Maria Ressa turns emotional during a heartwarming tribute by young student
Maria Ressa teared up during a speech by fourth grade student Emma Orendain at the Nobel Peace Prize laureate’s book signing event for How to Stand Up to a Dictator: The Fight for Our Future.
Speaking to a crowd gathered at the University of the Cordilleras Theater in Baguio City last March 6, Orendain, a student from Brent International School Baguio, paid tribute to one of her inspirations, Ressa.
“When I think about what you've done, it reminds me of the story of the brave characters in Harry Potter. Like you, Harry has been singled out and treated as a little rat. Like you, some tried to silence him. And like you, he didn't give up,” Orendain told Ressa.
She continued her speech likening the journalist to the fictional character, saying she has that “same special strength inside of you,” which is “making sure the truth is not silence.”
The 10-year-old student went on to say that unlike Harry, Ressa’s challenges are “much harder."
“You've been forced to be so strong and brave in your fight in truth, in peace and democracy. But like you said, we don't really know who you are until you're forced to fight for it,” she said.
“Unlike a fictional story, we don't know what's going to happen next. We won't know if everything will work out to the end. All we can do is hold the line,” Orendain continued, prompting the crowd into cheers.
The young student also compared Ressa to American activist Susan D. Anthony, who fought for women’s rights to vote and own property. She believes that Ressa can make a change, too.
Orendain then thanked Ressa for being an inspiration not only to her, but to many others as well, by helping everyone “learn the truth.”
“You've done so much to fight for what is right. What you do matters, especially to the young like me, because it teaches us that truth really does make a better world,” she added.
Orendain expressed her support to the journalist, saying she is proud of her and her accomplishments.
“Like you and because of you, I choose to believe that there is good in the world. And even if it takes seven Harry Potter books, good will win in the end,” she said.
The fourth grader ended her speech by congratulating Ressa for her new book. “I think what the world really needs is a paper, a pen, the truth and more people like you.”
How to Stand Up to a Dictator: The Fight for Our Future is a memoir about Ressa's fight against fascism and the dangers of social media and disinformation. It launched in the Philippines in December 10, 2022.