to a close, many balikbayans and OFWs are wrapping up their vacations and heading back to their international homes. While it’s a common practice for overseas Filipinos to bring goods from abroad for their family members in the Philippines, it’s also expected for them to bring back Filipino products for their loved ones residing overseas.
As a former OFW, it was always a struggle for me to find the perfect pasalubong for my friends and colleagues. I wanted to give them something they would like, but also practical and easily transportable. A lot of times, however, I got so caught up in the rush of my trip that I ended up buying generic souvenirs or things that are too expensive for my already drained vacay budget. 
So for those who are still thinking about what to buy for pasalubong, we asked these Pinoys abroad what they would love to receive to give you some ideas.

Ensaymada
I've been working in Spain for almost two years now and while the food here is amazing, what I miss is the Filipino ensaymada, which is uniquely cheesier and fluffier. The last time I had a friend go on vacation, I asked her to hand carry for me a box of Muhlach ensaymada and it was the best pasalubong ever! —Duffny Santos from Extremadura, Spain

Trending skincare brands 
Even here in the US, we always hear about skincare brands that are popular in the Philippines. I remember getting curious about trending brands like Rosmar and Brilliant Skin so I asked friends to buy some products for me as pasalubong. It’s a great way to discover new products and stay updated with the beauty trends back home. —Jenny Cunanan Dao from San Jose, California

Ready food mixes
We live a fast-paced life abroad so there’s not enough time to spend hours cooking. While we mostly end up relying on takeout, the ready food mixes like the Mama Sita sinigang mix and kare-kare sauces are heavensent. We can get a taste of home without the hassle of cooking from scratch. —Knolls Ventura Collado from Singapore

Local makeup brands
I love trying out local makeup brands because they’re made for Filipina skin and they’re more affordable too. So whenever I have someone arriving from the Philippines, my pasalubong requests always include cosmetics from brands like BLK, Sunnies, Vice Cosmetics, Colourette, and Happy Skin. I always get compliments from my colleagues whenever I use these Filipino makeup brands. —Zeena Zalamea Turner from Dubai, UAE

Local food products
I love receiving a mix of local products such as Delimondo corned beef, pastillas, Choc Nut, ube jam from Pink Sisters, yema, rosquillos, and more. These products give me a feeling of home and I also get to share them with my kids who were born and raised here. It’s a way for them to experience our culture through food. —Reiziel Jarobilla from Los Angeles, California

Cornick
Boy Bawang Cornick brings back fun memories of hanging out with friends back home in the Philippines. Plus, it’s inexpensive and easy to carry as well. Even my kids, Yousef and Maram, enjoy it as a snack. —Mariam Bayzid from Lattakia, Syria

Chicharon and pancit canton 
They say that the best cuisine is here in France but there’s nothing like Filipino snacks such as chicharon and Lucky Me pancit canton. These humble food products are what I request from my relatives who visit me here. Pinoy chicharon paired with the finest French wines is a combination nobody should be missing out on! —Janize Thomas from Paris, France

Pinoy sweets 
Every time I have family visiting, I make sure to request puto seko and Turones de Casoy because they are hard to find even in most Filipino stores abroad. These are my go-to snacks when I'm feeling homesick. —Julieta Cunanan from Anchorage, Alaska