Ressa Peace Prize? What a dynamite in Nobel's face!

I was farting the whole night from laughing the whole day upon learning that our own (tragically) and the USA's (benevolently) Maria Ressa had been awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. According to the Nobel Committee, "Ressa used freedom of expression to expose abuse of power, use of violence and growing authoritarianism in her native country." Ha ha ha. Maria Ressa doing all that and the venerable Nobel believing her? Ha ha ha.

But here is one not laughing, netizen Agui Chai: "Do we deserve this? 317 nominees, World Health Organization and other health organizations were among the nominees for the award because of services and research against this pandemic, the Black Lives Matter movement, environment advocate Greta Thunberg, US president Biden, South Korea president Mun Je In, etc. etc. who gave significant contributions were not chosen.

"What did she significantly do to change the world?," Agui Chai asked. But because Agui Chai is probably not a real name, I will provide the answer: Nothing. To me, all that Maria Ressa did was to try and impose the will of a small, elitist, arrogant and all-knowing sector of the Philippine press on a duly-elected government, thinking it can do a better job at governance.

But the press in the Philippines, with hundreds of other newspapers, radio, and TV stations and online portals that far outnumber Maria Ressa and her clique, did not report the Philippine situation the way they did. These other media outlets were more objective, factual, professional. Did the Nobel Committee even bother to fact-check with them, or did it just swallow Maria Ressa hook, line and sinker? What a laugh.

What is even funnier is that I think this is all a part of a growing global conspiracy instigated by the United States against China. If you think this is far out and I am going nuts, look at how the US dropped its oldest ally France in favor of Australia because Australia is in the Chinese neighborhood and can help America patrol the Indo-Pacific sphere.

The US will stop at nothing to promote and protect its interests. President Rodrigo Duterte has dismayed America by sidling up to China. America, blinded by its own interests, cannot see or refuses to see that Duterte is just trying to get the best out of a very difficult situation for his country as far as competing claims in the South China Sea is concerned.

Maria Ressa, conveniently Filipino-American, has been demonizing Duterte with reportage about the Philippines that leaves much to be desired. The country is not going up in flames. Nor is it being ground under the heels of a dictatorial boot. In fact, free elections are to be held in a few months’ time with 97 people running for president. I do not know about Nobel, but that does not seem to be a situation that gives Maria Ressa credence.

And that is precisely the point. A Nobel Peace Prize for Maria Ressa lends credence to her Philippine reportage, not because she is Maria Ressa but because it is the Nobel Prize. Duterte is standing down. He has officially announced his retirement from office. But his demonization must continue as a warning to the next president who might be tempted to also pursue a foreign policy independent of the United States.

Was Nobel influenced by the US? I do not know. But the prize comes too close for comfort to recent moves by International Criminal Court to initiate proceedings against Duterte, seven months before the Philippine presidential elections. By the way, the Nobel Peace Prize for this year comes with more than $1,135,000. Neat. The US is happy. Maria Ressa is proud. But Nobel? Ha ha ha. Poor Nobel.