Fabian, from Burnaby, British Columbia, couldn’t believe it when he found out he’d won Western Union’s monthly draw for a Balikbayan box, a large container filled with non-perishable food, clothing and other daily living products.

Arthur says he wasn’t expecting to win and is very happy. He decided to have the box shipped to his sister in the Philippines, who will distribute the contents among family members.

“Now when I go back to the Philippines in November, I’ll have a gift to share with my family, so it’s very exciting,” he says. “I send Balikbayan boxes home once in a while because I want to share what I have so that everyone can enjoy the blessings.”

Arthur is the third winner of the contest, which draws for a Balikbayan box every month until December 31, 2010. He entered by texting the correct code using his mobile phone after transferring money to the Philippines from his local Money Mart location in Burnaby in April. UMAC, a shipping company that specializes in delivering Balikbayan boxes to the Philippines from around the world, is shipping the box at no charge.

As a rehab assistant, Arthur works in direct patient care in a nursing home in Burnaby, where he takes patients out for walks and works with them to help keep them active and engaged. He has been in Canada for two years, and he has many family members living in the Philippines, including most of his 11 brothers and sisters.

Arthur says the services Western Union provides are important to the FIlipino community and he’s thankful to the company for their commitment and support. “They’re so generous. It’s a way of saying thank you to us and that they appreciate our business,” he says. “Western Union can be trusted when it comes to sending money.”

No purchase is necessary to enter or win the 2010 Western Union® TEXT TO WIN A BALIKBAYAN BOX Contest. Subject to Official Rules available through westernunioncanada.ca/promotions.

To find out more about our special offers for Very Important Pinoys (VIP) visit our VIP page.

Rowena Licup, from New Westminster, British Columbia, has won a Western Union prize draw for a Balikbayan box, a large container filled with non-perishable food, clothing and other daily living products, shipped to her mother in the Philippines.

Rowena, who has been in Canada for two-and-a-half years, is a live-in care giver for children with special needs. She sends two Balikbayan boxes per year to her mother, in the Philippines, but this year her mom will be getting an extra box thanks to the Western Union contest.

My mom is alone and doesn’t work. I send her Balikbayan boxes because I want to surprise her and support her, says Rowena. She usually sends her mother boxes filled with soup, coffee and sugar, as well as other personal care items, and the Balikbayan box she won from the Western Union draw will add to the support she can provide her mother this year. It is good to help because it is hard for some people in the Philippines, especially after [Typhoon] Ondoy. I’m very happy and very lucky. Thank you Western Union!

Rowena is the first winner of the contest, which draws for a Balikbayan box every month until December 31, 2010. Western Union will ship the box full of items from Canada directly to Rowena’s mother in the Philippines. Western Union partner, UMAC, a shipping company that specializes in delivering Balikbayan boxes to the Philippines from around the world, is covering the cost of shipping.

Filipinos are very connected to their home country and they take their responsibilities seriously for supporting their families back home, says Brian Fox, senior vice president and regional manager for Western Union in Canada. Many who work here in Canada, like Rowena, are literally putting their lives on hold to support others and we want to acknowledge and celebrate that commitment. We also believe that we have a responsibility as corporate citizens to provide more than business services, so we’re glad we’re able to offer some assistance to the Filipino community through our Balikbayan box contest.

Congratulations to Rowena on winning the draw, and thanks to her and all our Filipino consumers for choosing Western Union for their money transfer services.

To find out more about our special offers for Very Important Pinoys (VIP) visit our VIP page.

Until December 2010, Western Union, along with their Agent National Money Mart is holding a Very Important Pinoy (VIP) sweepstakes for the Filipino community in Canada. But the winners of the draws don’t receive anything themselves. The prize is a Balikbayan box, a large shipping container filled with non-perishable food, clothing and other daily living products that is shipped to the winner’s family in the Philippines.

“While many new Canadians and migrant workers send items to family in their home country as well as money, for the Filipino community, it’s part of our culture,” says Joycelyn David, senior marketing manager for Western Union in Canada. “Many Filipinos will set aside a room in their home where they gather all the items they’re going to put into their Balikbayan box, everything from coffee and juice, to toothpaste, soap and clothing.”

It might take an individual several months to save enough money to fill a Balikbayan box and pay to have it shipped to family in the Philippines. It’s a sacrifice, but it’s also a way for Filipino-Canadians and Filipino migrant workers to share their good fortune with family and show them how much they are missed and loved.

Western Union is holding the prize draw as part of a promotion to encourage Filipino consumers to use Western Union’s money transfer services. Running until December 31, 2010, every time someone sends money to the Philippines through Money Mart or Instacheque Agent locations, he or she is eligible to win. To instantly enter the contest, consumers must text ‘BOX’ and the last four digits of their Money Transfer Control Number to ‘88898’. “Our Philippines customers are very important to us, so we are happy to have this opportunity to give back to our customers and their families,” says Marian de Monye, Western Union Product Manager for Money Mart/Insta Cheques.

Western Union ships a Balikbayan box full of items from Canada directly to the Philippines address selected by the winner each month. The winners don’t have to deal with the added cost of shipping the Balikbayan box, thanks to Western Union partner, UMAC, who are covering the cost of shipping. UMAC is a shipping company that specializes in delivering Balikbayan boxes to the Philippines from around the world. Larry Baguisa President/CEO, “UMAC EXPRESS CARGO, INC is a devoted balikbayan box Company which is firmly committed in making Filipinos overseas become closer to their families back in the only place we call home -- the Philippines! With pride, UMAC is strongly dedicated in serving Filipinos worldwide with only the best quality and most reliable service.”

To find out more about our special offers for Very Important Pinoys (VIP) visit our VIP page.

Congratulations to Annelyn Caturas of Calgary who utilized the Western Union® service at Safeway in North Hill in Calgary, Alberta. She frequently sends money through Western Union to her family in Philippines. "I'm really excited, I never imagined I'd win this," an excited Caturas said of her win.

Western Union ran the 20,000 Air Miles Giveaway promotion from October - December 2009 across Canada. Contestants could enter by to texting “MILES” and entering last 4 digits of their Western Union transaction number.

“The Air Miles promotion is a perfect fit for us. Air Miles provides great rewards and incentives for Western Union consumers who are excited to connect with their loved ones,” said Joycelyn David, Senior Marketing Manager of Western Union Canada. “At Western Union we pride ourselves on making a difference in people's lives, and we are delighted to award Annelyn with 20,000 Air Miles.”

To find out more about our special offers visit our Promotions page.