Maybe it was a miscalculation. A misinterpretation. Perhaps a misjudgment of the actual surging situation on the ground, or it could also simply be “government propaganda,” according to the Ibon Foundation. Even a head in the clouds statement amid these divisive times. But that infamous remark from Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Secretary Cristina Aldeguer-Roque unsurprisingly misfired.
One doesn’t need to be familiar with DTI’s 2025 Noche Buena price guide to understand that P500 for a modest Christmas family feast is a mockery of Filipinos, especially at a time when flood control corruption scandals and their resulting investigations have yet to yield big fish arrests. That while it is technically possible—the lone merit behind the statement—doesn’t mean it is plausible.
That while it is technically possible—the lone merit behind the statement—doesn’t mean it is plausible
As Philippine Daily Inquirer columnist Anna Cristina Tuazon writes in her piece “The ‘noche buena’ we deserve”: “Why, yes, you can afford spaghetti—but don’t include onions or oil. Or any seasoning for that matter. Yes, you can still afford meat, but keep it to a spoonful of meat per person. What do you mean you can’t afford a whole ham? You can make do with one thin slice per person.”
In my opinion, this situation is akin to our larger relationship with government—settling for the bare minimum. People in power do a great job of keeping the public appeased, enough to let us raise our voices at the Trillion Peso March in September and November, but well short of resistance that can transform into actual change.
Our pleas for more than just “pwede na ’yan” should be processed in the context of wanting a better quality of life—because compromising on a day of abundance once a year implies submitting to mediocrity all our lives
Are we being breadcrumbed? Are we demanding princess treatment? Our pleas for more than just “pwede na ’yan” should be processed in the context of wanting a better quality of life—because compromising on a day of abundance once a year implies submitting to mediocrity all our lives.
Aside from mothers, perhaps nobody else understands budgeting and food costing more than chefs and restaurateurs. It should come as no surprise. These F&B figures wrestle with inflation regularly, safeguarding themselves from losses amid rising food prices. Here, some of Manila’s best chefs paint a picture of the unexpected trauma that comes from a P500 Noche Buena projection.
Myke “Tatung” Sarthou
“You can always choose a different way to celebrate.
If I had P500 for Noche Buena, I wouldn’t chase the idea of a feast. I’d focus on one dish that truly satisfies—simple, familiar, cooked with care. A pot of adobo, good rice, nothing pretending to be more than it is. Christmas isn’t about excess. It’s about sharing a meal without embarrassment or strain.
And when a small budget struggles to feed a family on a holiday, that’s not about discipline or planning. The kitchen simply reflects the larger realities we live under.”
Mikee Lopez-Tan and Alex Tan
“To entertain the idea of a P500 budget for Noche Buena feels disrespectful and culturally insensitive. Christmas is the one holiday most cherished by Filipinos, where families save up for this time of year, where they can gather together from all points of life to celebrate joy, gratitude, and togetherness. It is a celebration ingrained in our culture.
A P500 budget leaves families with little choice but to rely on instant, highly processed, pre-made, or canned food, with little to no fresh ingredients—on what is supposed to be the nation’s most meaningful and celebratory meal of the year.
P500 is not even the highest denomination of our country’s banknotes, yet it is being framed as sufficient for a celebration meant to foster warmth, dignity, and abundance. It is unreasonable to expect that such a budget could make a family feel truly festive—or, more importantly, respected.
We must stop normalizing such low standards. Filipinos are worth far more than P500 for a night as significant as Noche Buena.”
Rhea Rizzo
“It really depends on the context. If a family is in a demographic that’s trying to work really hard to make ends meet, perhaps a KFC family bucket meal in their lenses is already a Noche Buena.
But do I think it’s realistic? My context would tell me that it’s not. Because my history has shown me that it needs to include, say, a lechon, or a ham, or a cathedral dessert, cheeses, and fruits, which can be a lot more than P500.”
Patrick Go
“If Noche Buena is for one person, then yes! (laughs) Kidding aside, if you want a decent and respectable Noche Buena spread, then P500 is definitely not enough. Especially when you break it down to all the specific costs that you need: ingredients, gas, electricity, transportation, etc. A lot of people save money to make their Noche Buena special. We all definitely need more than that amount.”
Mikel Zaguirre
“If you’re a family of six and as big as me and my siblings, P500 can be a challenge. Realistically, not possible for us. I guess what I’m also trying to say is that it is all about perspective. A person who has nothing will be very grateful for P500 for his/her family. A person who worked hard for his/her P500 will be proud of this one. A person who has extra and would want to rejoice and celebrate might need more than that. The spirit of Christmas would definitely not just be based on the budget alone. It’s family!”
Francis Lacson
“There is a significant difference between the Filipino terms ‘kasya’ and ‘pinagkakasya.’ If we examine this from the perspective of a celebratory Noche Buena, spending P500 is merely ‘pinipilit lang, pinagkakasya.’
There is nothing festive about Filipino spaghetti or macaroni that is meagerly garnished. However, if we make the argument from the perspective of a regular family meal, P500 might indeed be ‘kasya.’”
Miko Calo
“First and foremost, food should be healthy and nutritious. For a family of four to prepare a full meal on a P500 budget, they would inevitably have to rely on highly processed foods such as canned goods and ready-made sauces laden with additives and extenders—simply because these are more affordable. P500 is not even a realistic budget for providing a nutritious and wholesome meal for a family of four (especially with young children) on a regular day, more so for a feast like Noche Buena.”
Kalel Chan
“Noche Buena is supposed to be a celebration. It has to be extravagant, not a P500 survival meal. Of course, if that’s what you can afford, you make do with what you have. I’ll quote one of my mentors, Annabelle Wisnieski: ‘Poverty breeds creativity.’ But for the DTI to say that P500 is enough for a family of four to celebrate Noche Buena is simply not right.”
