A screenshot of ACT Teachers Party-list Rep. France Castro’s review of the squid dish (Castro’s X account)

ACT Teachers Party-list Rep. France Castro “reviewed” the pusit (squid) dish that Vice President Sara Duterte missed out on Tuesday, Sept. 10 after the latter snubbed the Office of the Vice President's (OVP) budget hearing.

In an X post on Tuesday, Sep. 10—minutes after the deliberations were terminated—Castro posted a video of her “pusit (squid) review” for her followers.

The meal was served to solons and guests during the Committee on Appropriations hearing.

“Habang hindi dumalo sa sarili niyang budget hearing ang bise presidente na si Sara Duterte, naghain naman ang House of Representatives para sa mga dumalo sa hearing,” she said in the video’s captions.

(While Vice President Sara Duterte did not attend her own budget hearing, the House of Representatives prepared food for those who attended the hearing.)

The teacher-solon said a squid dish and paella negra were waiting for the Vice President.

“Kakatapos lang po ng budget hearing dito sa Office of the Vice President (OVP). Nakita niyo naman binoycott tayo, pero masarap ‘tong lunch ngayon ah”, said Castro.

(The budget hearing just ended here for the Office of the Vice President. You saw that we were boycotted, but today's lunch was delicious.)

Taking a bite on the morsel of squid, Castro cannot help but exclaim, “Ang sarap! (it’s delicious!)”.

“Sana pala mayro’n ding inihaw na pusit (I wish that there waa also grilled squid),” she added.

Duterte and OVP officials skipped Tuesday’s budget deliberations. The Vice President instead sent a letter to the appropriations panel.

During the OVP’s first budget hearing last Aug. 27, the Makabayan bloc member likened Duterte to a squid, which releases ink as a way to escape predators.

In that hearing, the second highest-ranking official of the land deflected questions relating to her controversial use of confidential funds.

Paella negra mainly derives its flavor from squid ink.