Mariel Padilla challenges herself to do the PHP 500 Noche Buena.
While some are missing the whole point of the festive Noche Buena, Mariel Padilla did this PHP 500 Noche Buena as a challenge.
The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) believed that a simple Noche Buena with a ₱500 budget is possible. Many retaliated, expressing that this is not realistic, and others insisted that even if this is possible, the whole point of Noche Buena, which happens once a year, is being missed.
DTI chief Cristina Roque had insisted that P500 would be enough for a basic Noche Buena, like a cheap ham, macaroni salad, and spaghetti. Mariel Padilla was among those angered by the claims, but in a video, she challenged herself to do it.
In her new video, Mariel expressed that she is not siding with the DTI. The video is for the sake of proving to herself how “madiskarte” she is a head of their household and to prove how far PHP 500.00 can go. She also wanted to find out if she could really do it.
Assuming that she already has the basic condiments at home, she was able to fit in some basic Noche Buena items in her PHP 500.00. The budget did not include salt, pepper, sugar, onion, garlic, and other in the budget.
What she only bought were small pieces of everything and picked those with the lowest cost she could find. She ended up cooking spaghetti for four, macaroni salad for four, which she was not satisfied with upon eating, sweet ham, jelly dessert, and juice.
It was practical and basic, but she still stands by her belief that PHP 500.00 is not enough. She believes that Filipinos deserve more, and she was among those who got triggered when the trade secretary claimed this.
Here are some comments from her vlog:
Nakakahampaslupa naman yan. We deserve better.
We cant assume we have the condiments, we have to add it in the costs.
Minsan na nga lang mag noche buena ang pamilya tinipid pa
Sa mayayaman tulad ni Mariel eh nakakatuwa yan. Pero ung mga naghihirap nkakaawa kc alam nila ndi tlga kasya.
Noche Buena is a feast for us Filipinos, hehe, hindi ordinary midnight snack lang. Kaloka tong DTI na to!
What can you say about this? Let us know in the comments!