Nearly 17 years after she was separated from her family, Mary Jane Veloso finally returned home to Nueva Ecija on Saturday, where she was met with an emotional embrace from her family members.
Veloso arrived at her family’s home in General Mamerto Natividad at around 5:40 p.m., after leaving Quezon City with her family at about 3:15 p.m.
In a live interview on TV Patrol, she said the long journey left her dizzy and nauseated, but the discomfort quickly faded when she finally saw her loved ones and her home.
‘Hindi po ako iniwan ng pamilya ko’: Mary Jane Veloso spends first day with family after release
"Dahil nga matagal na akong hindi nakakasakay ng sasakyan. Tapos, halos 17 years po akong nawala dito sa pamilya ko. Ang haba ng byahe. Hilong-hilo po ako," Veloso said.
She said she eventually slept through much of the journey.
"Pero lahat naman po iyon napawi dahil ito nga, nandito na ako sa pamilya ko, sa bago naming tirahan. Kasi first time po akong nakarating dito sa amin. Tapos magkakatabi na rin iyong bahay ng kapatid ko, iyong nanay ko," she added.
The first emotional reunion between Veloso and her family took place late Friday night, September 25, when her parents and children traveled from Nueva Ecija to the Correctional Institution for Women in Mandaluyong City, where she had been detained.
Hours after her release, Veloso was reunited with her loved ones before the family traveled back to Nueva Ecija on Saturday, marking her first return to her home province.
After 17 years, Mary Jane Veloso reunites with her family
Veloso said she had longed for ordinary moments with her loved ones, especially caring for her aging parents and spending time with her children, who grew up without her presence.
"Miss na miss ko po sila. Isa sa dahilan kung bakit gusto ko pang makalaya dahil para maalagaan sila, sina nanay at tatay. Bonding po talaga sa family, time po sa family kasi ang daming taon talaga na nawalay ako sa kanila. Iyon talaga ang nami-miss ko. At saka siguro, iyong matulog sa bahay kasama ang pamilya," she said.
Before the trip back to Nueva Ecija, Veloso also spoke about her hopes after her release, particularly for her parents and her two children.
"Palagi kong dinadasal sa Panginoon na sana ay bigyan pa po ako ng pagkakataon na maalagaan ko iyong nanay at tatay ko, magabayan iyong dalawa kong anak, kasi lumaki sila na wala ako sa piling nila. Nagpapasalamat po ako sa Panginoong Diyos dahil ginamit niya si President Bongbong para po matulungan ako," Veloso said.
At their home in General Mamerto Natividad, Veloso was also welcomed with a tarpaulin and a cake prepared by the local government.
"Na-touch nga po ako e. tapos iyong sa picture ko ang ganda ko po doon. Tapos sa cake, ang laki ng cake ko," she said.
Mary Jane Veloso released from prison after Marcos pardon
The Nueva Ecija provincial government and the Department of Migrant Workers accompanied Veloso’s family on their trip to Mandaluyong to bring her home and are coordinating assistance for them.
The Department of Migrant Workers said it is preparing reintegration assistance for Veloso, including livelihood support, business opportunities, training, and upskilling.
"We provide of course iyong tinatawag nating reintegration support. Si Mary Jane ay isang OFW, at isa ito sa mga pinagtutuunan ng pansin, iyong tinatawag nating reintegration. Tuluy-tuloy iyong suporta --- livelihood in terms of business, training and upskilling," DMW Assistant Secretary Francis de Guzman said.