Paterno R. Esmaquel II

@paterno_II
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About Paterno R. Esmaquel II

Paterno R. Esmaquel II is the news editor of Rappler. He specializes in covering religion and foreign affairs.

Paterno began as a production assistant at Probe Productions Inc, the independent company behind the first investigative news magazine on Philippine TV. He was a researcher, field producer, transcriber, writer, and video editor, all in one.

When Probe ended its 24-year run, he worked as a news producer for GMA News Online, the news website of one of the Philippines’ TV giants.

Paterno joined Rappler in 2012 as one of its first reporters. Since then, he has led coverages including Pope Francis’ trip to the Philippines, been stranded and incommunicado while covering Super Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan) in the Visayas, and produced a series of investigative reports that helped oust the country’s top diplomat.

Paterno obtained a master of arts degree in journalism from the Jesuit-run Ateneo de Manila University, Philippines, in 2015. Five years later, he earned a master of science degree in Asian Studies, focusing on the comparative study of religions in plural societies, at the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies at Nanyang Technological University, Singapore.