From E. Linsangan, Ambatali, Ramon, Isabela: Do you have any superstitious beliefs?

No, I don’t believe in any of those beliefs. Prayer is the best mind-altering channel. – Jonette Joy Wenceslao, General Santos City

As a typical Filipino who grew up and is still residing in a rural setting/place, yes and a lot of them. – Erwin Espinosa, Pangasinan

Good luck, bad luck

Yes, I do. I believe that 13 is an unlucky number and try to avoid anything that has to do with it. Also that five is my lucky number. – Nap Cinco, Rizal

Bad luck comes in threes. – C.K. Yeo, Iloilo City

My mother used to tell me not to sweep the floor at night. Doing so would drive away luck. Ibalik ang swerte. – Jim Veneracion, Naga City

I have a lucky charm: a Spanish silver coin (circa 1800) I found among my loose change. Now if only I can remember where I kept it. – Norberto Robles, Taguig

Yes, I wear my new clothes, shoes and other things for the first time to church. I believe it’s both a blessing and swerte. – Deo Figura, Camarines Sur

I’m not “superstitious” at all. I know the Lord protects me at all times. Besides, my old Taoist Pa Kua never failed me! He he he! – Gerii Calupitan, Mandaluyong City

Whenever our cat cleans himself while facing the door, sooner or later a visitor will arrive. And it really happens. I believe superstitions may bring positive and negative effects in our life. It’s up to us to choose which. – Lydia Reyes, Bataan

Souls of the dead do linger on earth until the 40th day. Believe me, Mama does. – Angelita Severo, Manila

Don’t say aloud any ailment you have not been sick of. All the more it will strike you. – Eddie Yap, Kabankalan City

 Foreboding

For me, a flying butterfly inside your house is a sign that a relative or friend had just passed away. – Edwin Castillo, Tanauan City

Why, my day is spiced with superstitious round-the-clock, and there just so many. The best to note is partaking platefuls of whatever’s on the table to all departed relatives. We call it “atang” or “sagda”. And yes, cats have nine lives, so beware. – Imee Aglibot, Rizal

Yes, I still believe in spiritual beings, not necessarily ghosts. I fear them, though. – Kennard Sychingping, Manila

Yes, I believe in sukob, usog and bangungot and I believe also in good and bad spirits. – Ricardo Tolentino, Laoag City

Superstitious beliefs are true. Howling of dogs at night and moaning indicate that someone will die. It’s true. My sister died that morning. – Nene Biason, Las Piñas City

 Law of karma

When you don’t take care of your aging parents, your children won’t take care of you in your old age. – Nina Say, Zamboanga City

I believe in karma. If we sow goodness, we will reap goodness; if we sow evil, we will reap evil. A person may escape the law of man but he can’t escape the universal principle of cause and effect, action and reaction that governs all life. - Robert Jr. Young, San Juan

The only superstitious belief I have is when an employee’s 13th month pay is not given, which will cause the employer to reap kamalasan 13 times or even more. – Diony Yap, Bacolod City

I don’t have any superstitious belief, but I believe in karma. – T. Sanez, Cavite

 Baseless

I don’t have any superstitious beliefs. To me, they are just myths without proven scientific facts. Good for entertainment only. – Rey Ibalan, Antipolo City

So many to mention but none of those have been proven true. – Popong Tenazas, Quezon City

It’s simply illogical to believe in superstition. As Webster says, “It’s a notion maintained despite evidence to the contrary.” – Rodolfo Capili, Caloocan City

No, I don’t have any for I don’t believe in one. It’s baseless, senseless and scientifically not proven. – Durbin Rantael, Quezon City

Although it is part of a people’s culture, superstitions belong to the past, in the time of our forefathers when man was not yet as learned as he is today. For me, anything that is not based on logic I do not believe. Superstitions belong to this category. Hence, I do not have any. - Enrique Labayen, National Capital Region

  In God we trust

I don’t have superstitious beliefs. For me, faith in God is what counts. – Pat Miranda, Marikina

As a boy growing in a barrio, I learned so many superstitious beliefs (a church elder even told me to bite my tongue to drive away evil spirits when I got scared of ghosts). My Bible-reading Inang, however, taught me to trust God and He will take care of me all the way. Before I finished elementary grade, I put those beliefs behind me and never looked back. – Germi Sison, Cabanatuan City

None, it is the Lord who directs my life. – Rolly Dar Juan, Parañaque City

I do my best not to believe in any superstitious belief as I always leave my fate to the grace, mercy, and power of our loving God. – Juan Deveraturda, Zambales

No, because believing in superstitions is a sin against the first commandment of God. – Jett Avinante, Cavite

Sometimes, but I don’t take seriously. As a Catholic, superstitions are a no-no. It’s in the Bible. – Ella Arenas, Pangasinan

None, superstitious beliefs are unscriptural. – Gerry del Cano, Tarlac

Superstitious beliefs derail one’s track of faith in God. He alone knows everything, and so knows the fate and destiny of each and every one of His own divine creation. – Ludwig Aguinaldo, Digos City

Everything we need to know on how we should conduct our lives on earth is in the Bible and, no, belief in superstition is not one of them. – Manuel Abejero, Pangasinan

I don’t have any. I’m a firm believer in God and as such, I don’t believe in bad luck. Superstitious beliefs are only a state of mind. – Leonard Villa, Laoag City

Superstitions are products of a negative mind. Why things happen is the Almighty’s will. My faith is my shield from any eventuality. – Cris Rivera, Rizal

Superstitious beliefs are products of our worries, fears and anxiety about the future. We must only depend on our God Almighty. – Dr. Ramirez, La Union

I am 45 years old and in my younger years I believed in superstitions. But all this has changed, having traveled extensively and having been exposed to different cultures plus the fact that I now believe firmly in God. Superstitions are nothing but baseless thoughts. If something happens badly, I believe that it is just a consequence or it was of my own doing. – Botchok delos Santos, Manila

 Based on experience

Kapag kumati ang palad mo, may perang darating. I wait but nothing comes, so I just wash my hand when it gets itchy. – Ed Alawi, Davao City

As a kid, I loved singing while tending to a pot of rice being cooked. My elders admonished me not to do so as I’d marry a widow. Luckily, I married, not a widow, but my high school teacher in a parish of my priest mentor. – William Gonzaga, Marikina City

I don’t believe in superstitions. It doesn’t bother me when a black cat crosses my path as I walk down the street. What bothers me is when I see stray cats enter our lawn for they will sure as hell turn my mom’s garden into a toilet. – Jun Totanes, Parañaque City

I was just wondering why big buildings don’t have a 13th floor. – Darwin Fonte, Ifugao

I’m no complete believer in superstitions. I tried to defy some before and thank God no harm happened. – Ching Gaspar, Laoag City

The great seal of the US has 13 stars, 13 clouds, 13 arrows, 13 letters in the motto and 13 leaves. If 13 is a bad number, America should be a land of disaster and hopelessness. – Ryan Pahimulin, Rizal

 A thing of the past

I had a belief in my childhood day, that there was an aswang man-like acacia tree, like in the movie, The Lord of the Rings. – Vic Alim, Caloocan City

I used to believe in superstitions because of my grandparents, but now I don’t anymore. Puro kalokohan lang pala pinagsasabi nila. – J. Arquiza, Parañaque City

Superstitions are things of the past. We are now in a modern age and I only believe in God. – Fortunato Aguirre, Bulacan

As years passed, life got too busy and all my superstitious beliefs were all thrown out the window. My eyes are now more open to the power of God Almighty. Superstitions were only handed down to us by our “ninuno” for reasons unknown to us. – Rose Leobrera, Manila

 Life goes on

We Filipinos have too many superstitions. I won’t live a normal life if I believe in all of them. – Dr. Manolo Cristi, Quezon City

Just like others, I do, but I don’t take them seriously as to influence how I carry on life. – Justo Cammayo, Isabela

I’m superstitious about superstitious beliefs. Entertaining them would unwittingly make me an adherent of ignorance. – Renato Taylan, Ilocos Norte

Well, none, but for me to have a pleasant day, I always take a bath everyday. Hope this can pass as a superstition, he he. – Wendell Wisco, Ilocos Norte

My mind tells me not to believe in superstitions, but my heart pushes me towards them. – C. Galvez, Rizal

I don’t believe in superstitious beliefs as these have no positive effect on one’s life. Que sera sera, whatever will be, will be. – Johann Lucas, Quezon City

 None

Me? Superstitious belief? None, underlined 10 times. – Ernesto Rañeses, Camarines Norte

No, I don’t believe in superstitions. - Joseph Corpuz, Laguna

 To each his own

None, but I’ll not argue nor debate on others’ beliefs as part of maximum tolerance, freedom, freedom, freedom! – Romeo Caubat, Masbate

I don’t believe in superstition, but to be at peace with those who believe, I avoid talking against it. Sometimes I imitate their practices so as not to appear antagonistic, especially in the presence of lolas and lolos. – I. Calata, Parañaque City

Sweet revenge

Dancing naked on the graves of my enemies will increase my happiness. – Voz Butuyan, Pangasinan

Better safe than sorry

Yes, I believe, for up to this day, accidents, serious or not, have not befallen on this believer. – Manny Gamo Sr., Las Piñas City

Sometimes I believe in superstition because, as they say, you do not have anything to lose if you follow what others do. – Nonoy Gahol, Davao City

I don’t have any, but I don’t see anything wrong in following traditional advice from elders. – Leandro Tolentino, Batangas City

I should not believe superstitions but sometimes I respect some of our elders’ beliefs. Wala namang masama at mawawala. – Ric Vergara, Calamba

I have reservations on superstitious beliefs but there’s no harm in following them. – C. Manalastas, Manila

Political context

Yes, I believe in “ghost” employees in all government offices. – Leo Balanlay, Quezon City

Didn’t have any superstitious beliefs until I understood politics in this country. Ang dami palang kababalaghan. – Jun Cajucom, Tacloban City

THINKING OUT LOUD

It’s now for real in Basilan and Sulu. Kailan naman kaya ang mga komunista sa Luzon? – Loi Castillo, Davao City

Now that the public is wary and cautious about products made in China, the BFAD or DTI should be on the guard for Chinese products that would be passed off or made to appear as “made elsewhere”. – Jun Totañes, Parañaque City

Why is it only relatives of Marines who died in Basilan that were given monetary aid by Erap? What about the army soldiers who died? – V. Cantara, Parañaque City

THE WAY I SEE IT

The antics and electoral success of Mr. Trillanes will ensure a future full of opportunistic military mutineers. – Andy Tan, Manila

Sen. Lapid must realize in the first place that he should not be in the Senate, knowing he can’t communicate in English. – Joel Caluag, Bulacan

Former Sen. Eddie Elarde’s doomsday day warning is an overture to his radio program ‘Kahapon Lamang’. – Dr. Hiram Tiburcio, Lapulapu City

Gretchen Manalad and W. Cabanlit should pursue their case against Bong Alvarez. Dapat magdusa siya sa kulungan. – Mike Manalastas, Manila

REACTIONS

Cito Beltran’s ‘The Filipino must be worth dying for himself’, should be posted on every bulletin board in the country. – T. Riva, Quezon City

To Sheldon Calupitan: I salute you. Like my daughter who’s still clinging to her clavicle, she prefers to celebrate her 18th birthday by doing civic work. – Imee Aglibot, Rizal

Views expressed in this section do not necessarily reflect the editorial position of The STAR. The STAR does not knowingly publish false information and may not be held liable for the views of readers exercising their right to free expression. The publication also reserves the right to edit contributions to this section as it sees fit.

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