Road to Fifty Reflections: Day 75

“But to recommend thrift to the poor is both grotesque and insulting. It is like advising a man who is starving to eat less.” ~ Oscar Wilde

This was a quote I heard from my brother yesterday after hearing the public discussions on DTI’s proposed five-hundred-peso Noche Buena. The reactions were immediate... many saw the amount as impractical, while others viewed it as dismissive of families who work hard and hope to prepare a proper meal for Christmas.

Yet the issue extends beyond a single recommendation. A similar “five-hundred-peso mentality” appears in everyday settings.. in workplaces where employees are paid below fair standards, in the absence of incentives despite steady performance and in the general lowering of expectations placed on the poor. These patterns diminish not only economic well-being but also BASIC dignity.

There is also a tendency to judge how others spend, whether on simple comforts or occasional indulgences, while some rely on donated meals for anything beyond the bare essentials. These comparisons do little to promote understanding and instead reinforce long-standing disparities.

ADVENT offers an opportunity to pause and reconsider these habits. Our faith calls us to uphold fairness, respect and the inherent WORTH of every person. Preparation for the season is not limited to celebrations. It includes reviewing how we treat others and whether our actions reflect justice and generosity.

The central question is not the cost of a Noche Buena. It is whether we consistently recognize and protect the dignity of those around us... through equitable treatment, responsible leadership and a commitment to the common good. 

THAT is the kind of preparation that gives substance to this season.