Skip to main content

Gifts · Philippines

Skip lilies and chrysanthemums, wrap it well

If you're bringing flowers, avoid lilies and chrysanthemums (funeral flowers), and put real effort into the wrapping — presentation reads as a sign of how much thought you put in.

PhilippinesGiftscasualUpdated September 2, 2026

If you’re bringing flowers to a home visit or a colleague, most varieties are fine, just steer clear of lilies and chrysanthemums specifically, since both read as funeral flowers rather than a warm gesture.

Spend a little extra effort on how the gift is wrapped, whether that’s flowers, food, or something else. A nicely wrapped modest gift tends to land better than an expensive gift wrapped carelessly, presentation is doing real work here, not just the contents.

  • Books, small electronics, or something distinctive from your own country are all safe, well-received choices for a business or personal gift.
  • Avoid anything too extravagant — an overly lavish gift can create discomfort or an unwanted sense of obligation rather than just being appreciated.

Why it matters

Lilies and chrysanthemums are strongly associated with funerals and memorial services in the Philippines, similar to their role in several other Asian cultures, so gifting them elsewhere carries an unintended death association. Separately, Filipino gift-giving culture puts real weight on presentation: how beautifully something is wrapped is read as a direct signal of the effort and thought behind the gesture, not just decoration on top of the actual gift.

Source: Philippines Gift Giving Traditions & Customs – FNP

More from Philippines

Accept the refreshments at a business meeting

Business

Let the eldest or the host eat first

Dining

Give gifts with both hands, open later

Gifts

More Gifts rules

Skip purple wrapping and sharp objects when giving a gift

Gifts

Never give a clock as a gift

Gifts

Skip chrysanthemums and even numbers when gifting flowers

Gifts