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.

Napansin Mo Ba?

 

War On Drugs and Ninos Inocentes

Today is December 28 ... and we are celebrating the feast of Ninos Inocentes. 

As part of the celebration of Christmas, we can't just ignore another feast honoring the innocent victims of the massacre that happened a long time ago - children who were considered "collateral damage" when King Herod ordered the killing of the blameless male newborn kids.

He lusted for power ... and because he was threatened by the birth of Jesus - the new anointed King of Kings (the news spread virally even though computers are yet to be discovered.)  Civilian casualties or not ... incidental damage some may call it ... but there is no denying the act was barbarous, bloodthirsty, and has no respect for any person's right to life.

Fast forward tayo ... to any incident in the immediate past with parallelism to Ninos Inocentes - the War On Drugs has all the trimmings of being one. The government has encouraged random killings in its battle with shabu and illicit substances and unintended casualties fall prey and can happen to anyone. Here ... innocent victims are easy targets ... and that includes Ninos Inocentes who happened not to be in the right place ... and at the right time. 

Sanino Butucan, Danica Mae Garcia, Francisco Manosca Althea Fe Barbon, Reynaldo de Guzman, Charlie Jean Du. Kian Lloyd de los Santos and Carl Arnaiz to name a few ... are living testimony (no pun intended) and their carnage will forever be etched in our memory bank as mga batang pinaslang na walang kalaban-laban.

Sana sa lahat na pagdiriwang ng Ninos Inocentes ... maalala natin sila ... at patuloy na ipagdasal ang eternal peace that they deserved.

And to the candidates seeking reelection ... mukhang fixated na kayo sa mga addict. If your platform zeroes down to the war on drugs the second time around ... obsessed na po kayo.

Ang daming problema sa Pilipinas, ganito na naman ba ang focus nila ... at wala ng iba? Kailangan natin ng  mga kandidatong Jack of all trades ... yon bang kahit among problema ... aasahan mong sasabak.

Gising na mga botante!

One Liners

 

Expensive Preparation For His Coming?

If Paris is the City of Lights ... Ilonggos hope they don't mind if Iloilo City borrows this sobriquet only this Christmas - for how else could you describe a city whose ostentatious display of lights exceeded one's expectations.  A friend who has a penchant for hyperbole and exaggeration fired back to him the preparation had reached a blasphemous degree ... (or was it sacrilegious?)  To him, it was almost disrespectful and obscene because it was not in synch with humbleness ... the very first teaching Jesus wants us to imbibe this Christmas.

I don't blame his rhetorics ... because of his viewpoint and mindset that Jesus was teaching humanity humility and modesty... why Jesus Christ had to be born in a manger ... why his first visitors were shepherds ... why he was surrounded by lambs and animals, etc.

We just let him ... but the lights and sounds were just so breathless ... it is plain idiocy to ignore what was going around ... whether the NOW generation chooses extravagance over being economical ... wasteful and indulgent over frugality ... is beside the point.

Here are the photos:

One Liner

 

Christmas Time In Iloilo City

The sights and sounds of Iloilo City at night during Christmas. Everywhere you go is a tapestry of kaleidoscopic lights of different hues hanging in buildings and houses ... as if trying to say we are hospitable and trying our best to welcome the coming of the Messiah - lavish ... elaborate ... and showy - a far-cry and poles apart from olden days when all the inns were occupied and unfortunately Jesus was born in a manger in the stable. What a lowly accommodation for the man who would be king. Maybe Jesus wants it that way ... but who knows?

Pototan - The Christmas Capital In Western Visayas

Pototan is starting to create a Christmas buzz this holiday when it celebrates the annual Iwag Festival from December 16 to January 1, 2025.

If you have not visited Pototan yet ... it is a must that you have to do it now. And don't forget to bring your family with you. You will be mesmerized by whatever happens next .... anything goes.

You will feast your eyes on the sights and sounds, and it is no wonder Pototan is getting the moniker - the Christmas capital of Western Visayas.

Your family will also enjoy gastronomic and culinary treats as the food stalls around carry high-quality food and dishes.

If you are doubting Thomas - the pictures will convince you.

More Photos