Maria Ressa among AAPI trailblazers honored at New York event

Maria Ressa, flanked by ‘The Voice’ winner Sofronio Vasquez, the headliner for the Serica AAPI gala, and Shiela Marcelo (right), co-founder and CEO of Ohai.ai, a company leveraging AI for home management. Photo from sofroniovasquez/Instagram

NEW YORK — Nobel Peace Prize laureate Maria Ressa was recognized as a distinguished trailblazer at the Serica Initiative’s 2025 Trailblazers Conference and Gala, held May 22 at the China Institute in America in New York City.

The event highlighted Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) women leaders and changemakers during AAPI Heritage Month.

Ressa, CEO and co-founder of Rappler, is renowned for her fearless defense of press freedom and her efforts to combat disinformation. She was the first Filipino to receive the Nobel Peace Prize in 2021 and has earned global accolades, including the Golden Pen of Freedom and the Knight International Journalism Award.

Delivering the keynote address, Ressa underscored the vital role of facts in preserving democracy. 

“Without facts, you can’t have truth. Without truth, you can’t have trust. Without these, we have no shared reality and can’t begin to solve problems — climate change included. We can’t have democracy,” she told attendees.

Maria Ressa is honored by the Serica Initiative for her fearless advocacy of press freedom amid authoritarianism and disinformation. Photo from serica.initiative/Instagram

The conference, held during AAPI Heritage Month, celebrated the achievements and contributions of AAPI communities nationwide. New York City Mayor Eric Adams issued a statement honoring the city’s vibrant AAPI communities and reaffirming his commitment to diversity and inclusion.

Other honorees included Dr. James S.C. Chao and Ruth Mulan Chu Chao and family, recognized for their legacy of leadership and philanthropy; AAPI rights advocate Kathy Hirata Chin; and artificial intelligence pioneer Fei-Fei Li, a TIME 100 honoree.

The program featured a performance by Sofronio Vasquez, the first Asian and Filipino winner of “The Voice,” showcasing the growing influence of Filipino talent in music and the arts.

Panels throughout the day addressed topics such as ethical artificial intelligence, next-generation education, healthcare innovation and media representation. 

Attendees included professionals, students and allies from across the country, all focused on empowering AAPI women and building cross-generational connections.

Founded by Tina Wang, the Serica Initiative aims to amplify AAPI voices and foster dialogue and inclusion. The evening concluded with honoree speeches and networking, underscoring the importance of leadership and representation for AAPI communities in America.