10/12/2025
๐ก๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป๐ฎ๐น ๐ก๐ฒ๐๐ | ๐ฃ๐ฎ๐น๐ฎ๐ฐ๐ฒ ๐ฆ๐๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ ๐ผ๐ป โฑ๐ฑ๐ฌ๐ฌ ๐ก๐ผ๐ฐ๐ต๐ฒ ๐๐๐ฒ๐ป๐ฎ ๐๐๐ฑ๐ด๐ฒ๐ ๐ฆ๐ฝ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ธ๐ ๐๐ฟ๐ถ๐๐ถ๐ฐ๐ถ๐๐บ
by Hanna Lee Baylin
MANILA, Philippines โ The Palaceโs defense of the Department of Trade and Industryโs (DTI) claim that a Filipino family can prepare a basic Noche Buena meal for โฑ500 has drawn widespread criticism, with many saying the estimate fails to reflect current food prices.
Malacaรฑang clarified that the โฑ500 budget was not meant to represent a traditional Noche Buena spread, but a minimal meal intended for a small family of four. DTIโs price guide cites items such as budget ham at โฑ170, spaghetti noodles at โฑ30, and sauce at โฑ48.50 as part of its suggested list.
However, consumer groups pointed out that even DTIโs sample basket can exceed โฑ500, with some estimates placing the total closer to โฑ520โโฑ530 depending on store prices. Many argued that holiday staples like cheese, fruit cocktail, and bread have significantly increased in cost this year.
Members of the Makabayan bloc called the estimate โtone-deaf,โ with ACT Teachers Party-list Rep. Antonio Tinio criticizing the government for downplaying the hardships caused by inflation.
Vice President Sara Duterte dismissed the โฑ500 estimate, saying her personal Christmas shoppingโfor just spaghetti and a salad packโ already costs โฑ2,100, roughly the same as her officeโs holiday food packs.
Some religious leaders weighed in as well. Antipolo Bishop Ruperto Santos Santos emphasized in his message that Noche Buena is not a time for scrimping or settling for less, but a moment of celebration and generosity offering our best to God and to one another.
For many Filipinos, the โฑ500 Noche Buena debate has come to symbolize a wider gap between government assurances and the live experiences of ordinary families struggling with high prices and stagnant wages.
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