Best Pasalubong and Souvenir Items From Popular Philippines Destinations
It’s ingrain in the culture of Filipinos to bring home ‘pasalubong” for those left back home. It’s the tradition of offering gifts and tokens brought from one’s travel regardless if its a trip to a domestic destination or an overseas travel. You do this too right?, like the rest of Pinoys who goes to an out of town trip to visit one of the Philippines top tourist destinations.
The bringing home of pasalubongs and souvenir items from the place one visits signifies that even when you are away on leisure or business trips, you are thinking of your love ones who are waiting for your return and the pasalubong giving is a way to make them part of your travel and adventure too.
No wonder why Filipino tourists, OFWs and balikbayans are seen lugging in large boxes and bags full of whathaveyous at airports around the world. It’s the same scenario at domestic airports in Manila where local travelers carry boxes or packages of things that are famous in a particular city or province like for example stuffing your handcarry bags with “Kalamay” from Bohol if you are coming from Bohol or “Danggit” if your trip is from Cebu even though you can find these products in the big supermarkets near you.
The contention is always “nothing beats x product bought from x province’ example: nothing beats dried mango bought from Cebu (Cebu is famous for the said product). And then someone will roll their eyes because the same product by the same manufacturer can be found on the local grocery shelves.
Most region, province and cities in the Philippines have that special item(s) that has morphed to become the ‘must have pasalubong and souvenirs’ products of the place.
Where to buy pasalubong?
The best and most convenient place to buy your pasalubong are of course those designated one stop shop pasalubong centers. Each major city has this place, sometimes it’s the local market that is your go to place to buy all sorts of local delicacies and native products. If the pasalubong shopping center is out of the way, you can always turn to the biggest mall in the area and they probably have a pasalubong section in their supermarkets.
What is Pasalubong in English?
Pasalubong in English means “something for when you welcome me” is the Filipino tradition of travelers bringing gifts from their destination to people back home. Pasalubong can be any gift or souvenir brought for family or friends after being away for a period of time. It can also be any gift given by someone arriving from a distant place.
Pasalubong are also associated with the “balikbayan” Overseas Filipinos returning to the Philippines, and may refer to items that migrant workers bring home to their families, friends, relatives or even non-relatives that they feel especially close with.
How to Select or Choose the Perfect Pasalubong?
In general, anyone’s best bet would be to find that something special, that something that can only be found on that place you are visiting. If you can’t find anything that fits the criteria, you go next for what is a local delicacy or a native product special to the place. Or pick the most famous brand of a local delicacy like choosing to buy Original Buko Pie versus other buko pie brands when pasalubong shopping in Laguna.
If you have all the time in the world, you can even go as far as selecting the souvenir item that fits the personality of the recipient like you are shopping for a Christmas gift.
If all else fails, Philippines have these popular ‘default’ souvenir items:
1. Keychains of all sorts and sizes with the name of the place painted, stenciled, stamped, emblazoned on it.
2. The famous souvenir t-shirts with the name of the place.
3. Refrigerator magnets again with the name of the place proudly written on the surface.
You can look at the list of popular pasalubong from provinces and key cities below to have an idea or see some of the souvenir pictures.
LUZON POPULAR DESTINATIONS AND THEIR PASALUBONG
Baguio
These are the very famous ‘must buy’ items from the City of Pines, Baguio: Fresh strawberries, Strawberry preserve, Pink Sister’s Ube Jam, tapuy, Sundo’t Kulangot, Romana’s Peanut Brittle (made in Pangasinan), knitted shits and blouses, Ukay-ukay, walis, barrel man, fudge bars, crinkles, Mikasan choco flakes and more.
Bicol
Who wouldn’t want to bring home Bicol’s native abaca bags that you can buy at a bargain prices? For those traveling short distances Laing and Pinangat are favorite pasalubongs too. Pili nuts based products are also favorites.
Pangasinan
Bring home native delicacies and kakanins of Pangasinan like binungey and tupig, Bonoan Boneless Bangus, Puto Calasiao, Alaminos Longganisa.
Puerto Princesa and Palawan
String of pearls, pearl necklaces and bracelets are a bargain in Palawan. You can also bring home seafood like fresh shrimps and crabs from Palawan. Just place your seafood in secure container. You can go to the main market in Puerto Princesa and buy one of those cheap styrofoam boxes.
Ilocos Sur and Ilocos Norte
Bring home Ilocos famous local delicacies like Vigan longganisa, Bagnet, woven mat and blankets, Royal bibingkas, cornicks, chichacorns, kalamay of Candon City.
Laguna and Quezon Province
Check out and bring home best pasalubong products from Laguna like Nagcarlan’s espasol, Marnel’s chocolate cake, Los Banos buko pie, paper mache and wood carvings from Paete, Liliw’s sandal and tsinelas, Puto Binan, kesong puti of Sta Cruz, Lucban’s longganisa, Candelaria crispy pata.
Batangas
Batangas’ balisong are great souvenirs but unfortunately you can’t bring them with you when you are flying or taking a bus since bladed items are not allowed to board planes and buses. But no worries because Batangas offers other pasalubong items like native delicacies like panutsa, pakaskas, tamales, bukayo, and the world famous Kapeng Barako ng Batangas.
VISAYAS POPULAR DESTINATIONS AND THEIR PASALUBONG
Cebu
What pasalubong items are famous in Cebu? To name a few Cebu’s Danggit, pusit, palad flakes and other dried fish, Cebu dried mango, Cebu guitar, bead necklace and accessories, Otap, Cebu chorizo, Cebu Lechon, masareal, tagaktak and other kakanins.The best place in Cebu City to fullfill your long list of pasalubong is to head to Taboan Market for dried fish and mangoes and to the Mactan Shrine pasalubong center for pearls, beaded jewelries and knickknacks as they are cheapest there.
Dumaguete
Dumaguete’s sansrival bars and silvanas are a must have for your friends and family waiting for you back home. You can also buy in Dumaguete kabog, a special yellow grain variety to make bubdbud kabog or suman.
Iloilo and Bacolod
Iloilo and Bacolod are the prime Visayas destinations which offer yummy pasalubong treats like Biscocho Haus Butterscotch, Broas and Barquillos, Bebong’s Piaya and Pinasugbo. As well as galletas and barquiron.
Samar and Leyte
Ever been to Western Visayas? If not yet, plan a trip and when you get back don’t miss these special pasalubong products of native delicacies like binagol, sagmani, chocolate moron (suman laced with cocoa), handmade woven mats and bags of Basey in Samar.
Bohol
To start with kalamay from Bohol, those malagkit concoction placed in bao ng niyog or coconut shell and also the famous peanut kisses.
MINDANAO POPULAR DESTINATIONS AND THEIR PASALUBONG
Cagayan de Oro
Pastel is famous from Cagayan even if product is really made in Camiguin. The original Jamon de Cagayan is also popular.
Bukidnon
Bukidnon grown pineapples are the best
Davao
Fruits abound in Davao and they are popular items for pasalubong too like suha, durian, marang, Davao pomelo. And also durian products like durian candies, durian sweets and bars and more.
Iligan
When you travel to Iligan, pick up bags of Conchings roasted peanut and other peanut products.
Zamboanga
Favorite souvenirs from Zamboanga are malong, batiks, miniature vintas, seafoods especially curacha and dried fishes too.
If you notice with the list of the best pasalubongs above, the souvenir items are mostly local delicacies and native kakanins while the best non-food souvenirs are usually those products inspired by the local popular destination or tourism symbol.
It is not uncommon for typical Filipinos to really set aside funds for pasalubong while planning a trip. Actually pasalubong shopping is part and parcel of your travel especially if its your first time to a visit and explore a destination.
On your next travel adventure, don’t miss to bring home pasalubongs and see smiles light up the faces of your family and friends as you give them souvenirs and yummy treats from your trip! Go for it with Travel Enthusiasts Inc.!