Paterno R. Esmaquel II , Author at RAPPLER

About Paterno R. Esmaquel II

Paterno R. Esmaquel II is a senior multimedia reporter covering religion for Rappler.

A journalist for over a decade and a half, Paterno began as a production assistant at Cheche Lazaro’s Probe Productions Inc. At Probe, which pioneered investigative shows in the Philippines in the late 1980s, he learned how to shoot, write, and edit videos of his own television segments.

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 was one of Rappler’s first reporters in 2012 and served as news editor from 2020 to 2023. Before focusing on Rappler’s faith cluster in 2024, he covered foreign affairs and the electoral system alongside religious matters.

On top of his work as a journalist, Paterno is also an educator. He teaches religion reporting and multimedia journalism at the University of Santo Tomas, a pontifical institution run by the Dominicans.

In 2015, under a Konrad Adenauer fellowship, Paterno obtained a master of arts degree in journalism from the Jesuit-run Ateneo de Manila University, Philippines. He finished his undergraduate communication degree and attended high school at the same university.

In 2020, under another full scholarship, 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.