Several celebrities have spoken out after the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) claimed that Filipino families can supposedly prepare a traditional Noche Buena meal for only ₱500.
DTI Secretary Cristina Roque earlier stated that a family of four could buy ham and ingredients for macaroni salad and spaghetti within the ₱500 budget, based on the agency’s price guide. The statement immediately drew backlash from netizens, lawmakers, and sectoral groups, calling the estimate “unrealistic” amid rising market prices.
Actor-host Edu Manzano reacted online, sharing Roque’s quote card and teasing a challenge to test whether the claim is actually feasible.
“Para sa mga hindi updated… eto po ’yung breaking news na nagpa-angat ng kilay ng buong Pilipinas,” he wrote.
“Sabi nila, ₱500 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.”
Actress Alessandra de Rossi commented under the post, offering a pointed reaction: “Hahahaha, ilang slice?”
TV host Bianca Gonzalez also questioned the remark, expressing disbelief at the perceived low regard for Filipino families.
“Tungkol sa ₱500 pang Noche Buena: Kapiranggot lang ba ang deserve ng pamilyang Pinoy?” she said.
Comedienne Pokwang criticized the government more broadly, saying the lack of proper allocation of public funds is the real reason why Filipinos struggle to make ends meet.
“Kung hindi ninanakawan ang bansa at naibibigay ng tama ang para sa mga tao lalo na mga maliliit na manggagawa, malamang mayaman tayo, walang api at malamang kasya nga ang ₱500 na pang Noche Buena,” she wrote.
Reacting to a news report about a former DPWH engineer who returned ₱110 million to the government, Pokwang added: “Ito pong sinauling pera ng buwaya ipamigay n’yo sa mahihirap ngayong Pasko para ’di hirap ipagkasya ang ₱500.”
Radio host DJ Chacha questioned where DTI found its pricing.
“Kasya daw ang ₱500 pang-Noche Buena. Saan pong palengke kayo namimili? Dun kami pupunta para makatipid sa Pasko,” she said.
“Pashare naman po pls ng inyong palengke tips para magkasya ang ₱500 pang-handa sa Pasko,” she added in another post.
Akbayan Party-List Rep. Percival Cendaña called the DTI statement an “insult” to Filipinos, while ACT Teachers Rep. Antonio Tinio described it as “tone-deaf,” especially amid corruption issues hounding various government agencies.
Kamanggagawa Rep. Eli San Fernando also challenged Sec. Roque to prove her claim.
“Kung naniniwala ka na kasya talaga ’yang limandaang piso para sa Noche Buena, mag-₱500 Noche Buena challenge tayo. Kayo na ang mamili ng palengke at lugar, sasamahan ko pa kayo!” he said.
Despite growing criticism, DTI has maintained since 2022 that ₱500 is enough for a simple Noche Buena, saying consumers can choose “cheaper and heavier variations” of traditional holiday dishes.
