Celebrity couple Zoren Legaspi and Carmina Villarroel expressed strong disagreement with Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Secretary Cristina Aldeguer-Roque’s statement that a budget of P500 is enough for a Filipino family’s Noche Buena.

At a recent press conference, when Zoren was asked about his thoughts over the Noche Buena hullabaloo, he said that the obvious answer to it is no.

“If you don’t know the situation of the citizens or ng ating mga kababayan, what the hell are you doing sitting on your seat?” he demanded. 

Zoren added that, in order for a government official to serve his countrymen better, he or she must understand their realities first.

Carmina Villarroel also criticized the suggestion, saying that a P500 Noche Buena would only be feasible if families could somehow “time-travel back to the 1930s.” She asked where such a budget-friendly feast could even be purchased, highlighting the disconnect between the government and the everyday life of Filipinos.

The couple’s comments come as they and their children Mavy and Cassy Legaspi are set to star in the upcoming Christmas-themed film Rekonek, an official entry in the 2025 Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF). Directed by Jade Castro and produced by Reality MM Studios, Rekonek features an ensemble cast including Zoren and Carmina, veteran actress Gloria Diaz and Gerald Anderson. The film explores six stories of Filipinos navigating life without the Internet during the holiday season, focusing on themes of reconnection, family, and the things that truly matter when modern conveniences disappear.

Interestingly, Gloria Diaz disagrees with Zoren and Carmina’s critique of the DTI budget, citing her friendship with Secretary Roque and defending the feasibility of the P500 Noche Buena. 

“She showed me all of DTI’s (meal plan) for P500. You can have corned beef, fruit salad, you can have pineapple juice na dinadagdagan ng maraming yelo, and you can eat pansit,” the veteran actress said. 

Rekonek is scheduled to premiere this month.