PAGASA President Steven Cua Says P1,000 Budget Can Be Enough for Noche Buena
A P1,000 budget can be enough for Noche Buena, depending on the expectations and mindset of the family preparing the meal, according to PAGASA President Steven Cua.
Steven Cua, president of the Philippine Amalgamated Supermarkets Association (PAGASA), explained that whether P1,000 is enough for Noche Buena depends on how a family chooses to plan and prepare its Christmas Eve meal.
In an interview with Bilyonaryo, Cua explained that families can still prepare a simple Christmas Eve meal with the limited amount, as long as they understand what they can realistically afford.
He stressed that an expensive meal is not necessary to make the celebration special. Even an ordinary meal can feel grand when family members are together, enjoying food and sharing happy moments.
Cua also encouraged families to appreciate what they have, especially since some people may not even have enough food to prepare for Christmas Eve. For him, the happiness of celebrating with loved ones should matter more than having expensive dishes on the table.
“You can also, you know, define a regular meal, happy with with the warmth of your family as grande. Mabuti nga mga anak, may kinakain tayo tonight eh, ‘yung iba walang kinakain,” Cua said.
However, he pointed out that families should also be realistic about their expectations. Those who want to serve traditional holiday favorites such as lechon and queso de bola may find that a P500 or even P1,000 budget is not enough.
He explained that a single expensive item could already take up a large portion of the available budget, leaving little money for other dishes.
Instead of trying to prepare an expensive feast, Cua suggested adjusting expectations and choosing more affordable food options that can still make the occasion enjoyable.
“So you have to get real, ‘di ba? Yeah, so you need to change um change up kung ano ‘yung… Change your mindset. Yung mindset mo of what is a… anong kakasya ‘di ba?” he added.
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