Windows26: Budget critics: Veto still left ‘pork’ intact

January 1, 2024

Happy 2025, reader! Today, we're covering reactions to the 2025 budget veto, California's first Filipina assemblymember's new top leadership role, and a timely DOH reminder to safeguard heart and lung health.

Budget critics: Veto still left 'pork' intact

Former Senate President Franklin Drilon and a former finance official on Tuesday said the vetoes of certain items in the 2025 national budget by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. did not correct flaws in the proposed General Appropriations Act (GAA) and left "pork" largely intact.

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Yearender: Day of reckoning dawns for Duterte drug war

Former President Rodrigo Duterte's war on drugs, which once enjoyed wide support from Congress where his "supermajority" allies either tacitly approved or openly praised it—saw a stark reversal in the year that was.

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Uncharted waters: House tries to extract accountability from Dutertes

The Dutertes, especially the vice president, faced one of their toughest questions in September as the investigation of the House's blue ribbon committee uncovered different anomalies.

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California's first Filipina assemblymember takes on top leadership role

California's first Filipina assemblymember, Jessica Caloza (D-Los Angeles), has been appointed assistant majority whip of the California State Assembly.

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Timely DOH reminder: Keep lungs, heart healthy

The Department of Health (DOH) has reminded the public to keep their heart and lungs healthy amid the holiday festivities following an increase in cases of asthma, strokes and other heart ailments in the past days.

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EDITORIAL: Overcoming adversity in 2025

Just as the snake sheds its skin to renew itself, people can move through this year toward new opportunities as well as personal and spiritual evolution using its wisdom, cunning, and introspection to make what looks like a challenging year into one of transformation and a renewed focus on what is worthy of their energy and time to serve the majority.

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