The Iraq hostage crisis our country has gone through the past couple of weeks was a very emotional issue for me.  Angelo dela Cruz is a father of 8, and the thought of what his family must have gone through, not knowing whether they would still see him alive, bothered me somewhat.
 
I am no political analyst, and I do not care for Philippine politics at all.  The nation was divided when GMA ordered the pull-out of our troops from Iraq in order to save dela Cruz's life, and as expected, she was not spared from the critical eye and harsh words of Filipinos across the world.  Though many supported this, many raised eyebrows.  For the president, it was a no-win situation.  This decision will undoubtedly have repercussions on our economy, among other things, but regardless of the opinions of many others, I applaud GMA for her gutsy move.  For once, a Filipino was not compromised in the attempt to fix a national crisis.  For once, an innocent masa was prioritized before an international "ally".  For once, the plight of Filipino OFWs all over the world was recognized with more than lip service.
 
A family somewhere in Pampanga will sleep soundly tonight.  They may not care much about financial aid from the US or the war against terrorism, but the life of a loved one was spared, and that to them, is priceless.