Migrants rejoice over homecoming, family reunion

For many overseas Filipinos, Christmas is not just a holiday — it is the long-awaited moment of coming home. After months or years spent working abroad, the season marks a precious reunion with family, a time when distance finally gives way to presence.

Recognizing the emotional weight of these homecomings, BDO Unibank and SM Supermalls once again marked the season by turning gratitude into celebration through their Pamaskong Handog 2025, culminating in its final leg at SM City Laoag in Ilocos Norte.

Timed to coincide with the peak of Christmas returns, the Laoag gathering welcomed hundreds of overseas Filipino (OF) families who had reunited just in time for the holidays. Now on its 14th year, Pamaskong Handog has become a tradition of its own — an annual gesture of thanks to migrants whose sacrifices sustain families and communities back home. This year’s celebration transformed SM City Laoag into a festive meeting place filled with booth activities, raffles, promotions, and live entertainment, offering families a shared space to celebrate not only Christmas but also their togetherness.

Beyond the festivities, the event underscored how service providers can play a meaningful role in these once-a-year reunions. BDO highlighted BDO Pay, its digital payment platform designed to help overseas Filipinos stay financially connected to their families even when they are apart — and to make life easier when they finally come home. The app allows OFs to send money conveniently to Kabayan Savings accounts, with free services such as fund transfers to BDO accounts and bill payments.

David Michael P. Khodr, BDO vice president and head of Consumer Banking Group–Digital Acquisition, said BDO Pay is part of the bank’s effort to make financial support more seamless for Filipinos abroad, especially during the holidays when family needs are greatest.

Meanwhile, BDO senior vice president and head of remittance Genie T. Gloria said that funds sent through BDO Pay remain securely linked to interest-bearing accounts, allowing families to save and grow their money even beyond the Christmas season. These efforts fall under BDO’s year-round Alagang Kabayan commitment to OF communities.

One of the most moving moments of the Laoag celebration was the story of Babilyn Manuel, a 36-year-old domestic helper in Singapore and a single mother of two. After nearly a decade of working abroad, her only Christmas wish was to come home and spend the holidays with her children. During the event, BDO and SM helped make that wish come true — turning Pamaskong Handog into a deeply personal reminder of why the season matters most to migrant families.

Adding to the celebratory mood were live performances by Piolo Pascual, Small Laude, Donnalyn Bartolome, MC and Lassy, and other guest artists.

BDO remittance partners and bank units were also on site, showcasing services that support OFs not only in managing day-to-day finances but also in planning for long-term goals for their families.

SM Supermalls, for its part, reaffirmed its role as a gathering place for families, especially during milestone moments like Christmas reunions. Rona Vida B. Correa, regional operations head of SM Supermalls, said SM continues to position its malls as welcoming spaces where Filipino families — including those separated by overseas work — can reconnect and celebrate together.

With the conclusion of the Laoag leg, BDO and SM emphasized that Pamaskong Handog is both a thank-you and a homecoming gift: a way of honoring overseas Filipinos not only for their economic contributions, but for the love and resilience that define every Christmas return.