Ruben Terlou takes a boat trip to Pagasa, a strategic island in the Spratly Archipelago. Pagasa plays a role in the power struggles along the world's busiest shipping lane. While the Chinese Coast Guard is constantly nearby, the Philippine government tries to convince the boatload of journalists that Pagasa is Filipino. In Manila, Ruben investigates Pagasa's role in Philippine maritime history. He meets students Anthony and Christian at a nautical academy. While Anthony has dreamed of a life as a captain from a young age, the choice of Christian seems to have been primarily out of necessity.
