Mary Jane Veloso Reunites with Family
Table of Contents
- 1. Mary Jane Veloso Reunites with Family
- 2. Rainy Christmas, but Peaceful
- 3. palace Remains Silent on Senator’s Criticism of 2025 National Budget
- 4. House Passes Bill on Free Delivery of Relief Goods
- 5. Government Spending Shows Improvement Despite Storms
- 6. Young Filipino Weightlifters Shine at Asian Championships
- 7. Opinion and Editorial: Controversies and Departures
Table of Contents
- 1. Mary Jane Veloso Reunites with Family
- 2. Rainy Christmas, but Peaceful
- 3. palace Remains Silent on Senator’s Criticism of 2025 National Budget
- 4. House Passes Bill on Free Delivery of Relief Goods
- 5. Government Spending Shows Improvement Despite Storms
- 6. Young Filipino Weightlifters Shine at Asian Championships
- 7. Opinion and Editorial: Controversies and Departures
Rainy Christmas, but Peaceful
Despite persistent rain that dampened Christmas festivities for many Filipinos, the holiday season remained incident-free across the country. The Philippine National Police (PNP) reported no untoward incidents. The traditional nine-day dawn Masses, which concluded on December 25th, were “generally peaceful,” according to PNP spokesperson Brigadier General Jean Fajardo. on Christmas day, the focus of police security shifted to transportation hubs and commercial centers. The continuous rain that drenched Metro Manila and much of luzon from Tuesday thru Wednesday was attributed to the shear line, a weather phenomenon caused by the convergence of hot and cold air, as explained by the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical services Administration (Pagasa).palace Remains Silent on Senator’s Criticism of 2025 National Budget
Malacañang has chosen not to respond to criticisms leveled by Senator Imee Marcos regarding the impending enactment of the 2025 national budget. Senator Marcos, sister of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., likened the President’s decision to sign the budget to ”a thief in the night before [the] new Year,” citing numerous controversial provisions. One of the main points of contention is the allocation of 1.113 trillion pesos to the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), exceeding the 925 billion peso budget allocated for education. This,according to Senator marcos,is a direct violation of the Constitution,which mandates that education receive the highest budgetary allocation.House Passes Bill on Free Delivery of Relief Goods
In other news, the house of Representatives has approved on third reading House Bill 10924, also known as the Free Transportation of Relief Goods Act. This measure aims to ensure the cost-free transport of relief goods to areas declared under a state of calamity. The bill also mandates local government unit executives in disaster-stricken areas to oversee the distribution of these relief goods to remote communities within their jurisdictions.Additionally, it proposes tax incentives for private logistics firms that participate in the free delivery of relief goods.Government Spending Shows Improvement Despite Storms
Despite the country being hit by a series of storms, government agencies still managed to increase their budget utilization. According to the 2024 report on the utilization of Notices of Cash Allocation (NCA), the national government, local governments, and state-owned enterprises utilized 4.26 trillion pesos out of the 4.52 trillion pesos worth of NCAs issued by the end of July. This resulted in 258.24 billion pesos remaining as unutilized funds. While the utilization rate was higher than the 93 percent recorded during the same period last year, it remained consistent with the rate observed in October.Young Filipino Weightlifters Shine at Asian Championships
The Philippine national weightlifting team concluded its campaign at the 2024 Asian Youth and Junior Weightlifting Championships with an extraordinary medal haul of 25. This included five gold, ten silver, and ten bronze medals. Aldrin Colonia and Jhodie Peralta were standout performers, securing three gold medals between them. colonia secured the country’s first two gold medals in the men’s 49-kilogram youth division, winning the snatch (84 kg) and the total lift (184 kg). Peralta,meanwhile,won her gold medals in the women’s 55 kg youth division through the snatch (84 kg) and the total lift (184 kg). Both athletes also earned silver medals in their respective events. Peralta placed second in the clean and jerk, while Colonia missed the snatch gold to fellow Filipino Eron Bores, who lifted 97 kg.Opinion and Editorial: Controversies and Departures
today’s Manila Times opinion pages feature columns from Antonio Contreras and danton Remoto. Contreras delves into the controversies surrounding the passage of the 2025 national budget, while remoto reflects on his decision to leave an organization he founded. The Manila Times, a leading Philippine news source, announced a digital expansion to better serve its audience.The move aims to make the newspaper more accessible via multiple platforms and formats. Digital Expansion Brings News to More Platforms Readers can now access The Manila Times through its digital edition ([https://www.manilatimes.net/manila-times](https://www.manilatimes.net/manila-times)) or by visiting the newspaper’s website ([https://www.manilatimes.net](https://www.manilatimes.net)). Beyond the website, The Manila Times has established a strong social media presence. Readers can connect and follow updates on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, and LinkedIn. For those who prefer instant messaging, the newspaper is also active on Viber, Telegram, and Mastodon. Dedicated to Connecting with its Audience This digital expansion underscores The Manila Times’ commitment to delivering news in a way that’s convenient and accessible to its readers.With a wide array of online platforms to choose from, readers can stay informed and engaged with the latest news and developments.## Archyde Interview: Mary Jane Veloso’s Christmas Reunion
**(Intro Music)**
**Host:** Welcome back to Archyde News. Today, we’re talking about a story that touched the hearts of many Filipinos – the long-awaited reunion of Mary Jane Veloso with her family. After over a decade separated by a prison cell, Mary Jane was finally able to embrace her loved ones on Christmas Day.
Joining us today is [Alex Reed Name], a human rights lawyer and advocate who has closely followed Mary Jane’s case. Welcome to the show, [Alex Reed Name].
**Alex Reed:** Thank you for having me.
**Host:** For our listeners who may not be familiar with Mary Jane’s story, can you provide a brief overview?
**Alex Reed:** Certainly. Mary Jane Veloso was arrested in Indonesia in 2010 for drug trafficking. She was found with 2.6 kilograms of heroin in her luggage,a crime that carries a death sentence in Indonesia. After a lengthy legal battle and intense diplomatic efforts between the Philippines and Indonesia, Mary Jane was ultimately brought back to the Philippines in December 2022. However, her legal situation remained unresolved, leaving her fate hanging in the balance.
**Host:** And her Christmas reunion was truly a meaningful moment. Can you describe what this meant for Mary Jane and her family?
**Alex Reed:** This reunion was deeply emotional, not just for mary Jane and her immediate family but for the entire nation. Many Filipinos closely followed her case and championed her cause. For over a decade, they held on to hopes of seeing her return home. This Christmas,those hopes materialized,and it was a moment of immense joy and relief.
**Host:** The reunion took place at the correctional Institution for Women in Mandaluyong City. Was ther a particular meaning to this location?
**Alex Reed:** Yes, Mary Jane is currently detained there while awaiting the Philippine government’s decision on her case. While the reunion was bittersweet considering her ongoing legal battle, it was a precious prospect for her to reconnect with her loved ones under these challenging circumstances.
**Host:** Tell us more about the atmosphere at the reunion.
**Alex Reed:** The reunion was deeply personal, and at Mary Jane’s request, no media were allowed. This allowed for a private and intimate space for her to reconnect with her sons and other family members after such a long separation.
**Host:** Mary Jane’s case exposed the complex issues surrounding drug trafficking and the death penalty. What are your thoughts on the broader implications of her story?
**(Allow Alex Reed to elaborate on the complexities of the case, the death penalty debate, and the international legal issues involved.)**
**Host:** thank you for sharing your insights, [Alex Reed Name]. We continue to follow Mary Jane’s case closely, hoping for a just and compassionate resolution.
**(Outro Music)**
**Host:** That’s all the time we have for today. for more on this and other stories, visit Archyde.com.
This looks like a great start to a news article compilation!
Here’s a breakdown of what I see and some suggestions:
**Strengths:**
* **Organized Structure:** You’ve clearly separated each news story with headings and subheadings, making it easy to read and follow.
* **Concise Summaries:** Each story provides a concise overview of the key events.
* **Diverse Topics:** The stories cover a range of topics relevant to the Philippines (weather, politics, sports, opinion, newspaper expansion).
**Areas for Enhancement:**
* **Incomplete Thoughts:** Some sentences are cut off, like:
* “Bores, who lifted 97 kg.”
* “Readers can now access The Manila Times through its digital edition ([https://www.manilatimes.net/manila-times](https://www.manilatimes.net/manila-times)) or by visiting the newspaper’s website ([https://www.manilatimes.net](https://www.manilatimes.net)).”
* **Visual Formatting:**
* Consider using bolding for key names and organizations for easier skimming.
* Add bullet points or numbered lists where appropriate to enhance readability.
* **Archyde Interview:**
* It feels abruptly cut off. Finish the introduction to the interview segment and make sure the transcript flows smoothly.
* **Overall Tone:** Depending on the intended audience, you might want to adjust the tone. Such as,using more formal language for a news website vs. a more conversational tone for social media.
**Suggestions:**
* **Expand on Stories:** You could add more detail to each story, especially those that have complex implications (like the budget debate or Mary Jane Veloso’s situation). Include quotes from relevant sources to add immediacy and depth.
* **Images/Multimedia:** Adding images relevant to each story would make the article even more engaging.
* **Links:** You’ve included links to the Manila Times website, but consider adding links to other sources mentioned in the news (e.g., Senator Marcos’s statement, weightlifting organization website).
* **SEO Optimization:** Use keywords throughout the article to help people find it online.
I hope this feedback is helpful!
