A Noche Buena Menu For P500

Maria Cristina Roque of DTI had a fantastical Noche Buena suggestion for every Filipino, and she irresponsibly stated that P500 is good enough for every family this Christmas.

That drew flak from all corners, and I don't blame everyone for reacting negatively. One congressman did not mince words and uttered strong and emphatic soliloquies enough to give Roque nightmares till the New Year: "This is a slap in the face of every Filipino struggling to make both ends meet," he said.

Any Filipino worth his salt shares the same angry sentiments: nakakahawa kasi. It is just like an EMOTIONAL CONTAGION (a psychological phenomenon where a person unconsciously mimics the emotions of others, which can lead to shared emotional states, including anger).

One writer said, "While it is possible to have a meal with that measly budget, why should that be the standard when people certainly deserve much more?" I can't help but agree.

Looking at the bright side of what DTI had said ... I want to see the glass half-full and develop a hopeful and optimistic view by accepting their CHALLENGE and bravely face Christmas and New Year with a P500 allocation and appropriation.

If we have to consider what we prepared last year for Noche Buena ... it looked like planning a Noche Buena this Christmas was a Herculean task.  I tossed and turned, trying to squeeze my gray matter to come up with the best possible budget hocus pocus that is acceptable to the whole family. But it was kinda hard.

The following day, I came up with this menu. Included in the list in LECHON KAWALI -pero dahil nagtitipid wala ng litson. Kawali na lang. Magprito na lang kami ng kawali.

Plano naming may buttered SHRIMP at buttered CHICKEN din sa hapag. Pero, the last time we checked the price of butter, kusa na kaming umatras. Dito namin narealize (it was an answered prayer) na ang CHICKEN noodles at BAGOONG with SHRIMPY-chili seasoning comes in handy.

Kasama rin sa plano ang LECHE FLAN - pero wala ng Flan at Leche na lang dahil baka magkaletse-letse na ang budget. One thing is sure, memorable ang Christmas na ito sa akin at first time kong matikman ang LECHE-ng-kalabaw (gatas-kalabaw).

Kasama rin ang walang kamatayang Buko Pandan. Pero sa takot naming maBUKO ng DTI na magovershoot kami sa budget ... BUKO na lang siguro at para lalong makaiwas gastos maghingi na lang ako sa kapitbahay para libre. Yong buko pandan ... i-imagine na lang namin na yon ang the real thing.

Maganda rin sigurong may Queso de BOLA ... pero siguro next year na lang ang Queso at tutusok tusok na lang kami ng fish BALL.

Yan na ang aming Noche Buena. Kung palarin baka P400 lang ang magastos namin ... nakasave pa kami ng P100.

Kung bakit pinauso pa kasi ang mga Noche Buena na yan. Sakaling makita ninyo ang salarin ... ang pasimuno na mag Noche Buena tayo ... maganda sigurong ipa-ombudsman natin at ipa-ICI.