Balikbayan box takes centerstage in Fil-Canadian Mikey Bustos' latest video

When one grows up watching parents pack-up hard-as-rock packages for the holidays, one apparently has to make a music video about it.

Filipino-Canadian internet sensation Mikey Bustos, a 2003 Canadian Idol alumnus, made a “Wrecking Ball” parody at a friend's house in Caloocan to commemorate the season of balikbayan boxes.

“Balikbayan Box,” Bustos explained on Monday's “News To Go” program, was created out of memories he had of his parents—his mother in particular—sending these boxes home every holiday.


“Growing up, it was part of Filipino culture, so I said, 'Why don't I combine Miley Cyrus and a Balikbayan box?” said Bustos, clad in what he called his Hari ng mga Langgam ng Yelo costume.

In a sequence within the video, it showed him having difficulties opening the box—a sentiment shared by several Filipino commentators. Surprisingly, more US- and Canada-based commentators concurred with the video. Bustos said the scene came from watching his mom wrap boxes in layers upon layers of tape, rope, and even padlocks.

For now, he's itching for his mom's arrival to the country, since he can't open any of the three boxes she sent until her arrival.

Bustos recently blipped on radars for mashing up Psy's “Gangnam Style” and the traditional Filipino dance of tinikling.

“As ambassador of Filipinos online, I wanted to create a song that showed the world what makes us Pinoy. I wanted to rewrite a version (of “Gangnam Style”) that people could understand,” Bustos told GMA News Online back in January.

His videos are decidedly Pinoy-centric, and his antics even got him a commercial with a snack brand, where he teaches “Filipino lessons.” — Rie Takumi/KBK, GMA News

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