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A Taste of Home in Every Packet
There’s something sacred about food—not just as nourishment, but as a way to stay connected to who we are, and more importantly, where we come from. Every month, like clockwork, I open a box from Pabili Po, a beloved Filipino store catering to Pinoys living abroad, and I find myself holding home in my hands. A sachet of Tang Four Seasons, a bottle of Datu Puti, a pouch of chocolate champorado—these are not just groceries. They’re memories wrapped in foil and plastic, sealed with longing and love.
Here’s a closer look at what I purchased this month—my usual pantry refill, my go-to “padala for myself,” and a few words on why they matter so much.
Tang Four Seasons – A Childhood Drink That Grows with You
Tang Four Seasons is more than a juice mix—it’s the drink of family picnics, merienda sa hapon, and grade school lunchboxes. With every glass I make here in the UK, I’m brought back to a time when summers felt endless and laughter filled the house.
This blend of mango, pineapple, guava, and orange is both nostalgic and refreshing. It’s vitamin-fortified now (with C, D, and Zinc!), so it feels like a grown-up version of the same powdered delight we all loved.
Lucky Me Pancit Canton – The King of Midnight Cravings
There are many instant noodles in the world, but nothing—not one—beats the savory-sweet, garlicky, slightly oily magic of Lucky Me Pancit Canton. This time, I got the Chilimansi, Hot Chili, Original, and Sweet & Spicy variants. I always stock up because this dish has rescued me from many post-night-shift hunger pangs.
A squeeze of calamansi (or lemon if you’re abroad), a fried egg on top, and it’s a full meal. Cheap, comforting, and very Filipino.
Mega & Ligo Sardines – Breakfast, Brunch, or “Pang-ulam” in a Pinch
Ligo with chili, Mega in tomato sauce—these are staples in every Filipino pantry. I eat them with steaming hot rice, sometimes with scrambled egg on the side. They taste of rainy mornings, of power outages when these were the saviors on the table.
Now, living abroad, these cans are an anchor. A reminder that even if everything else feels foreign, at least lunch doesn’t have to be.
Crispy Fry Breading Mix – Kasi Bawal ang Walang Fried Chicken
I always joke that even if I fail every adulting exam, I will never fail frying with Crispy Fry. It gives that unmistakable breading crunch you can only find in Jollibee-style fried chicken. It’s a pantry must-have for quick lunches or when hosting Filipino-style potlucks.
Datu Puti Pares Combo (Vinegar + Soy Sauce) – The Adobo Essentials
This combo pack is genius. No need to hunt for matching pairs at the grocery store. Datu Puti has been a part of every adobo, paksiw, or sinigang experiment in my kitchen. Their signature sharpness, that unmistakable aroma—nothing comes close.
Aroy-D Coconut Milk + Suka Pinakurat + Knorr Liquid Seasoning
This trio is gisa, gata, and gigil all in one. Aroy-D for creamy Bicol Express or ginataang kalabasa. Suka Pinakurat for sawsawan na may sipa. And Knorr Liquid Seasoning? Always the secret weapon in sinangag.
Chocolate Champorado by Miguelito’s
It’s not just rice porridge—it’s a warm hug on a cold day. This mix is easy to prepare and tastes exactly like the one nanay used to make. Just add milk and enjoy while listening to rain sounds (or pretending it’s raining, even if it’s just your heater buzzing).
Oishi Patata and Chicharon
The snacks of all snacks. Oishi Patata brings that airy crunch and light cheese flavour that feels guiltless somehow. And the Karioka chicharon—salty, fatty, crunchy—is a guilty pleasure I allow myself without apology.
Why I Keep Reordering
Every sachet, bottle, and can in this haul isn’t just for my pantry—it’s for my peace of mind. As an OFW, sometimes you wake up homesick, sometimes you just want a taste that doesn’t need explanation. These products bring back voices, scents, and feelings I thought I’d lost in the long journey away from home.
I’ve ordered from Pabili Po many times now, and I’m always impressed by how carefully they pack the items, how everything arrives intact, and how it feels like someone packed it with care—not just for a customer, but for a kabayan. Their service is smooth, their items are fresh, and the range they offer truly hits the Filipino core.
To anyone missing home, this is my reminder: stock up on the things that make you feel closer. Even if it’s just a packet of pancit canton or a can of sardines—these aren’t just groceries. They’re acts of remembering. Of nourishing something deeper than hunger.
Thank you, Pabili Po, for making home just a click away.
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