Is there life after death?

On All Soul’s Day, we set aside time to remember our dead relatives and friends and visit them in the cemetery. This week, I thought it would be a good idea to find out how people want to be remembered after death.

After the terrorist attacks in New York City and Washington D.C., a lot of us realized that death comes when we least expect it. I asked a few friends about their thoughts on death. I discovered that most people aren’t comfortable talking about the topic.

I decided to ask an "easier" question: Do you believe in life after death?

I believe that how we live our life today will determine our life in the hereafter. Yes, I believe there is life after death. I am also afraid of dying. But my strong faith in God gives me the strength to face life – and death.

Here’s what my other friends say:

Justice Undersecretary MANUEL TEEHANKEE: Yes, life after death merely affirms our belief in the indestructibility of the human spirit and the temporary nature of our sojourn on earth.

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CHINA COJUANGCO, print model, Kamiseta: I believe in life after death. I believe every person has a soul and I also believe in reincarnation. You can be reborn as anything – like a pet or even a plant. If I were to be reincarnated I would like to be a rose or a butterfly.

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AMANDA GRIFFIN, ramp and commercial model: I don‘t believe that everything ends when we die. I believe in something but I’m not quite sure what – if it’s reincarnation or whatever – but I do believe that after we die, we move on to a better place.

HENRI CALAYAG, stylist: I believe in life after death and reincarnation. It makes sense for us to experience all the stages in life. So that in the end, we have a better understanding and appreciation of life, and we can be thankful for what we have now.

TINTIN BERSOLA, TV host: I believe in life after death and after our passing on earth, I think I’ll go to heaven and transform into an angel! Ha, ha, ha! Someone once told me that Julius Babao and I were ill-fated lovers in a past life, and that we died during a war. Romantic, di ba? This is my third life cycle na daw and I believe it. So in my next life, I think I’ll be a queen. And hopefully Julius will be my king!

GERRY KATIGBAK, designer: Definitely, I believe there is life after death. If not, I might as well be very bad. I may be a radical designer, I may be a non-conformist, but actually I’m still very conservative when it comes to religion. I think that after death, we will be judged– whether we were good or bad. Life is just a trial. And the life after death is what we call everlasting life. If this is the case, I might as well behave so that I will get a reward after death.

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SARI YAP, editor, Mega magazine: I believe in heaven, hell and purgatory. Aside from being Catholic, I find it very encouraging to know that suffering on earth can have meaning (they can help you earn heaven) and that evil is punished and the good, rewarded. Also, all of us somehow want to live forever. I think it's because we all feel our souls are immortal.

FRANCO LAUREL, TV host: After death, we either go to heaven or hell. Heaven means eternal life with God. This is very beautiful because we will be in the same place with our Lord. This is why, right now, we try to live a good life and live the way God wants us to live so that in the end we can be with him. I don’t believe in reincarnation. There is no such thing.

VINA MORALES, actress: I believe that I have a soul and after I die there’s another life for me. I’m not really sure about reincarnation but if I were to be reborn, I still would want to be me.