I am a mother packer
It is only mid-January yet my travel calendar already looks like something out of a rock star’s tour schedule. I blame it entirely on my travel buddies, who cannot seem to stay put for more than a month and, oddly enough, find traveling without me far less fun. I mean, I get it. I am a hoot.
Within the first half of 2026 alone, I will be going from winter in Korea to spring in Greece, and then straight into summer in London. My yaya Delfa is already bracing herself for the endless cycle of packing and unpacking. Add my self-diagnosed OCD to the mix, and you get a woman who needs her clothes folded, categorized, and lined up like a high-end boutique display.
I am also the type who washes her used clothes in the hotel and lets them dry overnight, so I never pack dirty laundry. Yes, I travel with laundry soap. A bar, to be exact. And if I am staying in an Airbnb, I will absolutely take advantage of their washing machine, as it is part of the room rate. There is something deeply satisfying about opening a suitcase full of clothes that are clean, dry, and still smell faintly of home.
Because I have very limited time in Manila between trips, I decided that it makes more sense to pack for Korea, Greece, and London before I even leave for the first holiday. Fortunately, I own enough luggage to make this possible.
The challenge, of course, is keeping everything organized when last-minute outfit changes and mood-based packing decisions inevitably happen. If you travel as much as I do, you’d know that packing is never final. It is a living, breathing thing that changes every time you check the weather or remember a dinner reservation.
This is where my love affair with packing cubes and travel containers begins.
Beabi: Travel solutions made practical
My sister Janina, for example, has been bitten by the most contagious travel bug in the world. She cannot stay in Manila for more than a month, and her shopping mantra is always, “Oh my gosh, I really need this. It’s great for my travels.” She is the kind of woman who brings five pairs of sunglasses on a three-week trip because each pair has to match a specific outfit.
I, on the other hand, bring just one. Thankfully, Beabi understands women like her, so they created an eyeglass organizer with five separate compartments that keeps eyewear neatly stored and protected. Its transparent, easy-open hinge design makes switching between sunnies quick and effortless.
Beabi also makes some of the most practical travel containers I have ever used. Their sturdy plastic bottles for moisturizers, lotions, shampoo, and conditioner are exactly what you need when you want to bring your favorite products without risking a suitcase disaster. Anyone who has ever opened their luggage to find their silk blouse soaked in shampoo will understand why these small, unglamorous items are actually travel essentials.
Muji: Classic design, reliability, and durability
Another brand I swear by is Muji. For a little more money, you get classic design, reliability, and durability. I love their luggage, especially the built-in wheel stoppers that keep your suitcase from rolling away when you are standing on a slope. It may not be as pricey as my Lojel or Samsonite, but it handles heavy loads beautifully and comes in colors that make me want to collect them all.
My children, of course, think this is dangerously close to hoarding.
Truest: Intentional packing meets attention to detail
And speaking of hoarding, I may very well own the world’s largest collection of Truest packing cubes. I received them as gifts from owner and designer Lucy Gomez; I’d buy them myself, and my friends keep adding to the collection because they know how obsessed I am.
At this point, my Truest stash has reached what I would like to call museum level. There are cubes for dresses, cubes for tops, cubes for underwear, cubes for swimwear, and even smaller ones for jewelry and accessories.
What makes Truest stand out is not just the aesthetic, though the designs alone could convert anyone. Each print feels personal, as if it were designed to reflect a certain mood or kind of traveler. Some designs are playful, others are chic, and a few are so pretty you almost do not want to put socks inside them. The brand even works with small artisans and skilled manufacturers, and you can feel that attention to detail in every zipper and seam.
And those zippers deserve their own paragraph. Truest zippers are strong, smooth, and made to handle cubes that are packed far beyond what they were originally designed for. If you are the type who always tries to squeeze in just one more outfit, you will understand how important this is. A weak zipper is the enemy of a good trip.
When I travel with friends, they always comment on how cute my Truest packing cubes are. They also quickly realize how functional they are when I can locate a specific outfit in seconds without turning my suitcase into a disaster zone. There is a quiet confidence that comes with knowing exactly where everything is, even when you are living out of a suitcase for weeks at a time.
Packing and unpacking made easy
I have yet to try brands like Bash, owned by Bea Alonzo, though it keeps appearing on my Instagram feed like a very stylish sign from the universe. I keep telling myself I do not need more, but anything that makes my travel life easier, more organized, and still chic is always hard to resist.
I may be constantly packing and unpacking this year, hopping from snow to sunshine and back again, but at least I am doing it beautifully. And if I am going to live out of suitcases for most of 2026, I might as well do it as a proper mother packer—with everything clean, color-coded, and exactly where it should be.
