Mariel Padilla tries P500 Noche Buena budget: 'I do believe that the Filipinos deserve more'

Mariel Padilla challenged herself to prepare a Noche Buena spread worth P500.

On her latest YouTube vlog, the celebrity host and wife of Senator Robin Padilla said she was triggered when the Department of Trade and Industry said that "a P500 Noche Buena remains feasible" for a family of four.

"Na-trigger ako doon nang matindi kasi two times a week ako nag-gogrocery, so alam ko gaano kamahal ang mga bilihin ngayon," Mariel said.

In her vlog, Mariel tried to make the P500 budget work and went to the grocery to buy ingredients for spaghetti, macaroni salad, gelatin, and juice—excluding onion, garlic, oil, sugar, salt, pepper, and water.

Here's a breakdown of the ingredients she got:

• Ground beef (1/8 kilo) - P60
• Gulaman (small sachet) - P14.95
• Chicken ham (250 grams) - P99
• Evaporated milk (140 ml) - P19.25
• Mayonnaise + pineapple tidbits (small bundle) - P89.90
• Raisins (100 grams) - P46.70
• Macaroni (200 grams) - P21
• Spaghetti sauce + pasta (bundle) - P71.50
• Cheese (160 grams) - P56.60
• Juice (one sachet) - P19.10
• Total: P498

After preparing all the dishes, Mariel reflected on a P500 budget for a Noche Buena feast.

"'Yung P500 talaga na flat [budget], I still stand by it na impossible kasi may pamasahe ka pa, may gasul ka pa 'di ba? So hindi siya talaga [kasya]," she said.

"Pero kung 'yung grocery wise lang, baka puwedeng itawid pero sana s'yempre ang Pasko ng pinoy, sana umabot tayo sa point na hindi na natin siya itatawid lang, talagang mabibigay natin 'yung best natin sa pamilya natin," she added.

Mariel also said that she's not siding with DTI regarding its P500 Noche Buena budget statement and said, "I do believe that the Filipinos deserve more."

Earlier, content creator Benedict Cua also took on the challenge to prepare a P500 Noche Buena feast and reflected on it.

"Posible. Kahit ano naman posible, pero parang hindi siya enough. Ang tagal mong hinintay 'yung Pasko, parang gusto mong mas maghanda ng madami para sa anak mo, asawa mo, buong pamilya mo," Benedict said.

"Sinasabi ko sa sarili ko dapat masaya na ko sa ganito pero nilalagay ko 'yung posisyon ko sa pagiging tatay na ang sakit pala pag ito lang 'yung handa mo," he added. "Hindi ko ma-feel 'yung Pasko." —Hermes Joy Tunac/MGP, GMA Integrated News