NOCHE BUENA, RECYCLING FOOD, AND THE NEXT GEN

Is the season to make hard choices again:

- RICARDO T. PAMINTUAN

Do we take a holiday vacation (whether holed up at home with Netflix or experiencing a white Christmas in Austria, with the hope of spotting Harry Roque and ratting him out), thus avoiding the traffic, crowded malls and gift-giving? Or do we stay put, join the revelry, and bask in the spirit of another Pinoy Christmas?

If we opt to break our travel piggy bank to uphold tradition, do we use our 13th month and performance bonus on presents (e-cash transfers are more normal these days) and sinful pleasures like food, drinks and entertainment?

Speaking of food, what's on the menu? It depends on how much you want to and can actually spend. For some, P500 may be enough for Noche Buena, as suggested by the DTI in all its wisdom; for others, that's equivalent to Noche Mala, the amount not even enough to buy a decent special meal for a family of four.

Preparing for the holiday is no joke. It's expensive, and we're not even talking about hosting reunions here.

Lechon is the centerpiece of every Filipino celebration. Unfortunately for hogdom, pigs symbolize good fortune and wealth, and a single lechon costs an arm and a leg (a front and back pata?). While Boomers and Gen X still treat lechon as non-negotiable, many Millennials and Gen Zs now quietly ask if there's a "healthier" alternative or at least a part with less cholesterol guilt. They could chew the fat for hours on end but will more likely bite into a tub of butter before swallowing that lechon belly fat. Hello, children! Your favorite breakfast bacon is pork belly.