Tag Archives: Walmart

Filipinos Flocking To Walmart Stores After Retail Giant Announces Closures

imageSAN JOSE, California (The Adobo Chronicles) – From California to Texas, from Florida to New Jersey — Filipinos are lining up in droves at Walmart stores for the final chance to stock up on discounted bulk items to send back home to their loved ones. This, after the retail giant announced it will soon close hundreds of its stores in the U.S. and elsewhere. The lines were reminiscent of those seen on Black Friday.

Yesterday, The Adobo Chronicles reported that thousands of Filipino Americans were shocked and upset that their go-to source for goods to pack into their balikbayan boxes was closing for good.

Our i-Reporters have confirmed that among the first items to disappear from Walmart store shelves were Nike and Adidas shoes, designer shirts and socks, canned goods like Spam, corned beef and Vienna sausage, bath soap and shampoo,  as well as rolls and rolls of toilet tissue.

Walmart store managers had to employ additional security personnel to help maintain order and prevent chaos or injury to customers and employees.

To find a Walmart store near you, just ask Google or Siri.

 

 

 

Walmart Store Closures Could Put An End To Filipino Balikbayan Boxes

imageLOS ANGELES, California (The Adobo Chronicles) –  Walmart, the popular consumer goods warehouse,  will close 269 stores worldwide, including 154 in the United States, as part of what the company is calling “portfolio management,” it was announced Friday.

The global retail giant, known for being a one-stop-shop for buying just about anything at discounted prices, said financial performance and “strategic alignment with long-term plans” went into consideration in the decision which shocked many Filipino Americans.

Walmart is the go-to source for thousands of Filipinos in America for items to put in their balikbayan boxes to send back home to their families.

Balikbayan boxes are used by FilAms when sending gifts to their families back home. Contents of the boxes are tax-free.

Among the popular items packed into the boxes include cases of canned goods like SPAM, Vienna sausage and corned beef; multiple packs of athletic socks, 24-packs of toilet tissue, bath soap, toothpaste, instant coffee; and designer t-shirts and running shoes — all available for deep discounts at Walmart.

It is therefore quite understandable that Filipino Americans are extremely upset at today’s Walmart announcement.

It could potentially put an end to the balikbayan box business in America and will certainly cause irreparable frustration for millions of Filipinos who regularly receive gifts from their relatives in America.

Fortunately, there is the COSTCO alternative for FilAms wishing to purchase discounted bulk items to send via the balikbayan box.

ADULT DIAPERS IN SHORT SUPPLY AT WALMART, COSTCO AND OTHER U.S. OUTLETS

Philippine police try on adult diapers for size in preparation for Pope Francis' visit next week
Philippine police try on adult diapers for size in preparation for Pope Francis’ visit next week

When Pope Francis visits the Philippines next week, traffic enforcers won’t let the capital’s streets get gridlocked if they have to answer the call of nature. About 2,000 traffic enforcers who will be on duty during the papal visit will be required to wear adult diapers, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) chairman, Francis Tolentino, said.

Tolentino also encouraged people , including priests, nuns, seminarians and the elderly who will wait for hours to see the pope to also wear diapers. He said that there won’t be enough portable toilets for the millions of people expected to see Pope Francis hold an open-air mass at the seaside Rizal Park on 18 January. “If you attend an event that will last for 24 hours, you cannot go around looking for a [portable toilet],” Tolentino said.

Our investigation confirmed that the MMDA purchased all available adult diaper supplies from the big box stores in the U.S. in order to meet the demand during the Pope’s visit.

Filipino Americans were also seen buying the adult diapers in bulk to send via Balikbayan Box (Tax-free shipping boxes) to their relatves planning to participate in the papal visit activities in Manila.

Unconfirmed reports also revealed that Pet stores are seeing a sudden increase in their sales for puppy training wee wee pads. Go figure.