Living the spirit of the original Noche Buena

The recent P500 Noche Buena announcement by the Department of Trade and Industry has caught a lot of attention.

- By LEONORA AQUINO-GONZALES

There is even a Christmas jingle that makes fun of it.I think what hurts most was the context of the announcement. Many Filipinos, especially the poor, are feeling the rising cost of food. So Christmas celebrations could amplify the large gap between the rich and the poor. According to the World Bank, the top one percent of earners account for 17 percent of national income, while the bottom 50 percent share only 14 percent.

In practical terms, what does the P500 Noche Buena challenge mean? For middle-income to high-income earners, P500 is loose change for standard lattes and other drinks in Starbucks. Barya-barya lang. But for the poor, say in Metro Manila, P500 is hard-earned money — almost the daily income of laborers. In some provinces where the minimum wage is lower compared to Metro Manila, P500 is equal if not more than the minimum wage. So while the DTI announcement may indeed be able to buy some festive food, it lacks empathy and the sensitivity to the harsh realities of many families trying to make both ends meet, not only during Christmas season but throughout the year.