Princeton University graduate Maria Ressa has been a journalist in Asia for more than 30 years. A former CNN's bureau chief in Manila and Jakarta, she co-founded Rappler, now one of the PH leading online news organizations.
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Maria Ressa is the first Filipino recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize, and also the first woman to receive such a prestigious award this year. For Ressa, the award stands for her self-sacrifice risking her life to bring to light corruption and injustice. For Pinoys, the timely award is critical for the country with the upcoming presidential election which Ressa called an "existential moment." And "for all journalists around the world," Ressa said, the award is like "a shot of adrenaline" for all of them who "need help on so many fronts" ... and hope it "allows journalists to do [their] jobs well without fear."
"I congratulate Maria Ressa of the Philippines and Dmitry Muratov of Russia for the much-deserved honor of being named this year's winners of the Nobel Peace Prize. Like so many journalists around the world, Ressa and Muratov have pursued the facts – tirelessly and fearlessly. They have worked to check the abuse of power, expose corruption, and demand transparency ... they have faced constant threats, harassment, and intimidation, legal action ... I, along with people everywhere, am grateful for their groundbreaking work to 'hold the line,' as Ressa so often says." (US President Joe Biden)
"Maria Ressa has not shied away to demonstrate her commitment to facts as the basis for truth and trust in a democracy. Her dedication to journalism, in the face of numerous ongoing legal actions and her conviction, is an inspiration to all who believe in the importance of free and independent journalism. Her work offers hope not only to the people in the Philippines but across South-East Asia and the world." (High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs Josep Borrel)
"Maria Ressa and Dmitry Muratov's Nobel Peace Prize win is a victory not only for independent, critical journalism in the Philippines and Russia but for the fight for justice, accountability, and freedom of expression all over the world." (Secretary-General of Amnesty International Agnes Callamard)
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Maria Ressa, after being convicted under the controversial Philippine Anti-Cybercrime law, was found guilty of "cyber libel" last June 2020. If found guilty also of other charges, she faces up to 60 years in prison. Across the board, Rappler and its officers and staff have faced at least 11 government investigations and court cases: libel, foreign ownership, and tax returns. An attack on press freedom: how Amnesty International and many rights groups around the world have deemed Ressa's conviction and condemned it.
On August 21, 1983, Rebecca Quijano was the first civilian eyewitness of the shooting of Ninoy Aquino on the tarmac of Manila International Airport. A political critic of former President Ferdinand Marcos, Aquino just landed when he was shot in the head while being escorted to a waiting vehicle to transport him to prison.
"Are you sure it was Aquino?" asked reporters rushing toward Rebecca.
"They already killed Aquino; why are you not crying yet?" she replied triggering her "Crying Lady" moniker in news media.
Suddenly, she was pulled backward, before she could say more.
"Don't talk or you'll get hurt," someone said to her.
Rebecca's account was the strongest evidence offered by the prosecution in the investigation of the assassination of Ninoy Aquino by the Agrava Fact-Finding Board Commission. To instill fear among the eyewitnesses, Rebecca was singled out in public as she stepped off the plane.
"[The witnesses] have become convinced it would be unhealthy for them to speak out," said Andres Narvasa, the board's general counsel.
Four other witnesses' appearances were canceled after they recanted their testimonies. After having learned the military was asking questions about her, Rebecca, with her family and friends, got so fearful she decided to keep quiet.
Two ladies. Two periods. One Common Enemy: Fear.
The enemy is fear. We think it is hate; but, it is fear. (Mahatma Gandhi)
The following US newspaper banner speaks volumes
No One In The Philippines Would Air A Documentary
The documentary was "A Thousand Cuts," a chilling film on the repression of journalism and growing disinformation in PH. Premiered in Sundance, the documentary film earned rave reviews and watched in nearly every European nation. Philippa Kowarsky, managing director of international distributor Cinephil, said: "There's a fear in the [PH] air and people don't know how far they can walk, where the line is, where they can endanger their livelihood and their lives." The fear has spawned what Kowarsky called "a culture of silence."
Mahar Mangahas of Social Weather Stations concluded
"Most [Pinoys], from north to south, say it is dangerous for media people to be critical of the administration. Most people, from all walks of life, say the same. In the past two years, [Pinoys] haven't been seeing press freedom."
A Singaporean cartoonist, Leslie Chew, put into thought-provoking words what has been beneath the slick surface of the gleaming
"It is less that they want to sue someone than that they want to send a message to others not to say things – to perpetuate the culture of fear ... They slaughter the chicken to scare the monkeys."
What's bugging the mind of a real Pinoy journalist today each time he or she drafts his critical-of-the-administration piece? Let me hazard (no pun intended) a guess: For this piece, am I ready to end up like Maria Ressa? Oh-oh, I have no Maria Ressa's protection.
Fight and you may die. Run and you'll live – at least a while. And dying in your beds many years from now, would you be willing to trade all the days from this day to that for one chance, just one chance to come back here and tell our enemies that they may take our lives, but they'll never take our freedom?
(William Wallace)
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