The Lord protected me, says last Filipino hostage freed

The Lord protected me.

Thus, said Noralin Agojo Babadilla, the last Filipino hostage in Gaza who was freed by the Hamas after 53 days.

The Philippine Embassy in Israel on Facebook quoted Babadilla as saying that she prayed continuously during her ordeal.

“Ang Panginoon po ang nagsanggalang sa akin doon,” Babadilla said. The embassy said she held the gold crucifix necklace that Hamas didn't take from her.

“Dasal lang po ako ng dasal, pati mga kasama ko ay ipinagdasal ko din,” she added.

(It was the Lord who protected me. I just prayed and prayed. I also prayed for those who were with me.)

Babadilla, or Ate Nora to her friends and loved ones, was among the fourth batch of hostages freed by Hamas from Gaza.

She and her Israeli partner Gideon Babani were visiting a friend in Kibbutz Nirim when Hamas attacked on October 7. 

The gunmen killed Gideon and took Babadilla to Gaza.

After she was released, Babadilla was reunited with her brother in a hospital in Tel Aviv, where she underwent a full medical and psychological evaluation. 

The embassy said Babadilla could not grant interviews "to allow her a few days of private time to rest, recuperate, and spend time with her family."

"The Philippines continues to call for the release of all the hostaged noncombatant civilians who have no part in this conflict—especially women, children, elderly, the sick, and foreign workers," the embassy said. —NB, GMA Integrated News