Master of his fate, captain of his soul

Lilibeth Frondoso

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A Filipino captain shows courage in the face of China's bullying

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On All Saints’ Day, Rappler reporter JC Gotinga came out with an exclusive. It’s a gripping, blow-by-blow tale of a ship captain and his crew standing up to the Chinese Coast Guard and a “warship” near the Scarborough shoal.

Must watch: I won’t say more – it’s a story best told through video.

Poetry in adversity: Listening to Captain Manolo Ebora tell his story, the romantic side of me is reminded of the poem “Invictus” by William Ernest Henley, with the immortal lines, “I am the master of my fate, I am the captain of my soul.”

Why it matters: The political side of me, however, is struck by the boldness of the declaration made by the Chinese Coast Guard: “This area is under the jurisdiction of Chinese government. You should keep away from this area.”

My take-away. I tend to remember little things from video – trembling hands, a steely stare, a grating voice. One thing grabs me in this video: that voice on the radio in pretty good Chinese-accented English – the voice of a bully.


Undas (All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day) is a visual treat, from the borrowed western tradition of Halloween to the candles and flowers on tombstones. Watch.

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Defying a ban on face coverings, activists donned Halloween masks lampooning the city’s pro-Beijing leaders. The march typically ends in clashes with the police.


Day of the Dead. It’s a testament to our respect for tradition and our loved ones: the yearly visit to the cemetery is crowded, noisy, and bereft of solemnity.

Rappler tries to capture the real spirit and poetry of Undas in these images. Video taken at the Manila South Cemetery.


Candles and shadows. Bathed in candlelight, the grave sites transform into solemn, mysterious places at night. Even the crowds turn into eerie, moving shadows.

Shot at the Eternal Covenant Memorial Park in Floridablanca, Pampanga.


‘Judgement Day’ chapel. Do you believe in hell? Does the idea of eternal damnation spur you to live a pious life?

This chapel in Negros Occidental gives us a glimpse of the after-life in images of an angry Jesus, tormented souls in purgatory, and an all-seeing eye.


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Vaping. Tobacco cessation expert and pulmonologist Maricar Limpin is among health professionals pushing for a ban on e-cigarettes in the country.


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Lilibeth Frondoso

She currently heads Multimedia Strategy and Growth in Rappler.