NOBEL Peace Prize winner and Rappler Chief Executive Officer Maria Ressa will be the speaker at the graduation rites of the Ateneo de Manila University, a school official said.

The commencement exercises of Ateneo’s Class 2023 will be held on June 30 with the theme “Tugon sa panahon: mangahas, manalig, at manindigan para sa katotohanan.”

“We hope that our graduates will be inspired by Ms. Ressa’s courage and commitment to pursuing truth, justice, and freedom,” Dr. Maria Luz C. Vilches, vice president for the Loyola Schools, said.

Last year, the Ateneo de Manila Board of Trustees resolved to confer the Doctor of Philosophy in Sociology, honoris causa, on Ressa.

The honorary degree will be presented to Ressa during the commencement rites. The Rappler CEO will give her speech after the conferment ceremony.

In 2021, the Nobel Peace Prize was awarded to Ressa and Russian journalist Dmitry Muratov.