Noche Buena Wars: Is 500 Pesos Enough?




Ho! Ho! Ho!
The simple answer is no.
Lol.

The DTI Secretary recently said that a Php 500 (8.47 USD) budget is enough for a simple celebration for a family of four.

Oh, really? Filipinos are festive people and love to have a feast during Christmas. That's why many were offended and baffled by the statement. 500 Pesos is impossible knowing that even simple Filipino families love to flex a photo of their family standing behind their bountiful table with the caption, "Merry Christmas from our family to yours."

Kidding aside, Christmas is a celebration. It's the day where we splurge and eat something we can't afford to have in an ordinary day.





Even for me who celebrates the holidays alone spends more than the stated budget. I try my best to have my table as festive as possible and filled with the foods I want so I don't feel sad. My family can't celebrate with me but at least I have delicious foods, right? And that somehow makes me happy during Christmas.





But to be fair, I share some of it to my brother when we meet and visit our mom at the cemetery. Also, I set aside a plate for our mom on Christmas eve and another for her grave. So technically, my Christmas foods isn't just for me alone.





Moving forward to the upcoming holidays, it feels like this year's celebration is less exciting than the previous years. There's natural disasters and huge corruption issue in the government. Though it would be a nice Christmas gift if those crocs get jailed before Christmas. Lol.





Anyway, I also want to lessen my expenses a bit for my Christmas Eve foods this year because I still have other expenses in the coming weeks. These photos I shared were from my Christmas 2022 celebration. The cheesecake was so good, by the way.





Thanks for reading! ☆

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That's the issue right now in DTI in the Philippines and I think most or maybe all of the people are baffled about the 500 pesos budget for the noche buena including myself. I don't think it's enough. !wine

Not really enough kung for 4 pax.

I think its enough te kung gagawan ng paraan pero I don’t think we deserve na worth 500 pesos lang na handa. Kaya siguro te kung isang lechong manok lang tapos kanin haha. Kaso hanggang yun lang ba talaga yung kaya nating ihanda? Sinasabi lang nila yan kasi may sarili silang chef sa bahay jke. Yung binigay nga nilang need bilhin sa spaghetti para mapagkasya lang 500 pesos aside sa ham, macaroni salad at pandesal, spaghetti sauce lang tapos yung mismong spaghetti noodles.

Kaya naman gawan ng paraan pero sobrang tipid sa ingredients. Siguro kung sa mga sobrang hirap na pamilya pwede na rin yan. Pero kung para sa mga typical na pamilya eh nakakatawa nga naman ung 500. Tama. Baka nga sa ibang bansa pa sila mag holiday. Haha Dapat sila mismo magset ng example eh.. mga government official dapat mandatory na sumunod sa sasabihin na budget ng dti. Haha ewan na lang.

Thanks for posting in the ASEAN Hive Community.

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