The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) is back with its annual Christmas classic: assuring Filipinos that a simple Noche Buena can be pulled off with just PHP 500. According to the agency, over 100 Noche Buena items have heroically “maintained” their prices this year—though many others didn’t get the memo and quietly went up due to higher costs of ingredients, packaging, and labor.
DTI Secretary Cristina Roque added that families can enjoy ham, spaghetti, and macaroni salad on that PHP 500 budget “as long as your whole barangay isn’t coming over.” Netizens, naturally, were quick to roll their eyes online, noting that even a quick grocery run feels like a budget horror story. Many joked that maybe DTI has access to a secret supermarket the rest of the country doesn’t know about.
A Holiday Déjà Vu: Same Script, New Year
If the statement sounds familiar, that’s because it is. DTI has been confidently promoting this PHP 500 Noche Buena for years. Back in 2022, the agency released a shopping guide claiming that the following items could feed a family of four to five:
- * American ham (500 g), PHP 163
- * Pandesal (250 g), PHP 23.50
- * Cheese (200 g), PHP 41.75
- * Pasta (800 g) + spaghetti sauce (1 kg), PHP 112
- * Pork giniling (1/8 kg), PHP 31.25
- * Fruit cocktail + Kremdensada combo, PHP 116.50
Fast-forward to today, and DTI is still singing the same tune—apparently inflation doesn’t apply to Christmas optimism. According to the agency, with enough “planning,” this budget is tough but “doable.” Many Filipinos responded: “Yes, if the plan is to lower expectations.”
The Reality: A Tight Budget for a Big Tradition
For most families, PHP 500 barely covers a modest grocery list, much less a Filipino Noche Buena known for its warmth, abundance, and, yes, calories. Holiday staples like ham, queso de bola, and desserts have all climbed in price—no matter how much diskarte one applies.
While DTI insists the thrift-friendly feast is possible, the public seems unconvinced. After all, Noche Buena is supposed to feel festive, not like an episode of Survivor: Christmas Edition.
