Image of DTI Secretary explaining the ₱500 Noche Buena budget in a press briefing, with Filipinos reacting online that ₱500 is not enough for holiday food.

DTI’s ₱500 Noche Buena Budget: Clarification or Komedya?

November 28, 2025•1 min read

DTI Secretary Cristina Roque attempted to clarify the viral backlash surrounding the agency’s suggested ₱500 Noche Buena budget, saying it was meant for a simple meal for a small family — including ham, spaghetti, and other basic holiday items.

Pero imbes na lumiwanag ang paliwanag, mas lalong lumakas ang tawanan ng bayan.
Maging si DTI Undersecretary Marilou Toledo-Castro, caught off-camera laughing in disbelief, seemed to confirm what ordinary Filipinos already knew:

Hindi talaga kakasya ang ₱500.
Hindi ngayon. Hindi sa presyo ngayon. Hindi sa Pilipinas ngayon.

The situation sparked nationwide reactions — memes, parodies, sarcastic “₱500 challenge,” and even grocery vlog tests proving one thing:

Kahit tubig at yelo, hirap isiksik sa ₱500.

The deeper issue?
This isn’t just about Noche Buena.
This is about disconnect — the widening gap between officials who create “price guides” and citizens who live the real cost of surviving day-to-day.

For many families, Noche Buena is not luxury.
It’s hope.
It’s tradition.
It’s the one night they try to forget the hardship of the year.

Pero ngayong 2025, parang pati ang pag-asa… may SRP na.

And yet, kahit sa gitna ng kakapusan, Filipinos laugh together — dahil minsan, tawa ang natitirang sandata.

Custom HTML/CSS/JAVASCRIPT