Thinking of sending money to your relatives or friends back home? There are many ways to do it:

1. Pakiusap or padala. If trusted friends or relatives are flying back to the Philippines, you may ask them to bring your gifts for you. However, this is not 100% secure. In case of loss or theft, relationship problems tend to arise.
   
   
2. Non-bank channels. Some overseas Pinoys find non-banking channels more convenient because they don’t have to open an account to make a transaction. Non-bank channels are usually secure, fast and reliable, but their transactions may charge higher fees than banks. Non-bank channels include Western Union, MoneyGram, LBC and Xoom.
   
   
3. Banks. Sending money through banks is probably the safest and most secure way. Since they cater to a large volume of clients, they are able to lower their transaction charges. They tend to have higher exchange rates. Plus, you are able to take advantage of their other financial services such as loans. Banks like BPI, Citibank, RCBC, PNB, Security Bank and BDO offer excellent remittance services.
   

Before sending your hard-earned money, make sure you know all the pros and cons involved with each method. It also won’t hurt to ask other overseas Pinoys on what works best for them.