Maria Ressa urges Filipino Americans to defend democracy at TOFA Masterclass in Manhattan

Journalist Maria Ressa urged Filipino Americans to defend press freedom, strengthen community ties and challenge the growing influence of technology companies at TOFA Masterclass 2 on 27 October at La MaMa theater in Manhattan. Boy Abunda moderated the conversation, which centred on her book "The Fight Back".

Journalist Maria Ressa urged Filipino Americans to defend press freedom, strengthen community ties and challenge the growing influence of technology companies during TOFA Masterclass 2 on 27 October at La MaMa theater in Manhattan, Tofa News reported. The conversation, moderated by television host Boy Abunda, centred on her book "The Fight Back".

Presented by The Outstanding Filipino Awards, the programme "Maria Ressa: The Fight Back" brought together discussions of journalism, artificial intelligence and civic responsibility. Hazel Sanchez of PIX11 News hosted the evening, Loida Nicolas Lewis delivered special introductions for Abunda and Ressa, and singer Rachel Alejandro performed "Kay Ganda ng Ating Musika".

Ahead of the event, Tofa News reported that the programme was presented by TOFA and La MaMa at the Ellen Stewart Theatre, and that Ressa's book, The Fight Back: A Citizen's Guide to Standing Up to Dictators, was scheduled for release on 13 October. Ressa received the 2021 Nobel Peace Prize and is co-founder and CEO of the Philippine news organisation Rappler.

"Fight for them now"

Ressa said protecting democracy requires citizens to act before their rights are lost, rather than wait for institutions or political leaders to respond. She said:

"You have to fight for them now while you still have them because it takes so much energy and time to claw back your rights."

Abunda guided the discussion through the book's three-part framework of understand, defend and build. Ressa described political power and technological power as mutually reinforcing forces, and said social media systems designed to increase engagement have helped deepen divisions by rewarding content that provokes fear, anger and hate. She also warned against relying on artificial intelligence chatbots for emotional connection and personal judgment. "It's shocking to me now how we are outsourcing our humanity to machines," she said.

Everyday steps

Her recommendations began with everyday choices:

• Track time spent in front of screens.
• Delete an app that collects personal data, preferably one that causes anger.
• Spend more time connecting with people in person.

Ressa drew on Rappler's experience facing legal pressure and online attacks in the Philippines. "The community that is built in real life, that was how we and Rappler survived," she said. Near the end of the conversation, she read an account of her February 2019 arrest in the Rappler newsroom: "Courage isn't the absence of fear," she read. "It's the decision that something matters more."

Organiser Elton Lugay said the TOFA Masterclass series was created to move beyond celebrating achievement and examine the decisions, challenges and experiences behind it. The inaugural masterclass featured fashion designers Josie Natori and Michael Cinco. Sanchez closed the formal discussion by encouraging audience members to carry the conversation into their communities and exercise their right to vote.

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