Rotary 3830 Peace Award honors journalist, first Filipino Nobel Peace Prize laureate

ROTARY District 3830 Philippines, named Maria Ressa, press freedom advocate and first Filipino Nobel laureate, as its 27th peace awardee. She joins esteemed past recipients, including Miriam Coronel-Ferrer, former ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales, former presidents Corazon Aquino and Fidel Ramos, Jaime Cardinal Sin, and Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle.

The Rotary 3830 Peace Award honors individuals and organizations exemplifying Rotary's commitment to world peace. Ressa is recognized for her unwavering dedication to truth and media freedom despite state intimidation. As Rappler's co-founder and CEO, she endured political harassment and arrests under the Duterte administration.

"In 2017, pro-Duterte and pro-Marcos networks on Facebook trended #ArrestMariaRessa. Two years later, I was arrested. The day before Valentine's, my world turned upside down. I believed in the rule of law. These acts were blatantly unconstitutional," Ressa recalled.

CHAMPIONING MEDIA FREEDOM Maria Ressa (center) receives the Rotary 3830 Peace Award as its 27th honoree. PHOTO FROM ROTARY CLUB

With nearly 40 years in journalism, she has investigated terrorism in Southeast Asia, led CNN's Manila and Jakarta bureaus, and headed ABS-CBN's news group before founding Rappler. She has authored books, including "How to Stand Up to a Dictator."

The award, conferred by Rotary Clubs led by the Rotary Club of Makati San Lorenzo, was presented at the Yuchengco Museum in Makati, a Rotary Peace City since 1999.