Thirty-five-year-old Paolo Quitaneg grew up in a family whose hopes and livelihood have always been tied to the sea. For generations, the rich fishing grounds of Scarborough Shoal, locally known as Bajo de Masinloc or Panatag Shoal, off the coast of Zambales, sustained their way of life. In 2012, everything changed when rising geopolitical tensions in the West Philippine Sea led to restrictions on access to the shoal, which Quitaneg once described as a “true paradise.”

Campos, O. V. (2025, June 8). Young fisher builds thriving enterprise. Manila Standard, p. B1.