Celebrities have joined fellow Filipinos in questioning the Department of Trade and Industry’s (DTI) remark that a family can prepare traditional Christmas dishes with only ₱500.
DTI Secretary Cristina Roque earlier said households could supposedly buy ham and ingredients for macaroni salad and spaghetti with that amount, depending on the number of people eating.
The claim immediately drew backlash from the public, sectoral groups and lawmakers, who said the budget was “unrealistic” amid rising market prices.
Actor-host Edu Manzano was among those who reacted online, posting Roque’s quote card as he teased what he called a “₱500 Noche Buena Challenge.”
“Para sa mga hindi updated… eto po ‘yung breaking news na nagpa-angat ng kilay ng buong Pilipinas,” he wrote on social media.
“Sabi nila, P500 daw… kaya na ang ham, macaroni salad at spaghetti. Kaya naman susubukan natin. Kung sila ay confident… tayo ay curious. Abangan ang 500 Peso Noche Buena Challenge,” continued the actor.
In the comments section, actress Alessandra de Rossi also weighed in with a short but pointed response, reacting to the claim that ₱500 could cover holiday staples.
“Hahahaha, ilang slice?,” she simply wrote, implying that such a budget would only yield meager portions.
Radio personality DJ Chacha similarly questioned where the DTI was supposedly buying ingredients that would make the figure feasible.
“Kasya daw ang 500 pesos pang-noche buena. Saan pong palengke kayo namimili? Dun kami pupunta para makatipid sa Pasko,” she said.
On Friday, the DTI defended its claim, citing its noche buena price guide, which it said could help a family of four prepare basic Christmas dishes within the suggested amount.
Akbayan Party-List’s Rep. Percival Cendaña called the DTI’s statement an “insult” to the Filipinos, while Rep. Antonio Tinio (ACT Teachers Party-list) labeled it as “tone-deaf” amid public outrage over corruption scandals.
Since 2022, DTI has been insisting that ₱500 is enough for a traditional Filipino Christmas Eve dinner, saying that “consumers can choose cheaper and heavier variations of noche buena food items so they would not spend much.” (Jessica Ann Evangelista © Philippine Daily Inquirer)
