Daven Tamayo

Article (news)

Dennis Datu

ABS-CBN News

<p>LAGUNA — The local government’s plan to distribute Noche Buena Christmas gift packages to about 84,000 families in San Pablo City, Laguna has led to a clash between the mayor and the vice mayor that is now being dubbed the “Noche Buena War.”</p><p>During Monday’s flag-raising ceremony, Mayor Arcadio “Najie” Gapangada Jr. criticized members of the Sangguniang Panglungsod, including Vice Mayor Justin Colago, for refusing to approve his request for P45 million for the Noche Buena packages.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/business/2025/11/28/dti-says-p500-basic-noche-buena-budget-depends-on-family-size-1653"><strong>DTI says P500 &#x27;basic&#x27; Noche Buena budget depends on family size</strong></a></div><p>“Mahalaga po na yun ay mapayagan na ng ating Sangguniang Panglungsod dahil kapag natagal nang natagal yan ibig sabihin nadedelay nang nadedelay ang papasko natin sa ating mga kababayan” Gapangada said.</p><p>(It is important that the city council approves this because the longer it takes, the more delayed our Christman gift to our constituents will be)</p><p>The mayor had requested the council as early as October 21 to allow him to use P45 million that he said came from the local government’s savings.</p><p>However, the Sangguniang Panglungsod only approved a budget of P14.9 million.</p><p>The mayor said the P14.9 million would hardly be enough for the 84,000 families in San Pablo.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>&#x27;RELEASE OF FUNDS NOT THAT SIMPLE&#x27;</strong></div><p>Vice Mayor Colago explained to ABS-CBN News that the council approved only P14.9 million because that is what can be legally sourced from the general fund.</p><p>The remainder of more than P30 million would come from the city&#x27;s Gender and Development Program and cannot be easily released.</p><p>The vice mayor, who is also presiding officer of the council, said that GAD has guidelines for what the money can be used for and distributing Christmas gifts is not among the allowed expenses.</p><p>“Kailangan po sa seminar gagamitin, trainings, kami naman po ay may legal team, kami po ay nagbabase rin sa legal team natin,&quot; he said.</p><p>(The money can only be used for seminars, training. We have a legal team and we are basing this on their advice)</p><p>He said the Department of the Interior and Local Government will have to weigh in on the plan to use the money for Christmas gifts.   </p><p>“Sa Gender And Development program ang mga benepisyaryo po nito dapat yun po talagang tinatawag na mga indigent, mga single parent, so mayroon po talagang description para doon, hindi po lahat ay puwede doon,” added Colago.</p><p>(The beneficiariesof the Gender and Development program must be indigents, solo parents. Not everyone can qualify for that)</p><p>But Mayor Gapangada insisted that GAD officials had already authorized the use of the funds for the Noche Buena packages.</p><p>“Inassemble na namin and they came up already with a resolution na talagang pinapayagan na tayo ay mag avail ng pondo,” the mayor said.</p><p>(We held an assembly and they came up with a resolution to allow us to use the funds)</p><p>Mayor Gapangada believes he is being politically targeted by Vice Mayor Colago and the majority of councilors because they do not belong to the same political party.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/business/2025/11/10/some-ham-queso-de-bola-prices-down-in-noche-buena-price-guide-1255"><strong>Some ham, queso de bola prices down in Noche Buena price guide</strong></a></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>USAGE OF FUNDS</strong></div><p>Vice Mayor Colago denied the accusations, stressing they are merely ensuring the proper and lawful use of public funds.</p><p>“Nandoon po tayo sa proseso, tayo po ay sumusunod sa rule of law lalo na po sa due process” Colago said.</p><p>(We are following the process. We are folowing the rule of law and due process)</p><p>Despite the reduced budget, Mayor Gapangada said the distribution of Noche Buena packages will push through, but only indigent families will be prioritized based on the limited approved funding.</p><p>This is the first time the local government of San Pablo City launched a program to distribute Christmas gifts, prompting excitement among residents after hearing about it.</p><p>However, that excitement quickly turned into disappointment after learning that not everyone may receive the P500 Noche Buena package, following the Sangguniang Panglungsod’s decision not to approve the entire P45 million pesos budget requested by Mayor Gapangada.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>DISAPPOINTED RESIDENTS</strong></div><p>Residents are now appealing to Vice Mayor Colago to allow the release of the mayor’s proposed budget.</p><p>“Dapat naman ho ay makiisa siya, ngayon lamang namin madadanasan yung mga bagay na yan sa tagal-tagal na ako ay 82 anyos na, dito na ako tumanda, hindi naman ho nangyayari yan eh “ said Letty Quinay of Barangay San Gabriel.</p><p>(He should go along with it. This is the first time that this will be done in my 82 years here)</p><p>For Rosalinda Abonete, another senior citizen with no source of income, the Noche Buena package would be a significant help.</p><p>“Mahalaga po kasi kagaya namin mahirap lang kami, masaya po kung magkaka-Noche Buena kasi kailangan po ng tao “ she said.</p><p>(It is important for the poor like me. We would be happy if we can celebrate with Noche Buena)</p>

<p>The local government’s plan to distribute Noche Buena Christmas gift packages to about 84,000 families in San Pablo City, Laguna has been the root of an clash between the mayor and the vice mayor — now being dubbed the “Noche Buena War.”</p>

The local government’s plan to distribute Noche Buena Christmas gift packages to about 84,000 families in San Pablo City, Laguna has been the root of an clash between the mayor and the vice mayor — now being dubbed the “Noche Buena War.”

'Noche Buena war': San Pablo City mayor, vice clash over Christmas gift funds

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'Noche Buena war': San Pablo City mayor, vice clash over Christmas gift funds

Dennis Datu,

ABS-CBN News

Published December 03, 2025 03:25 PM PHT

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Updated December 03, 2025 09:06 PM PHT

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Laguna

Local government

Christmas

Noche Buena

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Noche Buena War

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