Noche Buena fare is quite standard for many Filipino households: ham, bread, cheese, a pasta dish. For dessert, fruit or macaroni salad. Upgrades are made depending on the family’s financial capacity, household size, or the importance it attaches to holiday food.
This year the Department of Trade and Industry insists it is possible for a family of four to make do with P500 for Christmas dinner. DTI Secretary Cristina Roque says that using her agency’s price guide, a sample basket containing four dishes and pandesal could be had for that amount.
Of course. Anything is possible – including boiling macaroni, mixing it with mayonnaise, and calling it a salad.
Social media users flooded the internet with angry reactions. Yes, life is difficult and it is a challenge to make ends meet. But lecturing Filipinos, so weary with their daily struggles, on how they should be content with spartan food on the most festive season of the year is downright condescending.
Do those officials mean Filipinos do not deserve anything better? Are they consigning us to eternal beholdenness to officials who thrive on giving “ayuda” to their constituents in an attempt to win their votes…err, hearts?
The 500-peso exhortation takes on an even more insulting meaning when viewed against the dizzying amounts of money pocketed by officials involved in flood control and other infrastructure corruption. Projects that run by the millions and billions translate into conspicuously opulent lifestyles of a few. Likely for these people, 500 pesos is negligible, loose change. The contrast is infuriating.
Could more sensitive and forward-looking language have delivered the message better? Words like, “things are difficult now, but we are working hard to attract more investments, create more jobs, and improve people’s economic prospects.” Or, “we’ll crack down on the corrupt no matter the political color or affiliation. We’ll go where the evidence takes us.” Or, “we will make sure that our reforms translate into a narrower gap in income across the population.
Filipinos can very well tide themselves through a holiday. But the people also know they deserve better – to have a better meal to share with their loved ones, but more importantly to have a government that works to achieve justice, equity, and inclusive progress.
