INQUIRER FILE PHOTO / NINO JESUS ORBETA
The ingredients for spaghetti and fruit salad—two popular noche buena dishes—have become more expensive although a culture expert believes that higher prices will not deter people from serving these holiday staples.
“Spaghetti is not just holiday food but part of many Filipino celebrations, especially birthdays. I think it will stick,” said Ivan Henares said, who is also an assistant professor at the Asian Institute of Tourism of the University of the Philippines. He added that he thinks the same would hold true for fruit salad.
According to the noche buena price guide of the Department of Trade and Industry, which tallied market prices as of Nov. 23, the least expensive brand of spaghetti pasta (800 grams) in local markets now costs P69, up by P10 compared to last year.
On the other hand, the cheapest brand of spaghetti sauce (900 g) goes for P66, a P6 increase from P59.85 in 2021. For filled cheese, a 165-g brand sells for P55, compared to P49.50 in 2021.
For those who want meat in their spaghetti, a kilogram of pork belly now costs P370, according to the Dec. 14 price monitoring of the Department of Agriculture.
Put these all together and the simplest spaghetti dish will cost P277 today, or P17.65 more compared to P259.35 a year ago.
A bit more expensive
As for fruit salad, the least expensive 432-g medium-sized can of fruit cocktail sells for P56 while a 250-milliliter pack of all-purpose cream goes for P63.
A year ago, the same size and brand of fruit cocktail was priced at P50, while the same all-purpose cream went for P59.
Another holiday tradition, the traditional nine-day Masses leading to Christmas Day, is expected to lead to bigger crowds at Catholic churches this year with the lifting of most pandemic restrictions.
Called Misa de Gallo in former Spanish colonies or Simbang Gabi in the Philippines, the novena Masses are held either early in the morning starting on Dec. 16 to Dec. 24, or early evening from Dec. 15 to Dec. 23.
“We are preparing for a slight increase in mass attendance, so we are doing cleaning and maintenance plus replacement of markers for physical distancing,” said Fr. Earl Valdez, one of the assisting parish priests at Quiapo Church in Manila.
According to him, church volunteers will be around to ensure that attendees wear face masks and observe physical distancing as part of health protocols.
RELATED STORIES
Noche Buena items price hikes are justified and can’t be controlled – DTI official
‘Noche buena’ price hikes loom; DTI has some saving tips
—WITH A REPORT FROM DONA Z. PAZZIBUGAN