Stars of the Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) 2025 entry “Rekonek” shared differing views on the controversial claim that a family of four can prepare a Noche Buena meal for just P500.
During the film’s media conference, former Miss Universe Gloria Diaz, celebrity couple Carmina Villarroel and Zoren Legaspi, their children Mavy and Cassy, along with co-stars Charlie Dizon, Andrea Brillantes, and Kelvin Miranda, were asked to weigh in on Department of Trade and Industry Secretary Cristina Aldeguer-Roque’s statement, which has drawn flak for being unrealistic amid rising food prices.
Aldeguer-Roque earlier said P500 is enough for a decent holiday dinner for a family of four. While Malacañang earlier stood by the agency’s position, the claim has since drawn flak for being unrealistic and insulting to Filipinos facing financial struggles.
On this, Diaz backed the DTI secretary, whom she described as “a good friend,” and insisted the amount could work.
“Of course, pwede. And by the way, Cris is a good friend of mine. She showed me all of DTI’s [meal plan] for P500,” she said.
Diaz went on to add possible dishes that could fit the budget, suggesting, “You can have corned beef, fruit salad, you can have pineapple juice na dinadagdagan ng maraming yelo and you can eat pansit.”
Meanwhile, Carmina and Zoren were to first to admit that such budget would not align with the spirit of traditional Noche Buena in the country.
Carmina, for her part, disagreed saying the figure was simply not enough for most families.
“Hindi talaga. I think it really depends kung gaano kalaki ‘yung pamilya. Kung anong gusto niyong ihain sa Noche Buena. Pero kung talagang pagkakasya at wala talagang choice, feeling ko naman kasya,” she said, adding that preparing usual holiday dishes with such a tight budget would lack some key ingredients.
Still, she noted that Filipinos often find ways to make ends meet: “’Di ba tayo kapag gusto gagawa ng paraan. Tayong mga Pinoy, maabilidad tayo. Pero realistically for me if asking, challenging. Hindi talaga kasya ‘yung 500. Maybe in 1993 kasya.”
Zoren backed his wife’s sentiment and emphasized that cultural meaning of the occasion and Noche Buena, by tradition, is meant to be a “feast”.
“Everyone’s missing the point. The point is Noche Buena. It’s a feast. So kung maka second rice ka, tatlong rice habang nakikipagkwentuhan ka. That’s not a day or a night of nagtitipid. It’s a feast for everyone,” he said.
“So kahit ako mag-isa, gusto kong maka-hamburger ng tatlo or apat because it’s a notebena. So we have to take that. We have to consider that event na once a year lang nangyayari. Pwede ba namang may fiesta ka, nagtipid ka ‘ ba?”, stressed Legaspi.
Charlie also questioned the budget, saying even P500 for a day’s meals is already difficult.
“Ako honestly feeling ko din hindi kasya yung 500. Kasi sa totoo lang sa isang araw ang hirap na pagkasyahin nung 500,” she said.
“Kahit sa dalawang tao ang hirap na makapuno ka ng tatlong meal a day sa 500. So syempre tulad ng sinabi po nila na ang noche buena gathering yan, doon lang kayo magsasama-sama. So at least man lang enough sana ‘yung food para sa lahat. So ang hirap po nung 500.”
“Pero gaya nga ng sabi nila ang mga Pinoy maabilidad, maparaan, madiskte. So magdasal nalang,” she added.
Kelvin, who shared that he grew up going to markets as a child, highlighted how prices differ depending on location.
“Bata pa lang ako kasama na ako sa palengke. So sa akin kasi sa iba-ibang lugar, iba-ibang presyo din ang bili,” he said. “Kung makakabili ka ng mga ganyan, yung mga rekados, yung mga pansakog, kahit sabihin mong maliit na portion yung lutuin mo, hindi pa rin talaga siya kakasya.”
Like Legaspi, Miranda also stressed that Noche Buena should not be treated as a regular day, “’Yung event mismo—tama si Kuya [Zoren]—it’s a gathering, noche buena. Hindi siya pwedeng sabihin na normal day na magluluto ka lang ng ulam. […] So para sa akin hindi siya doable talaga. Kahit pa sa dalawang tao. Pang isang tao pwede siguro.”
“Rekonek”, which also stars Bela Padilla, Kokoy De Santos, Angel Guardian, Kelvin Miranda, Alexa Miro, Raf Pineda, and Dom Corilla, is set to open in cinemas this Christmas alongside other MMFF entries.
