03/12/2025
๐๐ฑ๐ถ๐๐ผ๐ฟ๐ถ๐ฎ๐น | ๐ง๐ต๐ฒ ๐ฃ๐ฟ๐ถ๐ฐ๐ฒ ๐ผ๐ณ ๐ง๐ฟ๐ฎ๐ฑ๐ถ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป
As Christmas draws near, Filipino families start preparing for one of the most beloved holiday traditions in the country, Noche Buena, which is a symbol of unity, gratitude, and one of the few times a family gets to be whole. However, in 2025, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) mentioned that a family could celebrate the occasion with just a โฑ500 budget, which triggered backlash from the people. DTI Secretary Cristina Roque explained the proposal further by adding that โโฑ500 is dependent on the number of the family,โ a remark described by critics as tone-deaf and bereft of reality (Philstar 2025). In fact, the outrage was not at all just an emotional reaction but a collective recognition of how inflation has made even the most modest preparation of holidays financially overwhelming. The issue surfaced and revealed the increasing distance between official economic narratives and everyday struggles faced inside the households of Filipinos.
The increasing prices of basic Noche Buena food products-such as pasta, sauce, sliced bread, ham, cheese, soft drinks, and bottled beverages-make the estimate of โฑ500 hardly achievable. For a simple spaghetti dish alone, noodles, sauce, cheese, onions, and at least a small portion of meat are needed. Buying all these would already consume most, if not all, of the suggested budget. This proves that โฑ500 can no longer cover a full meal, let alone a holiday feast that should supposedly serve an entire family. Lawmakers and social commentators likewise criticized the proposal for belittling the true incidence of inflation and disregarding the financial sacrifices of families in order to make ends meet amidst the economic crisis (Philstar 2025).
While Filipino resourcefulness remains strong, resiliency should not be mistaken for evidence that families can thrive on severely unrealistic budgets. Many households now find themselves stretching their holiday meals through fewer portions, shared contributions from relatives, or community-based handaan efforts. Larger families often face even sharper constraints, reducing celebration to symbolic rather than substantial meals-not by choice but by necessity.
Noche Buena may still be celebrated, but the tradition is increasingly powered by compromises rather than comfort. The real issue, as this country celebrates the holiday season in 2025, is not whether a family can celebrate with โฑ500 but whether it should be expected to. A meaningful celebration requires acknowledgment of inflation's impact, realistic economic assessments, and policies that reflect lived experiences rather than simplified averages. Traditions bind Filipino families, but rising prices should not be what breaks them.
Illustrated by: Zoey Brioso
Layout by: Jamie Cristine Paat
